The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-10-14
A FLORIDA HERMIT.
ihE fl'Ri STRANGE ROMANCE THAT
COMES FROM LAKE EUsTIs.

, "A strange Creature Who Took DELIGHT In
the Fierce Storms Of Night
Correspondence of the Philadelphia II mcsA
EUSrIS, Fla, September 29.-It WAS
told me few nights ago when the beau
tlful lake was pcopled with shadows and
from the dark encircling woods came the
plalntlvc notes of the whip-o'-will.
EustiS is one of chain of lakes that
have watcr communication with the out
side world by means of the Ocklawaht
river. The latter is narrow, crooked
stream, hedged by swamp and hammock
loafing lazily wherever the notion seem.
to take it. These lakes are beautiful
clearwater streams, and embellish anG
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
lIustis, III the meeting of the waters, are
twin sisters IN realm of beauty. Fish
ing, boating ard sailing are pleasures
much indulgcd in by the lake frontiers,
and ROW, with this preface to nv
strange, wicrd tale, will proceed.
''Some few years ago, when this coun-
try was spnrsely settled and everybody
knew everybody clsc much speculation
was excited by the appearance of a
stranger upon these lakes. The only
place whcre he was ever seen, however,
was i'll his boat fishing or porng over
some tattcrCd book. Lake Eustis seemed
to be his tavoritc resort. Many efforts
were made to attract his attention and
to discover something about him, but
they all failed. IIo would answer no
questions, nor even look up when he was
addressed. lie appeared to be about
seventy years old, of thin, but wiry
build, his long, white hair falling down
over his shoulders, his long whito beard
reaching to his waist. His clothing was
of gray, almost thrcadbarc, neatly patch
cd III places with what looked to be the
skin Oh some animal. His boat was q
long canoe, evidently followed out of
some tree by his own hands of very
graceful outlines and SO light rs to be
almost transparent. This he managed
with consummatc skill, and when his in
qWsltors became too troublesome he
would speed away from them like some
fri9htcnGl bird"
CHILD OF TIE NIGHT AND STORM.
cat 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. Tho
lovers floating idly on the shining
waves, where tho moon showered down
It's silver glory, would sec off in the dis
tancc the tossing craft Of the hern it.
tlca@urc boats, merry laden with laugh
ING, youth and maiden, would greet him
with song and jest. 70 all of these he
mndc no slgr. When the long roll of
! the thunder was heard and the storm
KING was seen marshaling his black
sqUaGronH along the dark horizon all
other boatS would dash for the shore.
but he was i'll bis glory then Those
hurrylng from the scene, eager to escapc
the storm and danger, would experience
Il strange thrill at the sight Of this old
man, who seemed to rcvcl in the tempest.
Ills hont would sweep through the
binding sheets of rain like Il meteor,
sometimes almost disappearing in the
trough Of the waves, thcn lcaping to
their topmost crcsts. At these times the
hermit would stand erect, and bare
headed, i'll his boat, wildly gosticulating,
sometimes giving vent to shricks Of
mnniacal laughter. Every effort was
made to track him to his hiding-placc,
but they all failed. Once, n party who
had been cndeavCring for long time
TO solve the mystery, followed him eau
tlouSly, rs 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
III the saw-8rass prairie at the edge. The
huntlng-party could sec no trace of him
and returned to their homes in greater
DcwlIdcTmcnt
A week passed and the hermit was
Still missed upon the luke. Another
week having passed and still no sign,
the young mon who had originally fol
lowed HIM determined to make q thor
ou8h search. They were prompted to
tins By the common feelings Of humani-
ty as well as by curiosity He might be
sick and i'll great distress. Procuring q
light boat they set out upon their self
imposed mission. Reaching the point
where he had disappeared they pushed
rcSolutcly through the tall matted grass,
and alter short distance, to their aston
l9hHicliI, CIcS came 10 II NJ rrOW branch
or creek, easily nayignblc to small boats.
! Two hundred yards from this point was
| u clump Of hammock, and here their
search ended The hut was before them.
lying their boat to large exposed root
they gently approached it. It was about
eight feet long and four feet wide, made
with sapiin8&, thatchcd with grass, the
sides covered with dried hides of alliga-
tors The stonch that camlo from the
interior Of the hut was almost overpow-
erinG. Propping the door back with a
! pole they looked in. The hermit Inv
dead upon the floor, his body badly de,
composed. Death had evidently ap
Proachcd him very suddenly, as his
! fingers still held q little memorandum
book which ho had been reading. Th,
party covered the body as well as the,
could and, tumbling the hut down upoi
1t, left it to await the final trump.
THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.
'trom the little book which I sa,v
sad the narrator, "for 1 was one of tb
party, We learned the following facts
l4s