The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-03-08
YEARS A HERMIT.
His Abode in the Businesses of Great
Savage Mountain

A special to the Baltimore inner
ican on Monday from its CORES
pendent at Frostburg, relates the
following interesting and decidedly
romantic story, located IN the fast
nesses Of the Great Savage Noun
tains:
James Watts, who lives on Great
Savage Mountain, four miles from
Frostburg. to-day returned from a
hunting trip through the wilds of
Garrett county, and tells AZ inter
esting story Of the discovery Of
hermit and the location of vein OF
silver ore. There has long existed
in this section a firm belief that in
Garrett county there is deposit of
rich silver ore. 4 mountaineer
named Layman, who died few
years ago, claimed that he had once
discovered the place where the de-
posted is located, but on leaving it
he was never able to relocate the
place.
The story is corrobolated bv the
experience of Mr.. Watts. Watts
left home on Friday morning last
to hunt for game. About noon he
came upon the tracks of wildcat
in the snow, and following 1t for
several miles, he found himself in a
locality never before visited by him.
In a deep gorge, surrounded bv Il
dense thlcket, he discovered a rude
cabin. 1t being near nightfall,
Watts sought admission and found
within the cabin an old man lying
upon couch, who said he had been
Ill for several days. The hunter
prepared supper and spent the night
in the cabin.
Next morning the old man was
worse, and Watts decided to remain
with him all day, In the afternoon
the hermit called Watts to his bed
side and said he wished to tell him
the story of his life, as he knew that
he could live but a few hours. He
sad his name was Henry Lembach,
and was born in Munich in 1914.
He was educated at the University
of Heidelberg, and while there fell
in loYe with pretty girl named
Katherine Reitf, who Tilted him to
become the wife of a banker in order
to please her father. He then de-
termined never to marry, and in
1871 came to America, and in 1849
went to California to join in the
search for gold.
After spending ten years there,
he came East and settled in these
mountains, having learned that
somewhere in this vicinity was de-
post of precious metal he had a
general description of the locality
in which the metal was to be found.
Not wishing his object to become
known, he built his cabin in Sc
cure place, and only when abso-
luteIy necessary made trips to
neighboring towns to purchase food.
He brought with him from the West
snug fortune, and for nearly three
years kept up the search for hidden
treasure.
At length, almost by accident he
discovered a VEN Of silver ore assay
ing nearly 800 a ton. He con
structed smelling furnace Gin his
cabin and reduced ores till he had
silver bullion to the value of $50
600. lie directed Watts to take
from under his bed, after his deatb
a box containing papers OF value.
The old mans voice then became
weaker, and was too much ex-
hausted so talk further. Late Sat
urday evening he died, Watts dug
grave near the cabin, and the next
day he buried Lemback in a coffin
which had evidently been made by
the latter. Sunday night Watts
spent in the cabin, and found the
place where the silver bricks were
hidden. lie found the box to CON
tam $40 IN gold, and small
amount Of silver change, u map
showing the route from the cabin to
the deposit of ore, and several let.
tiers addressed to persons in Ger
many.
Watts started for home at day
Light this morning, bringing with
him the papers and the gold. He
followed his tracks made in the
snow on Friday until he reached a
portion of the mountain with which
he was familiar. He is confident
he can find the place again after
the snow melts. Lem back has been
seen in Frostburg at various times
during the past twenty-five or thirty
years, but no one ever knew where
he lived or what his occupation was.
He was evidently well educated and
man of culture. Watts contem-
plates a visit to the cabin this week
and will also try to locate the place
where the silver ore was found.
GOnH P07Ec