The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-04
BORN IN MAINE.


ElWell Chick was born in Wiscasset. Me-,
in October of the year 1910, and while still
young learned the carpenters trade.
When the California fevor Of "49n was
felt in the east he was affected by it, left
his wife with two children and came TO San
Francisco to make his fortune. Just where
he first lived is unknown, but early in the
$685. he returned to his native town and
brought his family out to the Pacific coast.
From an old acquaintance of his, a fell
low craftsman, it was learned that within
few years after the bringing out of the
family he and his wife separated, she being
unable to live with him on account of his
having contracted the habit of over-in-
diligence in strong drink. Liquor ap-
parently had the effect on him Of entirely
changing his nature, for while sober he was
known to be afectionate, patriotic, and as
honest as the day, but when intoxicated he
was not to be trusted In any respect.
ON THE MOVE.
When his wife left him he built himself
small cottage, which he placed on leased
property, and whenever dislike to the locali-
ty of his habitation moved him he moved
bis house. 1t is known shat he had it moved
on three separate occasions, the last place
being on Hyde street, near the northwest
corner Of Broadway, for a number of years
and where he died at o O'Clock yesterday
morning.
For the past sixteen years he has been In
possession of another piece of personal prop
erty, nothing less than the coffin In which
he now lies awaiting his consignment to
mother earth" The coffin was made by
him alone and unaided, and he has kept it
underneath his bed constantly. The
popularity of the man is illustrated BY the
coffin-plare, upon which Is inscribed: aged
70 years." than which he has lived three
years more. In addition to the coffin was
found the outside covering, or box, made
of redwood plank two inches in thickness.
A HORRIBLE FEAR
The cause of his having made his own
coffin is said to have been horrible fear
which possessed him lest he might not be
properly buried. 1t appears that many
years ago, in fact sixteen, his wife tried to
induce him to make deed In her favor
of what little property he had, and told him
buried when he died. He refused. After
that she was not known to have any fur
Their communication with him, and it was
thought that was the cause OF the fear
which possessed him.
Unless chickens, pigeons and oats can be
called companions, be lived entirely alone.
! attending TO his own household. He was
known 10 be possessed of peculiar fondness
for eating, oftentimes getting up two aud
| three times during night TO satisfy his APP
petite 1t is said of him that he would pur-
chase 10 pound turkey and consume 1t in
three meals.
FAMILY OF DECEASED.
His family consisted of his wife, a son and
daughter The latter's name is not known.
but his son was named Harrison, was a law
yer by profession, married, and on the
death of himself and wife left four daugh-
ters, all OF whom are still alive aud reSid-
lug in Oakland--two married and two un-
married.
There was no communication between FL
well Chick and his grandchildren. His one
besetting sin rendered it impossible, and
while good worker when sober, he was on
several occasions almost on the verge Of
starvation. A few years since he was
taken in charge, to a certain extent, by
gentlemen who knew little about his life.
aud within the past three years three of his
brothers in the east died, leaving him a
little money, at various times, amounting
ia all to about $1,000 Of which he leaves
about 81. 800 which he, at the instance Of
his friend, has bequeathed to his two young
est grandaughteEs.