The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-10-13
\ FLORIDA HERMIT.
r;iE t&;lT STRANGE ROMANCE THAT
COMES FROM LAKE EUSTIs.


EUSTIs, FLA, September 29.--It was
told me few nights ago when the beau
titul lake was pcopled with shadows and
from tllo dark encircling woods came the
plaintivc notes Of the whip-o'-will
| lIustis is one of chain of lakes that
have water communication with the out
side world by means of the Ocklawaha
river The latter is narrow, crooked
stream, hedged by swamp and hammock,
loating lazily wherever the notion seems
to take it. These lakes are beautiful
clearwater streams, and embellish and
make comfortable the prettiest and most
delightful portion of Florida, the hill
and lake region The hills sloping down
to these lakes arc now dotted with the
handsome villas and thrifty orange
groves OF both permanent settlers and
winter residents. Lakes Harris and
L'iStls, III the meeting of the waters, are
tWin sisters in realm of beauty. Fish
ing, boating ard sailing are pleasures
much lndulgcd in by the lake frontiers,
and now, with this preface to nv
strange, wierd tale, / will proceed.
Some few years ago, when this coun-
try was sparsely settled and everybody
knew everybody else, much speculation
was excited by the appearance of
stranger upon these lakes. The only
place where he was ever seen, however,
was III his boat fishing or por no over
some tnttcrcd book. Lake Eustis seemed
TO be his tayoritc resort. Many efforts
We're made to attract his attention and
to discover something about him, but
thcy all failed. He would answer no
questions, nor even look up when he was
addressed. He appeared to be about
scvcnty years old, of thin, but wiry
bmid, his long, white hair falling down
over his shoulders, his long white beard
reaching to his waist. His clothing was
OF gray, almost threadbare, neatly patch
cd in places with what looked to be the
skin of some animal. His boat was q
long canoe, evidently followed out of
some tree by his own hands of very
graceful outlines and 50 light as to be |
almost transparent. This he managed
with conSummate skill, and when his in |
qulaltors became too troublesome he
would speed away from them like some
frightened bird. "
CHILD OF THE NIGHT AND STORM.
''At night this strange creature was
more OF Il mystery than ever. Then his
canoe was rugged with homely canvas
and would outsail the fastest craft. The
lovers Heating idly on the shining
waves, where the moon showcrcd down
It's silver glory, would see off in the dis
tancc the tossing craft of the hermit.
Pleasure boats, merry laden with laugh
ln8, youth and maiden, would greet him
with song and jcSt TO all Of these he |
made no sign. when the long roll of
the thunder was heard and the storm
KING was seen marshaling his black |
sQu"dronS along the dark horizon all |
other boats would dash for the shore |
but he was III his glory then Those
hurryln9 from the scene, eager to escape |
the storm ana danger, would experience |
a strange thrill ut the sight of this old
man, who seemed to rcvel in the tempest |
Ills boat would sweep through the |
binding sheets of rain like a meteor
sometimes almost disappearing in the |
trough OF the waves, then lcaping to
then topmOst crcsts. At these times the |
hermit would stand erect and bare
headed, in his boat, wildly gesticulating,
sometimes giving vent to shreks of |
maniacal laughter. Every effort was
made TO track him to his hiding-place,
but they all failed Once, a party who |
had been cndcavCring for long time |
to solve the mystery, followed him eau
touSly, as he seemed homeward bound |
and unaware of their espionage. He |
padded out of the lake into the river,
and when short distance out, making
an abrupt turn, apparently disappeared |
IN the saw-grass prairie at the edge. The |
hunting-party could see no trace of him |
aud returned to their homes in greater |
bcwillcrmcnt.
\ week passed and the hermit was
still missed upon the lake Another
week having passed and still no sign,
the young men who had originally fol |
lowed him determined to make thor
ough search. They were prompted to |
this by the common feelings of humani- |
ty as well as by curiosity. He might be |
sick and III great distress. Procuring a |
hight boat they set out upon their self |
imposed mission. Reaching the point |
where he had disappeared they pushed |
rcSoiutely through the tall matted grass, |
and after short distance, to their aston
ishment, they came to o M rrow branch |
or creek, easily navigable to small boats. !
Two hundred yards from this point was
Ia clump OF hammock, and here their |
search ended. The hut was before them. |
lying their boat to n large exposed root,
they gently approached it. 1t was about
eight feet long and four feet wide, made
with saplings, thatched with grass, the
sides covered with dried hides of alliga-
tors. The stencil that came from the
interior of the hut was almost oyerpow-
cring Propping the door back with a
pole they looked in. The hermit Law
dead upon the floor, his body badly de-
composed. Death had evidently ap-
preached him very suddenly, as his
fingers still held little memorandum
book which he had been reading. The
party covered the body as well as they
could and, tumbling the hut down upon
1t, left it to await the final trump.
THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.
''From the little book which / saw. "