The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-26
AGED Hermit and HIS DOC
Cool Abode of Casper Bosler in the
Woods Near st. Mary's, 0.
THERMOMETER 20 BELOW ZERO
NO Roof Covers Their Heads and a
Blanket Is Discarded-The Farmers
Call Him a Mascot-Inyariably
Refuses Shelter.
BY the United Press.


st. Marys, o., Feb. 25.-Casper Bos-
Ter and his dog are tramps, there is no
doubt of that; nevertheless they are
exciting the wonder and curiosity of
many by their unnatural conduct and
unheard of power of endurance.
Bostler and his faithful dog have Sc
lected for their home the Henry Tango
man Wood about four miles south OF
here, in which on a convenient spot
they have collected large pile of wood,
underbrush and rotten logs from their
adopted dooryard, stacked neatly for
a back ground about five feet from
thishuge fire, and their home is coma
this a huge fire, and their home is COM
plete.
Their furniture, while not being in
the latest design of antique oak, is, how
ever, all that is necessary and of very
durable nature, consisting of a huge
plank about ten inches wide and twelve
feet long, making a comfortable bed
with the addition of a chunk of wood
for a pillow. Here they have reposed
four long months with no warmer COW
ering than the leafless trees and the
cold unsympathetic sky. Many have
been the protestations against this will
full disregard of health and life, yet he
stubbornly persists in his Independent
freedom.
During the dreadful severe weather
of last week a neighbor fearing fatal
results from such conduct tried by
every method known to force upon him
the comforts of his home. Failing in
this he finally succeeded in inducing
this queer character to accept a cotton
blanket, which, after one nights trial,
was disdainfully thrust aside as Il
must needs catch fire while its pos
SCISSOR was fast asleep, so near the fire
that his beard threatened to give up
the struggle of trying to exist in such
scorching atmosphere. Dan, the boon
companion of his mater, shares his
hardships and in a manner alleviates
his burden of struggling existence by
aiding in protecting him from the cold;
and when man and animal are asleep
they present striking picture.
The Hermit Seventy Years Old.
The master is old and grizzled, more
than 20 years of age, hair and beard of
that indescribable color, caused by a
mixture of gray, yellow scorch and
smoke, face grimed by constant abb
sence of water, furrowed and scaled by
| age, and the constant heat his face is
subject to while sleeping in such close
proximity to his bonfire, the wind
| causing it to crack and roll up like
scales of a fish too long out of his ma
| tive element, his hands wrinkled, black
and deformed by exposure to the bit
| ing cold.
The long figure is stretched at full
| length upon hard and comfortless
! plank, Dan curled up in a huge ball,
completely covering his masters feet,
sleeping as though nineteenth century
| comforts We're of no object to them.
All the while the wind whistles through
the barren trees, while an occasional
| fall of snow causes a sob of pity to go
| up from the many hearts that know
and are in communication with him
daily, as his crust is obtained in the
same old way.
Yet not quite the same for while
others supplicate he demands. He has
been known to drink from one to two
cups of melted lard at a meal. this he
states being the main reason he Is able
to withstand the cold.
ANeighborhoOd Masent.
His provisions he gets from the
neighbors, offering always to pay, with
certain dignity that at once awes and
eifectually suppresses all outward
signs of amusement at this it being uni
versally known that his pockets could
be turned inside out without disclosing
single copper.
No reason can be ascertained for his
constant refusal of shelter. still less Is
known of his past history other than
his daily life proclaims. He was in the
neighborhood just ten years ago, look
ing the same with the very same dog
| and has come to be considered by the
farmers as their especial property; this
Is their excuse for charity.
| As an object of sport he Is one long
joke to the idle youths by his pedan-
try on Biblical subjects spiced with
lusty oaths. his abundant use of pro-
fame language being one of his chief
proficiencies; but the fact of his being
| peculiar does not in any way answer
the overpowering question why and
how he stands the raw elements in a