Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
IN A KINGDOM OF ONE
4 Man Who Is an Independent Nation by
HimSelf-No Taxes to p.v

Himself-No Taxes to Paw
Dick Basset is about so years old.
wears full beard tinged with gray, is
quiet and unassuming, well read and
intelligent. He arrived in this CITY
about fourteen years ago and took up
his residence in a deserted fishing
cabin on the beach far from the abode
of men. He built boat and most of
his days were spent on the waters of
the bay with fshline in hand. He was
a mystery then is almost as much a
mystery to-day, although, through
casual remarks and occasional obser-
vations he has dropped within the
hearing OF friends, some inkling of his
career has become known.
Basset remained year in his fish,
ing cabin on the beach. and then he
took possession of the little island
miles out in the bay, lying between
Marion island and the mainland. so
near TO either that narrow strip of
water separates him from the large
island on one side and the mainland
on the other. The island comprises
but single acre Of land, and when he
took possession was covered with a
heavy growth of virgin forest trees,
appearing from q distance like little
tuft OF green rising out of the water
says the Chicago Tribune. He cleared
the land without assistance, leaving a
row of large trees as a border to his
plantation. He erected a cottage Of
boards, which he hewed out of the
trees he chopped down, and since then
he has lived alone on the island quiet
ly, and, to all appearances, happy and
contented. He has planted fruit trees
and vines, and the land produces
enough vegetables and fruits to supply
his simple wants. In summer he fishes
on the bay, both with line and net, and
realizes substantial income from the
sale Of the fish in this city and at the
summer resorts near by.
He is said TO have accumulated a
competency, but of his worldly affairs
Dick RasSet is as reticent as of his
early life. He has a good sized ice
house, which he fills every winter,
takes several daily papers and smaga-
zines has a well-selected library,
mainly of travel and history and has
a queer collection of old pipes, chiefly
corncobs and briers.
He is an inveterate smoker. but
rarely drinks, and has never been
known to gamble. He frequently
spends the winter alone on the island,
with an occasional hunting expedition
to vary the monotony, while some VIM
ters he seeks employment in the lum-
Der camps. Many summer resorters
have visited his island, both while he
was at home and when he was away.
The Indians never think of passing in
their canoes without making a CALL
and yet his confidence has never been
betrayed. If the visitors are hungry
they help themselves to the food spread
on the table, but as near as he can calcu-
late, Bas5et has never missed a dollar
in money.
But there is a strange circumstance
in regard to the island. 1t is so small
and insignificant that it has never
been surveyed, and Bassett has not
been able to secure a legal title to it
from the government. To his in
quirics he has been informed from
Washington that such an island can
not be found on the charts and maps
and therefore has no legal existence.
In consequence Of this decision from
Washington the authorities of Grand
Traverse county hold that Bassett is
not Il resident Of the United States and
not a citizen. and that he cannot vote.
Living within a stones throw of Mar
ion Island and the mainland both on
the government charts he is declared
an alien and disfranchised.
He accepts the decision with COM
mendablc philosophy, finding consola-
ton in the fact that he is exempt from
all taxation. township, county and
state alike He does not own very
much, it is true but if he were worth
a million he would escape the assessor.
Yet there are inconvenience in his
situation. He is practically an inde-
pendent monarch, all by himself and
can exercise all the privileges and
rights Of one of Gods anOinted.
He can declare war or treat for peace.
can levy a tariff for revenue only or
for protection to his infant industry Of
raising potatoes and eggs. can possibly
coin his own money and enter into
offensive and defensive alliance with
other nations. He is as much Of
monarch as the king of any of the
Cannibal islands, and under the pres
ent Interpretation Of the laws could
cat u few summer resOrters or wander
ing missionaries without fear of the
limited SfnfoS or MichiU1n laws