The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-08
A FAMOUS WABASH RECLUSE
Death of DR.. S. G. Thompson, Who Lived
Peculiar and Solitary Life.
Remained True All His Days to the Memory Of
His Betrothed-S,oty Going to Show the
innate Goodness Ofthe Old Mans Heart.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WABASH. Ind, Aug. There died here
this morning one of the best-known men
in Wabash, Dr.. S. G. Thompson. His his-
tory 10 peculiarly pathetic. In early man.
hood be was engaged to an estimable lady
who died suddenly. The Doctor never
married and has always lived alone In his
little house on the bank of tho river in
q secluded nook. He retired from practice
several years ago and devoted his time TO
reading and fishing in season. He was q
thirty-second degree Mason, and was also
q member of Fort Wayne Commanderv,
knights Templars
Many are the stories told of the Doctors
peeuliarlties, some OF them household
legends in the city of Wabash, where, from
early days, the Doctor was regarded as one
of the characters of the place. Enough in
cidents and historical "reminiscences gather
about his memory to furnish sufficient data
for an Eggleston or Roe to weave rural
story. thrilling as any perhaps yet num-
bered among the works of such writers. One
of these. known only to the writer and one
other, now that the Doctor has passed
away. has never been related. 1t was tho
experience of two Wabash boys, which
will never fade from their recollection.
Opposite the city, and back of the bluffs
that follow the irregular course of the
Wabash river. in quiet glen. was o little
fish pond, the pride of the Doctors heart.
He had made the pond by damng up the
waters of a springfield brook known as
Treaty creek, flowing through his garden
patch. The pond was stocked with black
bass and perch, fed at intervals by this SOL
itary Tecluse. until they became verltable
the shore, with their green noses ruiiiing
the water. whenever the Doctor
appeared on the bank. The pre-
datory boys of the city were in
pond, and whilo hidden in the willows and
alders bordering the spot. stealthiy
drop q baited hook into the water.
snake out" . string of fish with far greater
ease and in half the time it would take to
do the same along the rifles and in the
oyer-fishcd holes of the Wabash. The
Doctor was aware of the r0bberies. and laid
many traps TO catch the trespassers. He
was known to be severe man, and those
who had been apprehended always had TO
Ray handsomely for their fun.
At last. his patience entirely gone. it was
given out that the Doctor would prosecute
any future offender. who might be taken
iiagrante. deiicto.. to the extent of tue
q
IN the States prison. Men hac got
much as two years sentence for shoot
ing farmers chicken or robbing an Or
ohard, with even the mild-tempered, but
just Judge Petit on the benoh, in the Wa
bash Circuit Court Still many a chicken
had its tender neck wrunR, orchards con-
tinued to he rayishcd, and 1t was not likely
that yentnresone anglers would shnn
ThOmpson's tempting fish pond.
1t was about this time that the two boys
referred to Whose names shall not be be-
trayed out of respect for their respective
families. still occupy ing foremost positions
In Wabashl determined TO make q "sneak"
on thep0nd. They came on the secluded spot
late one summer afternoon, crawled through
the heavy bushes. and thus. stretched
prone on the ground. tossed their lines into
q still hole beneath the branches of a shell
tering sycamore. The hungry bass fairly
fought for the bait. and two green backed
beauties were jerked ont in no time.
Sointent on the work were the young
sters that they did not hear an angry man
come rushing down the hill until he was
they He'd precipitately. just as the report of
q shotgun rang ont and the scattering bird
shot (or beans) ratified through the brush
like rain of hail. One of the lnds felt
over root and pitched headlong into tho
water. In fash all his past life shot
ashwart his mind and he thought of the
CONSERVATION and grief of kis parents
when tnov elOulQ learn tDoC tnclr GarliDS
boy had been fished from Thompson's pond
o corpse.
But the lad wasn't hurt. The sudden
bath was the worst that had bcfallen him.
He crawied from the water d sorry spectacle.
as the ferocious Doctor, gun III hand,
emerged on the bank.
Steal my fish. will your roared the
pond-owner. You're my prisoner. Como
along"
Dripping with the slimy water and weak
aR aQf ri irhf hA hAr
was made to march on in front TO the cot
tage of the recluse near by. Visions of
jail, a trial and sentence to prison arose
before the culprits senses, and but for the
ready gun carried by tho captor the boy
would have made break for liberty Ho
had no doubt of the fate that awaited him.
Humiliation, disgrace. n convict's stripes
and ruined future loomed up before him
In all their horrible reality. The Doctor
took his prisoner to the house. started q
fre in tho kitchen stove, made the lad
strip to the skin. and then helped him
wiring out his clothes and spread them on
on old split-bottom chair to dry. When
the steam had ceased to rise from the gar
ments the Doctor sternly commanded to
"put on them duds."
Tremblingly she boy obeyed, feelinG that
the time had come to be marched to town
and handed over to the officers. The Doc
tor strode to an old fas shloned cupboard.
took down q black bottle. mixed o decoc-
tion and commanded his prisoner to drink
that"
There was no alternative. The stuff
burned as il went down and nearly choked,
but did not leave an unpleasant taste In
the mouth by any means
Now. what's yer nsmef demanded the
Doctor.
The frightened kid stammered Q reply.
not daring to lie.
''Umpb umph Soyou sre--'s son,
are youi"
Yes. sirl" with great politencse.
N..u a
get home before supper, and the next time
Sou want To fish in Doc Thompson's e pond
N'me and ask frat"
The next time never came.