Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-20
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.1
ASHLAND, ALA, September 19.-At his
cabin up in the Chulafnee Mountains one
morning this week, "Uncle" Billy Holden
died at the age OF 10S years. For 40 years
he had lived the life of hermit, and would
have died alone had not party OF hunters
come across his cabin by accident and
found him at the point Of death. For many
years he had repelled all offers of friendship,
but when found by this party he was too
feeble to protest against the service OF
nurse and physician. BE was too far gone
for permanent relief, and soon breathed his
last.
Bill Holden was the oldest character who
ever lived in this community, and few peo-
pie knew anything of his history. He was
a cooper, and during his 40 years residence
in this county supported himself by max
ing wooden pals, churns and tubs, which
the farmers down in the valley, and traded
for meat, corn, clothing or money.
LOOKED LIKE WILD BEAST.
He had carried heavy loads of vessels on
his shoulders until his body was bent al
most double. and he was hideous looking
object, Long, bushy white hair and beard
covered his head and face, and he looked
more like wild gorilla than human be-
ing. Mothers would frighten their unruly
children by stories of Billy Holden, and
even grown people were afraid of him,
though he never harmed anyone.
Holden lived alone in a little log cabin
near the summit of the Chulafnee noun
foip fnr haU
been huge black cat which was as re-
pulsive in appearance and as disagreeable
in manner as its master. His cabin was
his worksbip and his bed was pile of
shavings in one corner. Old as he was,
Holden's strength was something wonder
full. He must have been man of splendid
physique until the weight of years and his
many heavy burdens bent him out of almost
human shape.
STRONG IN OLD AGE.
Until a few weeks before his death he
would place on his shoulders load OF ves-
sells under which an ordinary man would
stagger, and carry them through the coun-
try day after day until the last one was dis
posed OF, and often he would return to his
cabin carrying load of cornmeal, meat and
goods OF various kinds almost as heavy as
his original burden of wares. His timber
he cut in the valley. miles away from his
cabin, and that, TOO, was transported on his
shoulders. He would often walk 80 miles
day, carrying a load an ordinary man could
not have carried ten miles.
Holden was never known to remove his
load from his shoulder when he stopped to
rest or to negotiate the sale of some of his
wares. While crossing river on boat he
would remain standing with his burden on
his shoulder.
THE WAY HE REASONED.
Once when asked why he did not lay
aside his burden when he stopped to rest
his reply was that if he put it down it
would feel heavier than before when he took
it up again. 1t was regular custom with
him, when starting on journey with load
of his wares, to place heavy stick of wood
or a stone on his shoulder, carry it several
miles and then throw it off, He said he did
this because his load always felt so much
lighter when the extra weight was thrown
OF.
Holden would never talk about himself
and would seldom converse with anyone ex-
cept about the sale of his wares. No matter
how many days he was away frem his cabin
when disposing of a stock of his wares he
always carried enough food to last him on
the trip, and nothing could induce him to
eat meal at the table of a customer.
ROMANCE AND TRAGEDY.
In the life of Billy Holden, the hermit,
there was bloody romance and its shadow
darkened his path forever and made him an
outcast without friend or companion.
He was born in North Carolina, and when
young man married the girl of his choice
They lived happily for year and then the
serpent entered their Eden. His wife met
one she loved better and this love
grew into an unholy passion. Holden
in time learned Of his wile's
infdelity and waiting until he caught her
with her lover he slew them both. Holden
fled from his native State and little effort
was made to capture him. He became
wanderer on the face of the earth, without
friend or companion, his faith in humanity
gone. Forty years ago he came to Alabama,
and in the cane cabin on the bleak summit
of the Chulafnee mountain he lived and
died friendless hermit.