The evening times., 1897-12-02
DEATH WILL PART TWINS
Timber Islands Hermits Soon
to Be Separated.
ONE BROTHER is DYING
In Trouble. They Built Boat and
Sought II Home Of Retirement-Re-
fused TO Go Ashore tO Die-Thc
Strange Story Of Charles nnd
Willis III WiCkward.

cabin boat, almost hidden by reeds and
rushes, in the shadow OF Timber Island
ten miles below this city, a life. once
troubled, is going out in peace.
Above the sufferer bends his brother
and companjon-bends silently-filled with
emotion too great for words. A. doctor
Eues daily to do what little he can to
assuage tie old mans dying hours. He
says there Is no hope. The silent brother
knows It.
The dying brother does not care. Ap-
parentiy, he ID glad for tho release he has
waited ~ many years for. When the end
Is come the sc-cailed Hermit Twins OF
Timber Island will be hermit twins" M
more. But a real hermit will be left to keep
vigil above the spot where his brother lies.
beneath the placid waters Of the Delaware.
until his time comes, and he, too, dies In
the place OF his self-banishment.
So many years have they lived tberc
that they long since ceased to be won
der to the Loatmen OF Delaw are Bay.
They had SIMPLY passed into tradition.
They never told their secret, never told
why they threw aside the world with
all its allureinents and disappointnents,
and resigned themselves to an uneventfui
life.
Many years ago a tug came steaming
into the little estuary where stream
emptied into tie Delaware behind Timber
Island. 1t dragged a hOusebOat made
by the hands OF two men, who were In IL.
1t was an unpretentiOus structure, yet
stoutly built withal. 1t was made OF
cedar, and was about thirty feet long
by eleven. In the cabin two berths We're
built. There were b. folding table and
two stools. small stove for heat and
cooking. and a few utensils, but no other
furniture.
The tug cast off in deep water and W went
it's way. The two meu pushed their craft
with poles into Back Creek and, finding "a
good place to stop, dropped anchor. That
anchor las never since been raised.
The spot selected WIS an ideal one IN
some respects. The waters abOunded in
fish and oysters. Great flocks Of ducks in
habited tie waters round about them, md
there was other game within easy shoot
ing distance Of their home. The hrL thers
did not requiremuch. They had sDme money
enough to purcba &c their occasional bag of
flour. With this and with what they shot
or caught in tue teeinins water, they lived
upon
1t was not long hefcre the oysterm:n
discovered them and tried to make 1c-
quaintance. But the brothers, who seemed
refined beyond their surroundings. p..iitely
but firmly declined to scr3pe an acQua.nt-
ancc.
1t was then that they were given the
sobriQuet of the Hermit Twins OF Tim
ber Island" and that name has clung 70
them through all tie years In which they
dwe!t there, untouched ty the busy out
side world, sa,e once OF twice when they
sold an early catch of shad to a passing
for the oysters which they raked up from
the well-stocked bottom.
All that was really known Of them was
their names, Charles and William Wick
ward. 1t was said that they had for
merly been prosperous merchants In Del
aware; hat rogues ran off with their
fortune. and that. embittered by the cx-
perience, they determined to eschew
the world. and live the lives of hermits- As
the years passed on the 'hermits" became
past masters In t he art of fishing. No boat
in all the ba could find the perch 80 thics
as theirs; no fisherman seemed to knew
when to look for shad SO we'll as they.
They might have made money had they
wished, but they only cared to keep thei;
larder filled.
A few days ago William fell ilI. Charles
set foot upon the hated shore and came to
Bridgeson for a doctor. The latter visited
the honseboat, and. naturally, began to
ask some questions
Pardon me- said Charles. II called
you as a physician, and not as a ques
TONER"
But this is no place for a sick man.
said the c,,ctor. II hope yoa will let NE
remove your brother to some house upon
the shore. where he can receive proper
care and nursing
The sick man raised himself up in bed
"Never!' he cried. This boat 1 have
chosen in which to end my days. Let
death find me here. do not care how
quickly it comes
That's right" said the other man.
"You are doing Just what would do.
When we made this cabinboat our home
we swore that we would never leave it.
We will both keep our promise stead
fastly, There is nothing about death to
fear, Doctor And the physician felt
that he could do nothing more.
william, the sick man, has always been
more faithful to the boat than his brother
Charles. At times tue latter would grow
restless end wander on the island. but
william was never seen ashore. 1t was
Charles who made the periodical visits
to the nelsiboring village when it became
necessary to buy flour a nd baking powder.
The neigtbors on the mainland say they
have often offered the brothers work, but
the latter respectfully declined It. They
were content with their reeiuse life. 1t
brought them all that they deemed neces-
sary.
And SO, while one brother is crossing
the dark river, tue other keeps silent
watch above him, a little enviCus, perhaps,
that his turn must come second.