The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-02-04
THE LAST OF THE MoHAwKs.

ley, whom the lconocia5tS CT this old
burg have dubbed "Jim Cuff" When or
why no one knows, for jim is nearly
MS old as the oldest inhabitant Jim is
remarkable character. He was born
on the outskirts of Schenectady, near
where the electric car barns now stand
on upper State Street, and his sense of
locality must be strong, for his cabin
is now within short distance from
the spot where he first saw the light.
His father, James, who died about half
a century ago, was magnificent
specimen of physical manhood, but he
did not compare with his son when the
latter was in his prime. Just how old
Jim is no one knows; he does not know
himself. Old residents estimate his
age from IS to 90 years. William III.
Helmer of Schenectady says he first
became acquainted with him forty
five years ago. lie was then nearly
seven feet high; he is now six
feet six or seven inches, and his hair,
which now is iron gray, at the same
time hung long and glistening black
over his shoulders. Long after Jim
had passed his prime no man in Sche-
nectady County could compare with
him in feats of strength. Mr. Hell
mer's son, William, who, twenty years
ago weighed two hundred pounds and
was one of the best athletes in the
valley. used TO boast that he had never
met man who could throw him.
CHANGING in Helmer's grocery one
day, Jim overheard the boast and
offered to try conclusions. He was
then more than sixty-fve years old,
but Mr.. Hclmer says he found himself
on his back almost instantly.
Jim has had a varied career AS a
young man he wandered to the At
lantic coast, and after some expert
cree us sailor he shipped on the
waller Jopan from Nantucket. 1t
was a prosperous trip, and nearly q
thousand barrels of oil were taken,
but Jim got lost, and was left on
Barnes Island to be rescued by another
whaler after exposure and privation
that would have killed any but man
of his wonderful constitution. When
the civil war broke out Jim enlisted in
the One Hundred and Fifteenth New
York Infantry at Dunkirk, and as in
fantryman and cavalryman served
throughout the war;
Since that time Jims has made Sche-
nectady his home. His cabin, rough
board structure in the midst of an old
apple orchard. is in size to him what a
mastiffs kennel would be to the aver
age man. The ground beneath him liz
eumrner and N hlanLet around him IN
winter are all that he wants. Time
and time again comfortable, warm
rooms have been offered to him, but he
has declined them all. Although his
life is almost as unconventional as that
of his widest ancestor, it has been
peaceable one in Schenectady. 1t
must be confessed that he has a weak
ness Dor the red extract Of grain, and
occasionally when under its influence
he amuses himself by shooting throu h
the roof of his cabin, to the alarm of
timid neighbors, but no complaint
has ever been made against
him, and his name has never been
written on the blotter of the police.
Jim is not a pauper, nor is he q beggar.
He has never applied to the city for a
dollar. He supports himself in his
simple needs by fishing and by selling |
roots, herbs and bsrlxs Some years !
ago an entcrprising liquor dealer COM
pounded drink after Jim's receipt |
that became very popular Whisky
was the basis OF IL. aud the other in !
gradients were black Glory bark, sss-