The sun., 1896-09-14
JERSEYS CLIFF DwELLER.
BlLF-WILD GERMAN FOUND LIT-
ING Nv a SQUALID GAZE.

where tho trolley road makes its big horse.
shoe curve in West Hoboken 10 little rock
cave. Undsrbrush screens IL from sight from
above and below Few people wander about
the cliffs there because the place 10 haunt
for tough characters. That is why, for two
months and half. German who has turned
his back on civilization was able TO nhabt the
cave without being discovered. Tho half-wild
man has been brought back forcibly TO civil-
zAton by the police bv way Of tho county jail,
whore he Is now Imprisoned. What manper
OF man ho 10. and why he chose the life OF an
animal are secrets which he preserves by surly
refusals 10 discuss them.
Periodically the police Of the West Hoboton
station take trio about the cliffs in search Of
disorderly characters and gangs OF petty
thieves who hide their plundtr there. In many
such excursions made this summer they must
have passed very near the mouth of the her.
mits cave, but thoy did not discover u until
Friday. and then only by accident. Police
men Mccartney and Suhr. in citifen's clothes.
wero on clfi..earohing expedition under
command Of Sergeant Usher. and had reached
a place on the slope at the foot of Fulton street,
near which they had arrested two petty
thieves a few days before, when McCartneys
attention was attracted by number Of bones
living on a fiat table rock below. Near the
bones was quantity of watermelon rind.
and on bush near by hung tho remains OF
what appeared to be cat or rabbit. McCart-
ney called his fellow officer and they clam.
Dered down TO the table rock. where they found
themselves at the entrance to small rock
cave inside the cave sat n man smoking.
They took one look at him and then retreated
several PAGES, holding their.noees because the
odor which came from the cave was extreme
ly unpeasing When thay had reached spot
where fresh air was procurable, Mccartney
called:
Como out of there. We want to talk to
you"
There was no anewer or movement from the
cave. Taking lunRful Of air apiece the police
men.went quite noar to the entrance and looksd
IN. Sitting cross-legged tho foor of the
cave was the most extraordinary looking in
dividual either OF them had ever 'beheld. He
was very large and powerfully built. His age |
seemed to be between 40 and SO years. although |
It was difficult to guess because Of the dirt |
which encrusted his features. His hair hung
around his shoulders, and q patriarchal beard |
spread It's profusion over his chest Both hair
and beard were indescribably matted. He |
wore q pair Of patchwork trousers, openwork |
shoes. and an army overcoat full of tears. An. |
other coat was spread across his knees, and he |
was making an attempt at monding It with |
coarse needle threaded with small twfne
'what are you doing In hereT' asked Nc |
Cartney.
A grunt was the only reply.
You'll have to give an account Of yourself" |
put in suhr. the other ofilcer. you've got no
right here"
II got right to live." said the man in q
deep, husky voi,e and with German accent
''what do you do for livinE!" inquired
Mccartney.
None of your business" responded the man
promptly.
"well, you'll have to get out"
what for7"
because you've got no business here"
Don't you try to put mo OUT" warned tho
man. III fx you the aame as n1sd them
in California"
How was thatf" asked both tho officers
simultaneously; butthe only reply they got
was glance Of suspicion and o sparl.
Not knowing exactly what to do-for there
was no evidence of wrongdoing-they called |
Sergeant Usher. who was at tho top of tho
cliff. He started down in some excitement on
being told that a wild man had been discovered.
Where is her" he asked, pausing Q short
distance from the cave
within. ten yards of where You stand"
said Suhr: 'and pretty well hidden. See IL
you can find him."
Some minutes of search failed to discover to
the Sergeant the mans retreat. so snugly is It
hidden. and he was much surprised whom the
policemen. showed him the cave entrance hid
den in tho underbrush. Consultation between
the three ended In decision that on tho follow
ing day they would return with patrol wagon.
IF you're not out of here by to- morrow"
they said on leaving. you'll be taken to the
station"
You take me and I'll show you what did
to them in California" threatened the her
nit
Because of the repeated threat the police
men returned on Saturday with tho expeota-
ton of having trouble with the man. Nothing
of the sort occurred. On being told that hs
must 20 to the station he got up and put on
three coats without saying word. Then he
took villainous looking pipe from his mouth.
emDtied it. dropped It in his pocket, and
stepped out into the air.
...i. IL ! haven't M done anything, but I'll CO." no
How long have you lived here," inquired
Mccartney. wishing TO take advantage OF his
talkativeness.
'All summer"
How do the rabbits Liver" counter cues
.o.yI You h.yoa,t eaten grass for living. have
And mix, tooS asked MecaStnes. aS ssfSe point
There have been o number OF complaints in
Tsss moSGfea n ss ssq1 sss
Query. He sancsd az the % %sitsnins aei Sonss aSss
Sna and. rOtSPG scattered aDOs.
there, he nodded. They asked him how he
kept dry whom it rained, and for q reply he
Il: R e. Sssn% h
his ret%Fn SHi heavy oSdgel half cane and half
made made R.S RE SstsemOt to SAs i except Ss : cane
troll wagon took him to tho station house,
where he was questioned further. He could
pot bo made to look hie Questioners In the face,
but kept his ewes rowing aimlessly about the
room from corner to. corner OF the ceiling,
After some persuasion ho said his name was
Paul Carl Seidel, and his ago 40 yea-s. This
was all he would say At that time. He was
moro than six feet tall and apparently weighed
about 100 pounds; Later on Mccartney had
talk with him alone and BY diplomacy sue
himself. -o1'
" used to live about ten miles from San
Francisco" SAID he, and Two been living in
my cave since the frat Of July. II is the most
summer. And | thought IL would DO warm In
winter. i was going TO stay there all winter. /
used to be barber once. | travelled sall the
way way. m from m, California, walking and catching
''yyhy did Won leava n olitornt,,r ..L.a Al.