Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-02
THE YELLED HERMIT.
4 REMARKABLE RECLUSE IN THE
WOODED WILDS OF TEXAS.

Evidence of Artistic Taste in His Sc
cluded Cavern Home on the Banks of
Willow Creek-Interview with a Man
Who Accepted His Hospitality.
Wilburger county, Tex, boasts of
Aystery in the form of a hermit, living
scar Willow Creek in a small cavern,
partly natural and partly excavated by
him, lined with skin and decorated with
drawings on the wall, which are said to be
the work of an artist of cultivated taste
and great talent. Very little is known of
Ahe recluse beyond the fact that he is
white man, an Englishman or American
by birth, and has lived in his cave for the
past fifteen years.
He always wears a close fitting mask of
suckskin, which, falling to his breast,
completely hides his face, and dresses in
skins IL the winter, while in summer he is
saothed in loose garment said to be woven
nj the prairie grass.
This strange being, by some regarded as
a myth, is only seen at long intervals, when
Some traveller runs across him by accident,
when he will make no attempt to escape,
respond pleasantly, if briefly, to any cues
Non or greeting and quickly walk away.
II followed or molested he first mildly pro-
tests, and then, if the attempt is persisted
N, has been known to draw a weapon,
which has usually the effect of Kidding him
NJ his tormenter.
He carries a small rifle, which, however,
he has never been seen to use, but snares all
his game after the manner of poachers, or
Gshes along the creek. On such fare as he
secures in this way and patch of ground
which he Cultivates the recluse lives for he
has never been known to visit town, though
several attempts have been made to induce
him to abandon his solitary life. His cav
cxn, though known to few, is never visit
Cd, for it is believed that he would resent
any intrusion in a very unpleasant man
ner.
MAN WHO HAS SEEN HIM.
The only man who has ever entered the
cave is Colonel j. Nixon, who, on one oc-
easion, was invited there by it's mysterious
fnhabitant. The story is: 81 had driven
suit from Harold to Lloyd's ranch, when |
was overtaken by one of our sudden prairie
storms. My ponies soon grew unmanagea-
BILE, and got out to hold them by the bit,
when a tremendous peal and a binding
fash caused the little demons to break
away from me and go tearing across the
prairie. After relieving my full heart by
q few words suitable for the occasion /
trudgcd on, but soon found the road so
heavy for my thin shoes that | abandoned
1t for one of the cattle paths which seemed
to run parallel with it. Now, / know the
road well, having Travelled it often, but what
with the darkening sky, the sheets of rain
and the lightning, it did not take me long
to lose my way. At some distance | could
see the line of timber marking the course
OF the creek, and made my way to it, fol-
lowing the stream for mile or two.
"All at once, as | plunged on, heard a
voice hailing me, and looking closely about,
saw sitting in the mouth of dugout or
cave in the side of good sized hillock a
man with something over his face. I hal
looed in answer, when the stranger called
to me to come in out of the rain, so |
marched boldly up to him. | knew him in
a moment, for / had often heard of the
yelled hermit of Willow creek, though up
to the time | actually beheld him had
never believed in his existence
''He led me into his cave and lighting a
fire of pine knots, piled up in rude fire
place with funnel leading up into the
rnen air, revealed to me a scene which for
Witness | never saw equaled. Snakes so
well preserved as to appear alive, in all
their ugly viciOusness, hung pendant from
raftcrs that supported the clay daubed
roof; grinning heads of panthers, cata-
mounts, bears, jaguars and every wild
beast to be found for hundreds of miles
around, added to the weird grotesqueness
of the place, while their skins carpeted the
cavern and made the hermit's bed, which
was all the furniture the place afforded,
except a low stool before the fire.
CURIOSITY REPREssED.
''The walls of the cave We're of clay, evil
IDENTIFY hardened by heat, and were covered
with drawings made by some sharp instru-
ment while the clay was yet soft. | am
sufficient judge of art to know that the
hand which executed the pictures was that
of a skilled artist, and they were fine in
deed, They were, for the most part, from
the Bible, and represented Peters denial of
Christ, Judas kissing his cheek and the
disciples asleep in the garden of Gethsem-
ane, but / also remember one or two scenes
from the Odyssey and Had.
my host brought out some cold venison
and plate of beans, of which | ate thank
fully, after which he resumed his seat in
the door of the cave. | tried to talk to
him, but his monosyllabic replies soon
silenced me, and when presently the rain
ceased, he said, You must excuse me, but
l am under a vow to hold communication
with no one l rose at this hint and pre-
pared to so. l had a late newspaper in my
pocket and rendered it to him, but he
thanked me and shook his head
My one desire is to forget the world and
be forgotten by it, Here he hesitated a
second, and said: L would like, however,
to ask you one question. Has England
But he checked himself and groaned. No,
no; better notl Sir, go quickly. l am a
wretch who expiates deadly sin in solitude
and pain
''He ran to the back of the cave and fall
ing on his knees groaned and sobbed.
had some tobacco with me and some other
trifles, such rs a pocket knife, matches,
quinine and flask of brandy, which |
placed on the floor, and then left. have
never seen him since, for l felt sure the
greatest kindness to him is to let him
alone, and l have eXerted all my influence
that he shall remain unmoIested. phil
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IT, - IL.