The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-11-23
LIVING IN SOLITUDE.
STRANGE HERNlrs WHO HAVE At
TANNED NoToRlETY.

FN'NA-e W. C'Nl- '
The singular Creature Who ftequcnis the
wiids Of PIKE Connty, ra.-i erks Coun-
tvs Female ucrmit-IIcrmit Coc uf -he
BowerN.
"Here | have lived for 40 years. and here
hope To die. ! want no other company
than these woods and mountains give nae.
al ask Of my fellows is that they will
leave me TO follow in peace myown desires"
The man who spoke i'm this curious way
was Austin Sheldon, the famous hermit of
Pike county, Pa, the place, the entrance
to his home, n small and gloomy cave in
the densey wooded mountain dozen
miles or so from Dingman's, the sleepy
little village 50 well known to lovers of the
stream and chase.
A curious and striking figure is this old
hermit now far past so; features sharp,
form thin and still erect, eyes keen and
glittering and hair and long flowing beard
as white as the midwinter snow. It's now
81 years since he made his appearance in
Pike county and purchased small farm
near Blooming Grove. No one knew where
he came from, and as to his past he himself
was rs silent as the grave He had no Wis
itors, he lived alone, and his brief visits to
Milford We're few and far between.
Those who came in contact with him
found him a man of education and superior
Intelligence, but he quietly repealed all at
tempts to break in upon his solitary lie,
and Mt the end of few years sold his farm
and went to live in n cave on the adjacent
mountainside Here upon n time party
of hunters found him one cold winters
day stricken with fever and slowly starv-
Tho rapnla of niptr,,n,'u
whence he was taken, gave him tender
care, and when he recovered he went back
to his home on the mountainside.
Here, after the lapse of many years, he
was found by relatives from Connecticut,
who had long sought for him in vain They
besought him to return to his old eastern
home, but without avail, and after provid-
ing for his wants they left him to follow
his strange and solitary life undisturbed.
Before they left they told the inquirers the
touching story of Shedon's life. Married
to "A beautiful girl whom he tendorly loved,
her sudden death n few weeks after their
wedding day made him henceforth Il
changed man. He grew silent and morose
and after few months sold his property in
Connecticut and disappeared.
In the wilds of Pike county he found the
solitude and C,iet he so much desired, and
save for one brief period, he has since re
sided. Eight years ago he again fell sick,
and found as before by hunters, was taken
to Dingman's. His sister came from Con-
necticut to nurss him, and when his health
was restored persuaded him to accompany
her home. But the longing for his cave and
the forest solitude soon proved too strong
to be resisted, and few months time found
him back in his oddly chosen home, which
he said he should never leave again, and
thus far his resolution has been faithfully
kept
Pennsylvania had until n few years ago
two female hermits. One of these was
Sallie Ketner, who lived in the mountains
near Bernvillc, Berks county. She reached
the age of 81, and for 4S years lived the life
of hermit, residing all that time in a
tumble down hovel, the falling timbers of
which finally produced the injuries which
caused her death She had loved and been
loved in return, so the story goes, by a
handsome young sailor who left her with
the promise that in five years he would re-
turn and make her his bride.
This promise was never fulfilled. for the
sailor lover, impressed into the service OF
another country, died in a French prison
before the time set for return. His sweet
heart kept his memory ever green, would
never haNe any ln'nS " uo WIN ia'oi., a'liI
IN her posolh Miieli 81. was yea" e WIS io..t
1ne iasU ie.'ei ron ner ~ ~, i'',s,' WIN
aEe, written JuaS osloie ne ne .ieu. 1ne Wa
my .,iu'' anu VIZ
hei nuU NUM- iuii ~ Gam St Wv
py nel lii,, e fiol 80 SlI 81
cieUy Vi ner ea'5 anu "GSs VI WITCH ene la.
sooiS nun, ,nu oi.ei GO Nv.
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