The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-07-29
A SOUTHERN HERMIT.

A SOUTHERN HERMIT.
| Tho Romantic Story Of North Carolina
Recluse.
In 1912, Just seventy-one yean ago,
John Armstrong was borne near Will
| mington, North Carolina. He was the
only son of well-to.do farmer and re-
ceiyed an ordinary common scboul edu.
! cation. At twenty years Of age he
| became enamored of q young woman
named Carrie Sect, daughter Of farmer
| who came from Virginia and who pur.
chased the land adjoining the farm Of
| Armstrong; father. Johns love seemed
to be reciprocated and he lived on in
blissful anticipation of happy future.
For two years he was assiduous in his
| attention, and the wedding day was final.
" decided upon. There was no happier
man in the State of North Carolina than
John Armstrong. The evantful day
arrived. John arose early, arrayed him.
| self in his wedding suit, and, in company
| with few invited guests, set out for the
home of his expected bride. On the way
| he was met by colored servant, who, in
| few words, told him that Miss Carrie had
been married at seven o'clock that morn.
| ing To Northern gentleman by the name
of Samuel Opdyke and had started on
wedding journey North in carriage.
For moment Armstrong was paralyz.
ed with astopishment, but presently
recovering his self.posseasion, he looked
about him upon his wondering group Of
sympathetic spectators. Then, without
uttering word, he put spurs to bis horse,
and, leaving his guests still in the road,
soon disappeared in the distance. He
was never seen again in the neighborhood,
and although every effort was made to
discover his whereabouts, they invariably
proved futile, and finally the community
settled down to the belief that he had
committed suicide.
A MURDERoUs REVENGE.
Years passed away and the circum.
stance was forgotten. His father and
mother had died, and, although John
was the legitimate heir to the estate, an
uncle took charge of the farm until he
should be found. One day during the
war Federal officer, to escape capture
by 8 scouting party Of Confederate cayal-
~, took refuge in q swamp. In wander
ing about he became bewildered and pen.
etrated still deeper into the gloomy
recesses of the great forest he esuddenly
came face to face with man armed with
an ordinary shotgun.
"Hullo, stranger, who be you2 :"
"a soldier who has lost his way"
replied the officer, seeing that conceal.
ment of his position was impossible.
"Not one O. us, guess?" queried the
"No, Pm an officer in the Federal
army"
I'm mighty strong again thar Yankees.
What might yer name Z"
Samuel Opdyke."
The man started back and cooked his
gun. aOpdyke-Opdyk scoundrel
who married Carrie Scott and destroyed
my happiness"
sI did marry Carrie Scott-married her
because Iloved her. But who are you,
that you should get SO excited over. the
matter?"
"Me--me-why, I'm John Armstrong,
courted that are gal, and she vowed she
loved me better than anything else in
the world. But she deceived me i; her
heart was hollow; she was false to me
and I have my revenge" And he raised
his gun and pulled the trigger. Captain
Samuel Opdyke fell dead at his feet.
In relating this the old man-for he
himself told the story-became terribly
agitated and rubbed his. hands in appar-
ent fiendish exultation. "Ah!" said he,
"that were moment OF sweet revenge"
LIVING THE LIFE OF A HERMIT.
For nearly fifty years he has lived alone
in the North Carolina forests. He deter.
mined, when the servant on that fatal
morning brought him the startling and
bitter intelligence that his would be bride
had violated her promise, to forever turn
his back on humanity. The cabin in
which he lives he built himself. 1t is In
the ploomiest and remotest solitude OF
the forest, and were it not for the little
garden he cultivates, thus evidencing the
existence of civilization, would be
dismal abode indeed. He endeayors to
avoid the society of men as much rs
possible and is exceedingly annoyed that
his hiding place has become known. He
was accidentally discovered by party
of hunters. He is still vigorous for his
age and although his hair and long How
ing beard are white as snow, he walks
erect and with an elastic, buoyant step.
When he does condescend to talk he is
cheerful and entertaining in his conyer.
sstion, but stndiously avoids any refer
ence to the female sex. He AYERS that
he has not seen or spoken to woman for
the past thirty years, and has never seen
q railroad car or steamboat. He knows
naratively little of the incidents OF
every day life going az on in the outside SID!
world. He is constant reaHesse &-ss.. 81.
pious and scientific works and an ardent
student of natural history. Hc has q
magnificent collection of specimens in
the chronological world, embracing bugs,
beetles and butterflies. He can tell cor
rectly the name and habits of every insect
native to the neighborhood. he is also
an expert with the pen. knife. Since his
abode has become known the boys bring
him tobacco, knick-knacks, etc., in
exchange for which egiyes them crosses,
hearts, whistles, ETC., which he makes
from beef bones. These he carves with
an ordinary knife and file, though the
work is slow and tedious. He is contem.
plating moving 10 more secluded quarters,
and it will not be surprising if, some fine
morning, the boys will search for John
Armstrong in vain.-Ne.oberne letter to
the Philadelphia Times.
Surrenderlng to Bull Frog.
One of the best of Sam SmalPs war