Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-07
HE DWELIS UNDER GROUND,
The Strange J8fe of a Character In
Thurston County.
AroNINe FOR YOUTHFUL FOLLY
Within a Gloomy Cave Where the
SUMS Rays ,tNever Penetrate
MIR. Ebeslis Signing a Lost
loves Requiem.
Buried From the World.

burIeu FROM INC WOrtu.
FENDER, Neb., July 5.-[Special to
The BEE. l-Thurston county was
doubtless entitled to the distinction of
being the home OF a more mysterious
character than half the so-called myste-
ries that are daily chronicled in the
press throughout the world. He lives
in hole in the ground about five miles
east of town, and he has never been
known to do days work, always
dresses in the height Of fashion and
never runs in debt. Accompanied by
Howling Wolf, an Omaha Indian, who
has passed and repassed the dismal spot
thousands Of times within the past five
years, l visited this strange character
the other day. Driving about five
miles east of this place we left the main
travelled road leading to the Omaha
agency, and turning to the north, drove
perhaps three quarters of mile down
cooley or ravine. Here Howling Wolf
stopped the team and beckoned me to
alight. 1 asked him what he was going
to do, as there was nothing visible to
indicate that we were within mile of
the abode of mortal man. He pointed
to the ground u few feet ahead OF the
earth at a point to which my atten tion
had been directed by my Indian friehd,
could see what appeared to be board
about two feet square.
Bidding Howling Wolf to take care of
our team, l stepped to the spot and
tapped couple of times with the butt
of my whip on what soon proved to be u
door leading to the habitation OF man
who is, in every sense of the word,
mystery.
The promptness with which my sum-
mons was answered almost startled me.
had scarcely drawn my whip from the
door after tapping the second time
when up came the door, and two large
grey eyes
PEERED UP TOWARD ME-
from the strange cave below.
"Hellol there" he said, as he beck
oned me to come down with his right
hand. in which he held dim light.
followed him down u ladder into
narrow passage way, which led to door
about eight feet from the entrance.
Opening the doors which was made of
rough lumber, he bade me ''walk right in
sir!" ! did as directed. and he followed
me, closing the door behind him. Be-
fore | had time TO offer any excuse or
reason for my presence, l was very po-
lltcly lufltou W, Jake a SSub anu make
myself at home, when the gentleman of
the decidedly strange abode struck out
in lightning speed OF conversation, as
follows: GE"
Colonel, it may seem strange to you
that man of my build could content
himself away down in the ground, out
of sight of everybody, but tell you
AM HAPPtEB RIGHT HERE
with my pets meaning a couple of bad
gers, which were, Kept in a box in one
corner) than | could possibly be else
where on earth.' -
acknowledged my surprise at this
declaration, and asked him if he had
any particular objection to giving me
some explanation as to his extremely
odd and unusual preference.
l drew half-pint flask OF brandy
from my pocket and offered it to him.
Perhaps that will assist you in calling
to mind many incidents of carly days.
I said.
'Thank you, sir; don't use it. That's
the stuff that is responsible for my be-
ing where am to-day"
He frowned, as if the sight of the
liquor fairly angered him, and he con-
tinued:
I'm 1862 was working at my trade
(coopering) at Vincennes, Ind. Near
which place resided a young lady to
whom was engaged. In April of that
year her parents removed to Mennesota
| and settled on a a farm near New Ulm.
Soon after her removal to the west she be-
came dissatisfied with the new and Wild
country and longed to return to the
SCENES OF HER GIRLHooD DAYS.
This she made known to me in the
second letter l received from her. and
determined to save up some money and
| goand take her back to Indiana. At
That time was twenty-five years old :,
and was what you might call pretty wild :,
| ~ - rIII, orr ,