The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-25
WONDERFUL BLIND MAN.
SOME YARNS OF A CONNECTICUT
PHENOMENON.

william Hill of Hamburg Has Been
Blind since Boyhood. but the Lack of
the Sense of Sight Doesn't Bother
Him-Re Plows, Rides, Catches Fish
and Even Shoots Birds Upon the
Wing without Difaculty-He Is a
Marvellous Checker Player and a
spiritualst as We'll.
From the Boston Globe.
Many stories are told of the wonderful
things done by persons who have lost the sense
of sight, but it would be hard TO find in the
common walks of life a blind person who could
successfully compete with William Hill.
blind farmer of Hamburg, Conn, in the per
Torrance of strange acts. Hill is about 81
years old. and. with the exception OF being
blind is in perfect physical condition. He lost
his sight in a strange way when he was boy
of 16 years.
In company with number of his associates
he was bathing in mill pond thunder
storm came up suddenly, The bathers did not
leave the water. A flash OF lightning came and
struck ths water near Hill, who was partially
paralyzed by the shock, His companions got
lin ashore and he recovered, but his eyeslgnt
affected anu in few weeks he became
totally blind.
With the loss Of his sense of sight his other
8 nse3 became more acute, esp -cially that of
hearing. until il became possible for him TO
measure long distances by the sounds that he
heard. He recognized his friends readily by
the sound of their voice :, and he could dis
tinRuish the COWS and oxen ABOUT Jne farm py
their lowing.
When Hi was Q! years old his father died
and the work of carrying on the farm devoived
upon him. He proved himself equal to the
task He directed the planting of the crops
and plowed the fields himself He developed q
talent for Woodworking and made many pieces
OF furniture that it would puz le an accom-
plished workman with perfect eyes TO duplicate.
He built IA OK cart and sleigh equal to any
ever turned out by a professional wagonmaker.
Even in his earliest boyhood Hill was very
fond Of outdoor sports. For time after his
sight was destroyed he was obliged to abandon
the field, but he couldn't long contain himself.
Two years he stood it. Then one day he eur
prised his mother by saying that ne proposed to
go up the meadow brook and see If he couldn't
hook few trout.
HIS mother tried to dissuede him from doing
it, but he was determined, and getting his tackle
he started out. Mrs. Hill sent one Of the farm
hands, unknown to william, to watch him, for
fear that he would become lost or fall into the
stream. Hill was gone three hours ana then
returned with string of line trout: he was
elated over his success, and from that Tune he
has followed the sport as fearesSly and as sue
cesSfully as he did when a boy.
He says that he feels as confident OF himself
in locality With which he is familiar as be
would If he could see all the objects about him.
He seems to be guided by to which Le
was a stranger before ne became blind. In a
strange locality he ia influenced by the same
sense, but realizes the necessity OF being eau
tious.
For some reason the domestic animals about
the farm show regard for the man that seems
like sympathy. The sound of his voice brings
them about him, and when he goes into the
field to yoke the oxen he calls the animal by
name and they obedientlY take the place under
the yoke assigned TO them, He rides horse
back when travelling a long distance. He never
attempts 10 drive horse to wagon unattended,
Tor lear OF runaway. In the saddle ne con-
siders himself capable of governing the beast.
Perhaps the most wonderful thing Hill does Is
to shOoL birds. In the season for quail and
partridge shooting and duck hunting he is in
The fields or meadows good share OF the time,
and often alone.
There are extensive hunting grounds on bis
farm, and with them he is very familiar. Part
ridge and quail are the birds that he hunts
most successfully. These he always shoots on
the sing, judging the distance and the direction
In which they are flying by the sound they
make. His aim seldom fails him, and the game
that falls under his gun is brought to him by
thoroughly trained retriever. be frequently
brings home from u days outing string of
dozen birds. When duck shooting be is accom-
panied by other hunters. This sport is popu-
lar one in the marshes along the Connecticut
river.
The most favorable hour for shooting is at
twilight, and on such occasions Hill is valu-
able adjunct to hunting party, for bis acute
nearing enables him TO announce the approach
OF flock of ducks some seconds before they are
sighted. In shooting this kind of game he is
guided by sound, as in the shooting OF quail and
partridge.
AS an amateur checker player he has never
met his match. This game is a popular one In
the country districts of Connecticut, and in the
country grocery stores good many men can
be found who are expert players. For milos
around Hills home his fame has spread, and
frequently he is challenged by some player who
thinks that he is able to defeat him. He has
the record of winning every game played dur
ing the last five years He plays the game
Slowly, carefully feeling cut the position OF the
men on the board with his fingers.
OF late years Hill has shown deep interest
In spiritualism, and has become firm believer
IN that faith. He asserts that he is guided in
MS undertakings by an influence which he be-
heves comes from his friends in the shadow
world.
one night two weeks ago Hill and party of
acquantances visited a neighbours house for the
purpose of holding "a circle" When they
started to return they found it showing. They
were obliged to cross a wood lot. and in doing
SO the darkness and snow confused them and
they were unable to find their way out.
hen Hill found out that the leader OF the
party was bewildered he told them TO follow
MN; that he could take them 20 the road The
pe9E had but little faith in bis ability to do SO,
outeney followed him and he took them di-
TTectly to the road The party was thus saved
from wandering about the woods all night.