Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-25
A Crusoe Life.


sequences of his appearance was lost.
A Crusoe Life.
Jacks life has been an eventful one.
Born in 1897, he followed the sea a great
part of his early days For "a years he
sailed the world over in government and
merchant vessels under many flags. He
was wrecked five times-once on an island,
where he led Crusoe life for two years
and was obliged to eat snakes, frogs and
similar food. He says he has eaten all
kinds Of snakes except cobras, and even
now enjoys live frog diet. Disgusting as
is the fact, easily proved it by giving him
quarter, for which he actually selected a
lively specimen of a frog from among his
stock, which he says he keeps to fatten, and
swallowed it whole. / inquired if it didn't
kick after it was down, to which he re-
piled, ''Oh, little, but twill soon be
quiet" He went on to say that while in
the English service in China he was shot
through the arm. He was also in the
transport service in the Crimea and re-
membered Lord Raglan and Sir Colin
Campbell, who was created Lord Clyde after
the sepoy mutiny. He was in the service
in India during the mutiny and was among
the 500 recruits from the vessels in port out
of which $50 were killed. He was present
at the taking of Delhi and assisted in cap
turing the king, receiving two shots in the
side and a bayonet wound in the face.
He says he never saw any large Ameri-
can city except New York, where he staid
for a few hours 30 years ago. He has
lived in his present home some % years
and subsists on the game he catches,
the products Of his little garden and the
berries and nuts the woods afford. He
has had some peculiar companions be-
sides his present family and at one time
had dog and deer, pig and a lamb, all
Of which he taught to drink his root beer
A bear and wolf have shared his hospital
ty at different times. For many years be-
fore his death half breed Indian named
Loris was frequent visitor and companion
of Jacks.
He relates pathetically that once he loved
a fair English girl, but while he was away
on one of his voyages she died, and he
never loved another and thereafter did not
care to meet the people of the world, pre-
ferring to have the mute inhabitants of the
forest as his companions.
A Peril0us Adventure.
Jack is absent on his hunting trips days
at n time and gives vivid account of
what once befell him that is worth telling
here. "a dozen years ago. said Jack, Il
got into serious scrape. Over this noun
tain and the next one there is little pond
swarming with trout. but it is hard climb
to get there, AS there is no pass between the
mountains, and you have to go over the
top of both. The pond is almost as high
as the ridge you see over there sticking its
back up throIgh the clouds.
II started off early one morning and got
10 the pond about the middle of the fore
noon. 1t was a hot morning, but / never
saw trout bite so well. About the middle
of the afternoon ! had got trout enough
and was ready to 20 home, and then felt
uneasy because off in the south and south
west the thUnderclouds began to pile up,
snd knew there was big shower coming.
Showers come quick up here. I've known
1t all clear sky and sunshine, and in less
than Is minutes it would be black as night |
and pour in torrents.
when / got on the back bone Of the |
ridge, saw the shower coming, and it was
growing dark fast, and the thunder rum |
bled in the south. knew / should catch |
it before / get home, and had got pretty |
we'll down TO the deep gully between the |
two mountains when the rain came down |
like waterspout. l looked around Tor |
shelter. but there wasn't a tree of any size
but powders. But luckily |
found hole under big bowlder that led |
into cave, and went in, although was
careful lest there were a bear or wildcat in
it which might object to company.
1.-THE CLEAN Of the lightning through the
entrance would partially light the interior,
but there were still deep shadows in the
rear, and felt uneasy. for could hear
thunder madesuch q din, and