The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-05-14

five miles northwest OF Blacksburg,
S. G., and his remarkable history
will no doubt be of interest to our
northern soldiers, who, unlike him,
went out and fought for the princi-
pies they held dear.
Interviews and photographs OF TINS
remarkable character have been
sought after time and again with
little or no success. am proud as
a PENNSYLVANIA and still more so as
a Snyder countian to enjoy the dis.
tinctiou of interviewing and securing
photographs of this unique specimen
of humanity. My success, however
in procuring these photographs ~
wholly due to w. A. Basom. the sc.
nial manager of the American View
Co. located at Blacksburs, ). g., VINO
is also SNYDER couutian, aud III
whose company l visited this VIII
man of South Carolina.
Great persuasive efforts were re
sorted to by Mr.. Basom before per-
mission was granted to photograph
the wild man and his place OF dwell.
ing.
The romantic history of John
Starns is as follows:
At the breaking out of the war of
the Rebellion, he with others in the
neirhborhool were draughted for
service in the Confederate Army.
Durlug ,he night the matter rested
so heavily on his mind that he con q
cludel to act coward and be de-
serter rather than be defender of
the southern confederacy. To es-
cape the clutches of the war he took
refuge under dry goods box stand
ing in his yard, where he was never
apprehended. The same box. though
weather beaten, and time worn, still
affords sleeping apartment for old
John Starns. At night fall that day
he took his box and hied away to the
mountains, where for number OF
years he dwelt in cave and slept in
his box.
After ali dangers of war had sub
sided, and peace had been fully re-
stored, his friends, who seldom visit
ed him, S, ,"eaded in pe"suading him
i-ker, T., ."','a abo je,
81. ....,- .-- -. -, ...-.. "a Plios :
it the name Home"
He is Il type of wonder and amaze
ment to the many people who go to
see him in his rude manner of living.
Very few, however, are successful
enough to see the wild man himself,
as he generally hies away to the
woods when he hears any one ap-
proach his rude habitation.
Our success in gaining full view
of this odd. looking human being, and
his surroundings was mainly due to
negro guide who is quite intimate
with him. After II rough drive OF
more than half mile from the pub
lie road through thickets, over fields,
and bitches, over pine sapplings and
underbrush, we reached the abode
of this interesting would-be rebel
soldier.
He was working in one of his fields
near by when we approached. No
sooner was he aware of our coming
than he made break for the woods.
The negro guide followed him and
persuaded him to return.
In fifteen minutes after our arrival
we had the pleasure of looking on
the oldest looking human being j
ever saw. According to his looks no
one will doubt his being wild. He is
a man of little more than ordinary
height. lean and far from being hand.
some. His body as well as his
clothes seem to tell of scarcity OF
water and soap. His har hangs
down over his shoulders, and his
shoes are tied to his feet with strings
His house is built of pine sapplings
and il about fifteen feet long, six
feet wide aud four feet high, covered
with pieces of boards, bark and
brush. 1t is divided off into two
apartments, one of which is used as
receptacle for corn, and the Other
forms the handiest kitchen and din
ing room combined, that Snyder
county women ever dreamed of, fol
in it he lies down to cook and eat,
Dish washing is entirely unknown
to him, in fact there is only pan ant
a coffee-pot. He subsists mainly ol
corn bread, of his own manufacture
and coffee. The bread he makes b!
string corn meal in water with hi
fingers, or a stick, and bskes it owe
his open fire.
When interr ogated as to his view
L. .nNlsAI hau