The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-27

Evidence OF Artistic Taste In the Cavern
Home OF n Recluse.


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 the recluse beyond the fact that
he is "A white man, an Englishman or Ameri-
can by birth, and has lived in his cave for
the past fifteen years He always wears
close-httng mask of buckskin, which falling
10 his breast. completely hides his face, and
dresses in skins IN the winter, while In the
summer he is clothed in loose garment said
TO be woven of the prairie grass.
This strange beng, by some regarded as
myth, is only seen at long intervals. when
some traveller runs across him by accident,
when he will make no attempt to escape,
but respond pleasantly, if briefly: to any
question or greeting and quietly walk
away. IL followed or molested he first
mildly protests. and then, if the attempt is
persisted in, has been known 10 draw
weapon. which has usually the effect of rid
ding him Of his tOrmentor. He carries small
rifle. which, however he has never been
seen 10 use. but snares after the manner Of
poachers. or fishes along the creek. On such
fare as he secures in this way and a patch Of
ground which he cutlvates, the recluse lives,
for he has never been known TO visit towns.
though several attempts have been made to
induce him TO abandon this solitary life. His
cavern, though known TO a few, is never
visited, for it is believed that he would resent
any intrusion in very unpleasant manner.
The only man who has ever entered the
cave is Colonel j. Nixon, who. on one Occa-
sion. was invited there by its mysterious in
habtant His story Is Il had driven out
from Harold to Lloyd's ranch when ! was
overtaken by one of our sudden prairie
storms My ponies soon grew unmanageable,
and got out to hold them by the bit when a
peal and binding fash caused the
little demons TO break away from me
.
After relieving my full heart by few
words suitable for the occasion | trudged 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 traveledit
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 dis
lance | could see the line of timber marking
the course OF the creek and made my way to
1t, following the stream for a mile or two.
An at once, as / plunged on, / heard a
voice hailing me- and looking closely about,
saw sitting in the mouth Of a dugOut or cave
in the side of good-sized hillock man with
something over his face. | hallOoed in
answer, when the stranger called to me to
come in out of the rain, 50 | 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 III
! his existence.
He led me into his cave and lighting n fire
! of pne-knOts piled up in q rude fireplace with
a funnel leading up into the open air revealed
to me a scene which for wildness | never saw
equalled. Snakes so well preserved as 10 APP
pear alive. III all their ugly viclOusness, hung
pendant from rafters that supported the clay
daubed roof; grinning heads of panthers, cat
amounts bears jaguars and every wild beast
20 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 fur
niture the place afforded. except low stool
before the fire.
The walls of the cave were 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 sufh-
cient Judge of art TO know that the hand
! which executed the pictures was that of a
skilled artist and they were fine indeed. 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 Gethsemane. but also remem-
! Der one or two scenes from the Odyssey and
! Had
NV host brought ont some cold venison
and plate of beans, of which i 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 ram ceased, he SAID: on
| must excuse me, but l am under a vow to hold
! communication with no one / rose at this
! hint and prepared to go. l had a late news
paper 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, He hesitated a second
and said / would like. however, to ask you
one question. Has England But he checked
himself and groaned. No, no; better not
! Sir, 90 quickly. | am wretch who expiatei
deadly sin in solitude and pain
He ran TO the back of the cave and falling
on his knees groaned and sobbed. l had
some tobacco with me and some other trifes
such as pocket-knife matches, quinine and
a flask of brandy. which placed on the floor
and then left. have never seen him since
for feel sure the greatest kindness TO him is
TO let him alone and have exerted all my in
fuence that he shall remain unmOlested. y
Philadelphia Times