Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-17
A FREE HERMIT.
He Lives Away from Friends for IA
Year to Change His
Life
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
ISABELLA, Mo, Sept. 9-The people in
this part OF Ozark county are much cNer-
ciSed over mysterious man who jooil up
his abode III the woods a few miles from
here. The rocky hills of this county are
covered with heavy growth of timber
some OF the trees assuming very large pro-
portions On the buf leading to F'ursythe
there Is giant oak which has been hoi-
lowed by fire and time. This tree is about
five feet in diameter, and the cavity has "a
space of about four feet. The man came TO
this section about a year ago. and instead OF
coming to town stayed in the woods. He
WAS met by several parties, bUt would not
talk. He appeared to be intelligent. but
would not say word How he lived was L
mystery for he never begged ana was never
known 10 steal or buy anything.
One day he came TO town, and by signs,
signifed 10 a storekaeper That he wanted u
large box. This he paid for and carried ii
on his back 10 the hills. With this he fixed
up the old tree into a sort of abode ana
made it his homo. He had several gunny-
sacks which formed his bed, and this was
his home He roamed around the hills ami
kept away from the roads and houses rs
much as possible, buI would not run away
when approached. While he stunned his
fellow men he did moi fee from them.
OF course the mysterious actions Of the
man caused much comment III the neigh
"a.
TO have visitors from among the curious
people of the county. In fact the man De
came so much Of Il curiosity that il became
the regular thing for young folks To 90 TO
see the wild man on Sunday afternoons.
These visits were taken in good part, ana
while the man would not talk, he showed
by his actions that he perfectly understood
everything that was said 10 him. He had
nothing TO show the visitors, but did not
object to their going into his trce-house
He was perfectly clean and his clothes
were OF good quality and showed care in
the selection of the material, rs well as in
the make. The only thing that could be no
ticed about the place that gave any indica-
ton as to the former life of the man, was a
lot of writing paper and several pencils
He had pads of paper of several sizes and
seemed to do great deal of writing. On
all sides in the tree were little shelves, and
these We're full OF paper which had been
written upon.
As the man did no one any harm and as
he did not shun investigation. there WAS no
suspicion that lie WAS a criminal, and it be-
came the generally accepted belief that he
was simply Il miSanthrope who was thus
taking his revenge upon mankind. Al one
time during last winter he fell and hurt
himself very severely. He was accidentally
found in this condition by Waiter HIrgOod,
who cared for him and rendered him much
assistance. The man gave no sign OF graft
tude. nor would he talk to his friend.
About month ago the man disappeared ~
mysteriouSly as ne came and, after the
usual nine days wonder. the whole thing
was about forgotten by the people Of the
neighborhood. But there was Il sequel.
Y few days ago HargoOd received a let
ter pOStmarked Boston. Mass, which con-
tanned a draft for 200, and which was from
the man who had been the tree hermit.
The writer did not sign his name, but said
that he was now in Il position 10 enable
him to repay the kindness shown him when
he was ill and stranger In the letter he
stated that he had been in trouble and
had found that he must leave tine compan-
iOnship of those by whom he was sur
rounded or he would never amount 10 any
thing in the world He had taken the
method which he believed would best COZ
Guce to absolute disappearance ana had
shown his friends that there was such Il
thing as being alive yet out of the world.
He mad committed no crime, Yet ne was not
living in the right way, and the wears Sc
clusion in the woods bad placed his mind in
such channels that in the future he thought
he would be better and wiser man.