The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-01-14
A ROCKY MOUNTAIN HERMIT.
General Brisbin Discovers Him Living
With Pet Bear.

Fort Mckinney, Wyoming, cor
respondence of the N. Y. World
Few people can know Of the strange
things we meet in these wilds
While hunting not long ago up in
the very heart of the Big Horn
mountains, we came to little open
valley through which ran stream
of pure cold water. Following the
stream up to its source we found a
magnificent spring. The pool was
six feet wide, seven or eight feet
deep and so clear that every pebble
on the bottom could be distinctly
seen. Near the spring stood an old
double cabin of rough-hewn logs,
which we at first thought was un-
inhabited. On closer inspection,
however, we found that somebody
lived in it. We raped on the door,
but got no response, and we were
about to turn away when pet bear
shambled up the path towards us
and an old man clad almost entirely
in skins of wild animals followed
close behind the bear.
"Come here, Jacko," said the
man, "and don't be too free with
the strangers. He won't hurt you,
gentlemen" continued the old man,
"but he is mighty Free" The bear
sat up and looked and then came
up and smelled them. "Get out Of
the way, Jacko," said the old from
tiersman, giving the brute smart
kick, "and mind your manners.
Come in, gentlemen, and don't mind
Jacko, he is only my companion
and he and l live all alone. / ex-
pect l spoil him sometimes, but
Jacko is mighty smart bear and
can do almost everything but talk.
l got him when he was only a little
cub up there on the mountain, and
he is now over a year old. Go and
lie down, Jacko," and the bear did
as he was bid.
We are now in the cabin, and
strange place it was. An old fire.
place, with a few pans and kettles,
rough table made of hewn logs
and set up on stakes and three
three-legged stools completed the
furniture. The earthen floor was
covered with bear, wolf, fox and
swift skins, and Jacko rested on the
pelt of a magnificent grizzly, per-
haps the hide of his own father.
The walls were ornamented with
skins hung up on pegs, and a dozen
or more heads of elk, deer, bear,
antelope, wolves and lions beauti-
fully preserved looked down at US.
The poise and expression of the
heads were so life-like they seemed
as if about to spring from the walls.
One huge wolf, Rocky Mountain
lion and a swift had been stuffed
entire, and they looked as if alive.
l expressed astonishment at the
beautiful art of the texidermist and
the skill with which the work was
done, and the old man seemed
pleased.
II did it ALL" he said. "The
winter nights are long, and when /
work it keeps me from getting
lonesome"
Hearing me addressed by my
companion by my military title,
the old man looked hard at me and
then asked me quickly:
"Are you a soldier? In what
army did you serve during the war;"
/ gave him my name and told
him | had served in the army of
the Potomac for nearly three years.
my God p he exclaimed. Twas
there too, and l remember you per-
fectly we'll now. Well, we'll" he
continued, sit seems long time
ago since the war, and presume
most of my old comrades are dead"
He then told me the number of his
regiment and company and the
names Of his officers. He had gone
into services from Philadelphia and
had been all through the war. Be-
fore the war he was furrier on
Arch street, Philadelphia.
"What are you doing out here
all alone in this God-forsaken
placer" l asked.
"Not God-forsaken," he replied,
''for here, general, amid these
mountains we are almost face to
face with God"
But what are you doing here
living like hermit?" | persisted.
'sCome old comrade," / added kind
ly, "you may trust me and give mo
your story"
And he did tell it. 1t was one
of the saddest tales / ever heard,
and / should like to repeat it entire
only l don't think he would like
me to do so. Suffice it to say he
had a family-a young wife and
two children-when he went into
the army and left them behind in
the great city. For year or two all