The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-04-30
AN AMERICAN MONARCH.
a Veritable Robinson Crusoe Re.
Gently Discovered.
The Queer Existence OF . Lone Fisher
man Who Reigns In Solitary SUI
prsmsoy Over an Island In
Lake Michigan.


Twelve miles out in Grand Traverse
bay, lying between Marion Island and
the main land, Ia little island COM
prising about an acre Of ground, and
upon this island, far from the noise
and turmoil OF the busy world, lives
Dick Bassett, the hermit, says Mich
igan correspondent of the New York
Sunday Journal.
Bassett is an odd genius, fond OF
quiet and solitude, yet one Of the most
popular men in his section, known
and liked by everybody. Beyond
few glittering fgeneralities nothing is
known Of his past life, and the es-
capsde that led to his retirement from
the world is a secret known only to him
self. -
He Is a bachelor, about fifty-fve
years old, good-looking, we'll edu.
Gated. we'll read and we'll informed,
an inveterate smoker, strict tee
totaler, jolly and witty in his inter-
course with men, the soul Of honor in
business transactions and confirmed
fisherman.
On his little island home, which is a
veritsble paradise in summer, he has
small log cabin comfortably furnished,
Q miniature chicken-coop, an ice-house
and vegetable cellar. The island Is
bordered with row Of fruit trees,
plums, peaches, apples, pears and cher
ries, and in the interior is garden for
POTATOES, Strawberries and other small
1 fruit and vegetables. His acre is high
ly cultivated and very productive, and
the crops he raises more than suffice
for his simple wants. He sells some of
the surplus and gives much away.
His chief occupation, however. Is
fishing. The waters about his island
fairly TEEN with whitefsh and lake
trout, and he Is an expert in pulling
them In both with the net and line. He
finds Already market In this city for the
iish and In the summer sells many to
resorters. In the early fall he gets in
his crops and then fishes until Deem
Der, storing the fish away in his ice-
boxes for winter shipment.
In January he harvests his ice crop,
and then II he feels like taking little
exercise and enjoying life on moderate
scale, he secures employment In the
woods and labors In the lumber camps
until 1t 10 time for him to return to his
island.
His living expenses are merely nomi
nal, and the money he has left after
subscribing for half dozen papers and
magazines he lays away where nobody
knows, and none knows how much he
has. k
He is honest himself, and he takes 1t
for granted that everybody else Is the
same. He has no locks on his cabin
door. and frequently goes away for
hours at . time, leaving his money loose
on the table. He has never lost any
thing yet by thieves, and apparently
has no fears in that direction.
All that. is known Of Bassett's life is
that he was born in the West; that his
father was plainsman and ranchman,
and often left Dick alone on the prairie
with the cattle while he piloted travel
ers across the country. When the war
broke out Dick was sturdy young man
Of twenty-five, and his sympathies were
with the North. He enlisted with the
Fifth Iowa Infantry, and that he served
with gallantry is attested by eight bull
let wounds in as many different parts Of
his body.
His father and other relatives ad-
hered to the lost cause, and when the
war ended nothing could be found OF
any Of them. Bassett wandered around
the country, and finally, in 1875, came
here. He found work at first among the
fishermen, and then, taking q fancy to
the island, he squatted upon 1t, and has
since lived there like another Robinson
Crusoe. @NAtk
He has . few choice hens, four or Ave
cats and dog, and leadsa quiet and
apparently happy life. Although he
saw much hard service in the army he
is not pensiuner. He lost his papers
soon after the war in transmitting them
to Washington, and has failed in every
attempt to find any Of old comrades,
and he rarely even thinks now OF ap-
plying for financial succor from the
Government.
A peculiar Circumstance in connec-
ton with Bassett's island home is that
1t has never been entered on the Gov
ernment charts. There Is no evidence
to be found on the maps that the island
exists, and he Is unable TO acquire any
legal title to II.
He holds 1t by the right Of possession,
and has no fear that any one will try to
oust him. This condition Of affairs has
another peculiar feature. Marion ISL
and, which Is separated from Bassett's |
BY but . few rods Of water, Ia included
In Peninsular township, and the owner |
OF the bigger island pays his taxes and |
votes in the township, but Bassett's /
land, having no legal existeuce-on. the
map, 10 declared not in tho United |,
States; and R<ssett has no taxes to nav
and Is not allowed 70 vote.
1t Is held that he is not citizen Of |
The United States; that he does not live
IN this country, and to all intents and
purposes is Q foreigner. In spite OF
such tFifing annoyances the solitary in
aabitant Of the island takes life pbilo.
and is supreme ruler OF his
little domain.
9uE enplnru rAnA,