The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28

. hANb NFNSE ~ " chn - " ~
TWENTY YEARS"
sus Is backed by the War Department OF the
United States. On the prov Of his hugo con-
trivance anchored in the channel he stands
erect like II bronze statue of Ajax.
lie Is tall and superbly proportioned, meas
uring Il feet 3 inches and weighing 200 pounds.
For twenty yeors lie has bravei the climates OF
the world without "A shirt or a coat TO protect
him. During ;le strike OF the American Rail-
way Union this man babe defiance to the South
ern Pacific and compelled big boats like the Al
ameda and Piedmont TO stop, back water, and
take the course he indicated. Facetious people
said that the Southern Pacific feared him ~ 10
he were the naked truth.
Who aud what IL this phenomenon He Is
Capt. Edward A. Won schmidt, and except upon
passing occasions. when lie has appeared In the
Government dredging Of the Oakland ship cham
War Department. An Erdminsr representative
rowed out to the dredger and asked to see the
He's there" said one OF the crew motioning
apprehensively toward the door OF the cabin.
the din iisp Of the 81 na S%Hpn " &C isG INF ga and the
visitor entered. Before the giant within easy
reach were two knives and u rifle.
MANY people have wondered why you wear
no clothes. DO you object to telling why y was
Won schmidt put down a volume Of Kipling's
tales and replied:
Well. briefly, for my health" Then, in an
swer to questions he went ON Tor two hours re-
"Dson e u ever feel coidF" he crepe repeated. @why.
bless you. | have gone as you see me now for
twenty years, In all kinds OF climates. In every
part ~ the world. 1t l. u mistake to think that
i Is natural to go naked only in the tropics.
Hittell. in his history Of California, calls atten-
tion to the effect Of civilization, upon the In
verting these natives To Christianity, began
u clothe them the Indians began 10 die
Of pulmonary troubles; NY philosophy 81
principles. The pores OF the skin breathe the air
and are intended 10 take in the sunshine: esp"-
Cially should the pores over the respiratory or
gans have free access to the sun and atmosphere.
In fact. German scientists are now advocating
nhkpdness as n cure for consumption. l como
from a c~Onsunptiyr family. aud when ] WAS, a
boy 1, was predicted that | would die young be
u long breath, and the superb expansion OF his
chest showed how indifferent events are of tie
Yes" continued the strong man. land I
studied medicine awhile, aud my fellow empiri-
sea my friends said would never come back.
Well; down in he tropics, | naturally wore but
and when put on more clothing again ! didn't
feel ~ well. A year later: in bringing q vessel
through The strait. Of Magellan noticed the
nursing their babes all naked, and all quick In
action and sturdy Of limb. and | said | have
found the secret Of health. Ever since have
dressed about ~ those rugged natives Of that
ii is lirirult 10 he stately in undress. Carlyle
shows how the dlgnity would pass out of the
Ing a naked House OF lords: but Capt. Yen
Schmidt is digniiird men respect him; His
teen, eighteen. aud twenty years, regard him as
a yeritable deni-god. Naked he gives his COM
from Washington and transacts business with
imposing officials OF tlc War Department As
sh"Tt.sieeved shirt. a cap. and a thin paiF oi
trousers " hen, rs Commodore Of the California
Yacht club. he prcSides over It's regattas. But
aNan Ihnp he Ny.n /. nm nnIRFyRHF and faAIa re-
liev-d when he gets back Ia primitive simplicity.
His lifs has been romantic. As Captain re-
Palmer; the schooner Cl,us spreckels; the brig
Ina; Heated the Hawaiian dag in the Atlantic
ocran, and he steamer .Like-lLke. named after
has circumnayiGated the globe. He Is some
what NJ a laNdsnsn, too. Years ago, as . Gov
iinrs Of Califar%ia. II have crossed the sisrrass
thirty-twu times an foot" said he. He has a
gOui many souvenirs ~ his experiences In the
shape ~ ugly knife scars on his body. But he Is
not ~ all Inclined Ia DC boastful aud does not
THE hlrs OF San Francisco papers OF 1878
would unInld "A tale about, me Il you are inter
estrd IN that part Of my history y he said: These
guittal for killing the leader Of u gang Of tOughs
Ia south san Francisco.
skin is the color Of The Berkeley hills in autumn,
and the srsrs IN his bSiy. being OF = lighter
and has fur children.
1t Was u Disappointment in love" he OBJ
served, that made me ga 10 sea, Then, too. l
inherited a love Of adyeutuTe. NV grandfather
MAS q sea captain and traded with the Califor-
man Indians ia 1928. In the south Seas | mar
rled "A hhlf-Caste girl ala educated girl, however.
the daughter Of an English officer. She died.
My present wife married in Melbourne. She
shares my bizarre notions about clothing. or
course she dOesnt 90 alS,ut rs | do, but ~ Tar as
sGiety will permit her she obey the same nat
uTsl laws. We dress our children with regard
to those principles, ton. aud We have never spent
n penny fpr m'aictne or for "A ply siciAn's care IN
our household
Although tLe Captain doesn't own q white
shirt or q pair ~ cum or a snit OF clothes that
would pAss muster la "A paTlur or on a boule-
ward. hc u n wealthy man, CONTROLLING with his
father the dredging business Of the coast, and
owning shipS an the Atlantic aud Pacific, and
also considerable land ia This STATE.
"ll0 Suu 20 into sOririy al all he was asked.
Hardly" ~atd lr. - la folded his muscular
arms and Klarrd Al A IsI~-lng tuy. have been
So hong aWHN from tUt 'rau monde that ] should
feel lost mess. aud b side ny drvHs might not
Os rChsrChg. dUu't yup srrf However, as a
Young man" aud lac painted slgIin'au'ly Ia a
Few graz hairs la hts lizard. IL Mas said that
las a hraNN swell