Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-08-31
x, BRATTLEBORO, FRIDAY, AUGUST 81. 1894.


In DIR. Robert n. Keely, jr.' 8, recent visit
to Nicarauga and the Mosquito coast he
heard of a mysterious individual, white
man, who makes his home in tree. Sat
isfying himself as TO the substantial truth
of the rumors, he determined to have a
sight of the strange house of this eccentric
person, and took steamer up the Rama
river An account of this dwelling is given
in the Popular Science Monthly. "After
steaming several miles we came upon the
clearing of Captain Henry Wilderson, for
such is the name of the tree-dweller and
here, within a hundred yards of the river,
stood this remarkable structure, its white
painted sides and green window blinds
making a striking object against the dark
jungle surrounding it. Imagine tall tree
trunk nearly four feet in diameter and
| stripped of branches, rising fifty feet or
more straight up into the air, and perched
upon its summit this strange abode, look
ing for all the world like huge lantern.
1t is said that Wilderson objects TO visitors
on curiosity bent, and Photographic cam
era pointed at the house would be quite apt
to bring forth protests from the inmate,
backed up, if necessary, by force and vio-
lence. Fortunately, on the day of our visit
the captain was not at home, so our inves-
ton. The tree upon which the house is
| built is a variety called the ebo. Its wood
is of great strength and hardness, and, as
it would require days of work with an axe
to fell 1t, Wilderson can feel quite safe on
his lofty perch. The building is about
twenty-five feet square and about the same
| in height. The tree runs completely
through the centre of the house to the
roof. The first story is occupied by the
| kitchen; a sitting-room and bedroom, with
a small piazza facing the river, take up the
next story, while the third story was in
tended for a bathroom and observatory.
| The whole is very solidly built of pine lum-
| Der. Al each corner are heavy braces of
timber reaching from the ground to the
main floor, while four stout guy-ropes, run
| ming from the house and fastened to ada
cent trees, assure the occupant additional
safety against the strong winds which
sometimes rage.
ITO reach the house it is necessary to en-
ter an elevator placed at the back of the
tree. This is a simple contrivance, and
consists of small platform to which is
attached a rope passing over pulley in the
kitchen. To pull ones self up requires
but little eXertion, as the weight of a per
son is balanced by heavy counter-weight,
which descends as the elevator rises by a
hand-over-hand pull of the passenger and
in few moments one is landed at the door
opening into the structure. In descending
OF course, the operation is reversed. The
interior is furnished in very plain style
and may be said to contain necessarie;
only; there is not the slightest attempt a.
ornament or decoration. The kitchen
utensils are few. and most of them of HON,
manufacture; indeed, Nature in this coun
try has supplied food in such form tina
cooking is a matter of secondary import
ance, and is not regarded as one of the Sc
rious affairs of the household. As rain falli
almost nine months of the year, the hous,
is not without its supply of water. Thii
comes from the roof, and is run into tank
conveniently placed within the house
Captain Wilderson, who is an old Louisi
anna planter, built his castle in a ire,
about three years ago and it is said to hay,
cost $500 The oddity is the result of
theory which the captain has that germs o
malarial fever are not as active at an eleva
tion as they are near the ground. Wilder
son is said to be hale and hearty, and il
consequence thereof his theory has quite
respectable local standing