Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-29
A FLORIDA HERMIT.
The Singular Romance That Comes
From Lake Eustis.
From The Phila felphia Times.

was peopled with shadows and from the
dark enclrcling woods came the plaintive
notes Of the whjp-poor-will Eustis is
one of a chain of lakes that has water
| communication with the outside world
by means OF the Ocklawaha river. The
| latter is narrow, crooked strea m, hedged
by swamp and hummock, loafng lszly
| wherever the notion SCENES to take
1t. These lakes are beautiful clear
water streams, ana .,e emo nsdtsi
est and most delightful portion of Florida,
the bill and lake region. The hills sloping
down to these lakes are now dotted with
the handsome villas and thrifty orange
groves oil both permanent settlers and
winter residents. Lakes Harris and
Eusts, in the meeting OF the waters. are
twin sisters in realm OF beauty. Fish
inc, boating and sailingare pleasures much
INDUCED in by the lake frontiers, and now,
with this preface to my strange, wierd
tale, will proceed.
"eome few years ago, when this coun-
try was sparsely settled and everybody
knew everybody else, much speculation
was excited by the appearance Of a stran-
ger upon these lakes. TIE only place
whore be was ever seen, howavor. was in
his boat tlshing or porting over same tat
tered book. Lake Eustis seemed TO be bis
favorite resort. Many efforts were made
to attract his attention and to discover
something about him, but they all failed
He would answer no questions, nor
even look up when he was adj
dressed. He appeared to be about
10 years old. of thin, but wiry build, 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 patched In
places with what looked to be the skin OF
some animal. His boat was a long canoe,
! evidently followed out OF some tree by
his own bands, of very graceful outlines
and 30 light as to be almost transparent.
This be managed with cOnsummate skill,
and when his lnquisitors became too
troublesome be would speed away from
them like some frightened bird.
CHILD OF THE NIGHT AND STORM.
"At night this strange creature was
more of mystery than ever. Then his
canoe was rugged with homely canvas
| and would outsall the fastest craft. The
lovers floating idly on the Ginning waves.
where the moon sbowered down lis sill
yer glory, would see off in the distance
the tossing craft OF the hermit. Pleasure
boats, merry laden with laughing youth
and maideD, would greet him with song
and jests To all of these he made no
! sign. When the long roll OF the thun-
der was heard and the storm King was
seen marshaling his black squadrons
| along the dark horizon, all other boats
would dash for the shore, but be was in
mis- glory then. Those hurrying from the
scene, eager to escape the storm and dam
| ger, would experience a strange thrill at
the sight of this old man, who seemed to
revel in the tempest. His boat would
sweep through the binding sheets of rain
like a meteor, sometimes almost dIsap-
Dearing in the trough of the waves, then
| leaping to their tOpmOst crest. At these
times the hermit would stand erect, and
| bareheaded. In his boat, wildly gesticu-
lating, sometimes giving veat to
shrieks of manlacaI laughter. Every ef-
fort was made to track him to bis hiding
place, but they all failed. Once. party
who had been endeavoring for long time
! to solve the mystery, followed him eau
tiously, as he seemed homeward bound
and unaware of their espionage. He pad
| died out of the lake into the river, and
when short distance cut, making an alb
rupt turn, apparently disappeared In the
saw-grass prairie at the edge. The hunt
ing party could see no trace of him and
returned to their homes in greater be-
| widerment.
ga week passed and the hermit was still
| missed upon the lake. Another week hav-
ing passed and still no sign. the young
men who had originally followed him de-
termined to make thorough search.
| They were prompted to this by the COM
mon feelings of humanity as we'll as by
curiosity. He might be sick and In great
distress. Procuring light boat, they set
out upon their self-imposed mission.
Reaching the point where he had disap-
peared, they pushed through the tall
matted grass, and after a short distance,
! mn n
narrow branch or creek, easily navIgable
to small boats. Two hundred yards from
this point was a clump of hummock,
and here their search ended. The
hut was before them. Tying their boat
to large exposed root, they gently ap.
preached it. 1t was about eight feet
long and four feet wide, made with sap
lings, matched with grass, the sides cov-
cred with the dried hides OF alligators.
The stencil that came from the interior Of
the hut was almost overpowering. Prop
ping the door back WITH pole they looked
In. The hermit lay dead upon the floor.
his body badly decOmposed. Death had
evidently approached him very suddenly,
as his fingers still held little memoran-
dunn book which he had been reading,
The party covered the body as we'll as
they could and, tumbling the hut down
upon it, left it to await the final trump.
THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.
"From the little book which | saw"
said the narrator, "for | was one of the
party, we learned the following facts:
The man supposed to I've oyer 20 years old
was not vet 30. Years ago, few miles
out Of Savannah, lived Frank Walton and
Minnie Jeffcott. The farms of their pa
rents adjoined; the two had grown up to-
gether. Together they mastered the in
! tricacies of school books. They became
plighted lovers. He was % years old;
she was barely II. They were TO have
been married in June, 1861, but the tenn
pest swung be pine ageibst the palm.
Frank enlisted IN the gallant Bartow's
regiment and marched gayly to the front.
Minnie pinned her cOlors on his hat and
promised to be faithful to the last. In
the spring or 1863, ragged, dirty, half
starved and penniiess, ha was paroled and
started back 10 Georgia to share the for
tunes Of his ruined people. On his arrival
in Savannah he met an old friend just
from his former home, and to bis eager in
quirits was informed that Minnie had
been married about u week before to a
yourg man who had escaped military
duty by hiding out during most Of the
war. The news seemed to stun Frank
and he turned away without a word. That
night he disappeared from friendly sight
as elfectually Ms il he had been swallowed
up in the fathomless ocean. His friends
and be had host of them--made every
effort to trace him, but to no avail. He
no no rH nf t1uti biu InaH