The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-14
A VALUABLE SECRET.
A MASSACHUSETTS REcLUsE WONT
SELL A GREAT IDEA

He Knows a Process That Is Worth
$500, 900 to the United States Govern.
ment-He Has Led a Hermit's Life for
Forty Years--He Lives on SIS a Year.
On the wall behind the stovepipe in the
| sffice of the Stone hotel at Great Barring
ton, Mass, hangs cTayon portrait, life
size, of a queer genius. 1t is that of a round
headed man, with slightly convex face,
shelving forehead, somewhat shelving chin,
and wide open, wild looking eyes The
original Of the sketch is Clinton Crosby,
recluse, gunsmith, as years old. He is a
borer of gun barrels as well.
Clinton Crosby came from Connecticut,
the land of inventors, forty years ago, and
has dwelt alone in the mountains since.
What part Of the land of steady habits was
his birthplace and early home no one
knows; he does not talk much, least of all
| about himself and his history. But this
much is known: In youth and early man.
hood he was spruce, smart, good looking,
and his head was packed full of thinking
brains.
He fell in love with Connecticut belle
in a country village, and the maiden pro-
fessed to be in love with Clinton Whether
she ever really loved him, or, thirsting for
conquest, only pretended an affection she
did not feel, is not known; but finally she
Tilted him, married another man, raised a
houseful of babies. and lived very happily,
as most women do in similar instances.
HE TAKES TO THE WOODS.
But Crosby was of different metal; he
took life seriously, and this first affair Of
the heart spoiled him entirely. His head
went wrong. He became odd, yet remained
shrewd and sensible enough withal: soured
on the world, turned hermit and settled in
the mountains about Great Darlington.
One morning he suddenly appeared in that
village nearly forty years ago, bought lum-
Der, dragged it into the forest and built a
two story house over wild stream in a
black gorge among the hills. He has dwelt
there since Now and then he comes into
che village for supplies, and has a few
friends there
The most remarkable thing about Crosby
IS that he carries in his head a secret that
is worth $500, 900. The United States gov
eminent wants that secret, but Crosby
won't sell it. A mechanic Of wonderful
ingenuity, he discovered many years ago q
method for boring gun and rifle barrels far
superior to any other in the world. A bar
rel bored by him is endowed with extraor-
binary propelling force, penetration and
marvellous precision. How the old man
ever managed to do such work in shop in
which little machinery is to be seen is a
profound mystery.
Though he lives alone and is not over
fond Of society, yet he receives every one
who calls at his home in good style. Fol-
low wild mountain road with manifold
turnings to his shaggy, implanted hut;
cross a little grassy glade TO the rough,
heavy front door and rap on the panels.
The rap echoes in the hollow house and
there is perfect silence again, interrupted
only now and then by the twitter of shy
forest birds in the boughs of distant trees.
IN HIS DWELLING.
The windows Of the dwelling are open,
and soon the visitor hears the leisurely
shuttle OF Crosby coming in response to the
rap. or giant frame that is somewhat
bowed, with unshaven face ablaze with
eyer that have an almost furiously intent
look, the lost is the sort of a man whose
face alone would brighten a timid visitor
into the woods again. He shakes hands
with his caller, leads him into his work
shop, directs him to take a seat, and then
with an air of unbelievable secrecy bolts
all the doors and shuts and fastens all the
windows.
Such reception from such a man, with
such farce eyes, is not at all agreeable to
persons unaccustomed to encounter all
sorts of queer people: but Crosby means
nothing worse than a morbid and eccen-
trio precaution against the eavesdropping
10 Il,
his little serio-comic play Of hiding an
SSOO.OO mechanical secret; yet all his pre-
cautions are oddly theatrical, and nothing
more, for if the inventor has any telltale
appliances, the exhibition Of which might
betray his secret, surely they are invisible.
There is not even a turning lathe to be seen
In his shop. All his tools, it is said are
hidden.
After locking himself and visitor into
the workroom Crosby comes right up to
his visitor, squares away at him, and lets
drive a conversational broadside on any
thing and everything at a rate that would
ruin typewriter in thirty minutes. Yet
interrupt his volley of language with a
question about his great invention and in
stantly he becomes as secretiye and taci-
turn as an image.
HOW He LIVES.
The old man hasn't done much work for
many years. 1t is almost impossible to
persuade him to bore q rife or gun barrel
for money now, though he will do the job
for a trusted friend if in the mood for it.
He does very little work of any kind, and
though SIS year is ample income for him
he is forced TO live more frugally each year
Now and then he menGs gun lock, and is
very expert at the work, and is as secretive
as an alchemist at that task. locking him
self into his room before he takes a tool in
hand. In Great harrington he has few
warm friends, notably Mr.. HOLSTER the
merchant, who, by means Of kindly diplo-
macy, has befriended him in many ways
AS proud as a prince is the old fellow,
and the quickest way TO excite his indigna-
ton and wrath is to offer him pecuniary
aid. Even from the artist who cultivated
the hermit's friendship and drew the
crayon likeness of him, he never would &C
cept any other gifts than cigars and pipes
full of tobacco.
In several instances the national govern
ment has endeavored to purchase the gun
smiths great secret; twice or thrice it sent !
official messengers thither to negotiate with |
him.
The gun boring process Is likely 70 perish |
with the brain that conceived IL, but not !
very soon. The old inventor is still as
rugged and yiuorOus A. any hl1ck oaE On l