The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-18
INSANE FROM SPITE.
Huffman Has Not Left His Bed for
Fifteen Years.
Feared That II He Left His House His
Brother Would Foreclose.

For 10 years the town Of Far Hills, N.
j., has had one Of the most remarkable
srScimens OF human obstinacy TO be found
anywhere. He IL Silas Huffman, who lives
In one Of tho many fine residences In the
littla hamlet Fer the length Of time men,
toned he has not left his bed This IL not
because OF any injury, but simply because
he wished TO spite his brother, who, before
Silas retired for his long repose, held @
mortgage on the house In which Huffman
now is. Silas Is now utterly imbecile, and,
though but 40, has the appearance Of q
man Of fourscore.
Silas' sister, n-law, wife Of the brother
TO spite whom Silas retired 10 bed, takes
care of him and has repeatedly told him
that he will not be put out IL he will get
up, but he will not trust her, and to all
such suggestions he gives an emphatic
declination. His hair and beard, which he
will not allow to be cut, almost cover the
rickety old bedstead, and II any one touches
the old bed he vial mutter a protest and
an order to leave
In 1881 Huffman was about "a years
old and WAS popular, particularly with
the female sex. He had inherited an estate
from his parents and was very proud OF
his good looks and fine horses and cut
quite figure among the village girls, who
called him Captain Whiterye.
Through fast living Slas soon managed
to rum through the money left him and
then mortgaged his house, his married
brother advancing the money on It. He
then resumed his fast life. Interest fell
due, and his brother demanded IL. Silas
considered that such an elegant young
spark as himself should not be brought to
book by brother for n paltry sum. New
ertheess Silas was informed that II he did
not hand over the cash tho mortgage would
be foreclosed. He laughed and said, "Oh,
guess the women folks won't allow that. "
He was then told that the mortg gage would
be foreclosed on "a certain date, but he did
not believe that IL would be done and paid
no heed to the threats. He was very much
surprised ono day, however, when he
found the auctioneer at the homestead and
gave vent to flow of strong language.
Silas remained In the house until the
bids were started and then went to the
attic tho narrow door of which he barred
with the harness of his favorite team.
Meanwhile his brother bought the property
and took possession of it. He did not
worry much about Silas and supposed
that he would soon get tired of solitary
life and come down In a few days. They
heard Silas moving about every night pro-
pairing food. Food was left in the pantry
for him, and three times week he would
come down and get II. No one sought to
stop him.
For six months Silas did not remove the
fastenings from his door and did not speak
to any one, although many people called
to see him. BY this time Silas was the
most famous man around there, and many
plans were put into operation In order to
make him give up his bed Noisy country
bands performed under his window, and
cannon were fired off. Silas did not mind
them and ignored the many Inducements
that were offered him II he would leave his
bed. He would not even speak to his
former friends who came to see him.
A year after he began his strange exist
ence, during terrible Storm tho house
was struck by lightning. Every one ex-
cept Silas was stunned. His room was
partly wrecked, but when his sister-in law
sought to see IL he were injured he was sit
ting in the debris and said to her, to whom
he had not talked for months, "The next
time they shoot off that goldarn old can
non hope it'll bust"
The years passed, but Silas vomained In
his bed. The inaction naturally weakened
him mentally and physically, and he is
now a helpless imbeciie. New York Jour
nal.