The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-24
EAST RooKAWAY,s OLD NAN.
stephen Cnws says ne lie 90 ana stu works
for n Living.

IOr v blNluRs
A very old colorcd man, named Stephen Caws,
may DO seen almost any day around the village
of East R~ockaway, L. 1. He is believed to be in
the one-hundredth year of his life. Ho stoutly
, declares that no was 90 years old in April last,
and whether it Is because the villagers find IL
easier to believe him than TO hunt for proof, or
whether 1t is because no has actually been
known, as h- has, for so many years to be an old,
old man, 1t Is certain that his story Is generally
accepted as true.
Proof of it does not seem to DO easy to get.
SO far as Black Stoves" appearance goes he
might certainly DO almost any age above 30,
for his face is sunkcn and strongly marked
with age. Nevertheless he is Us erect and vigor-
GUS as u man of 60, and works with more or less
regularity at his trade of basket making. be-
sides doing odd Jobs Of various kinds for various
people. He is fairly industrious, but by no
means inclined to overwork himself. and living
as he does his requirements are few.
AS long as some of the older villagers can re.
member, until two or three years ago. tho old
man was q bayman, owning q small ~sailboat,
and making u living, as hundreds of other Long
Islanders do. by gathering and traflCking In
tho crabs, clans. cells, oysters, ana other sea-
food with which tho bays and creeks abound.
Active and strong as he still is. he found this
work too Rrduous for him at last, and he now
lives ashore In a small shanty on tho edge of
tho salt meadows, q quarter of a mile to the
south Of tho village.
1t IL q frame building containing q single
room, without ceiling or other lining to the
bare. implanted boards. There Is a door, but
there arc no windows. Inside there is a stove.
Aside from this tho only furniture consists OF .
rough bunk in one corner. a table, and two or
three chairs.
When Il reporter called at the little cabin he
found the door wide open, q half.anished basket
In the doorway, O few tools scattered around as
II they had just been in use, and q fire burning
in the little stove inside. At the first glance
there seemed TO he no, sign OF life around tho
sitting bolt upright In a straight-backed wooden
chair. His head was erect, but his eyes were
hands folded ODD n in his ia qu'I Pros siGsg'h he m moved hi a
little, then opened his eyes, and, seeing q
stranger looking at him. Enilod pleasantly and
Take a seat" he said. politely, and waited
for the conversation to be opened. A single
question was enough to start it, and he talked
on without reserve. hardly EXPECTING a reply,
but %EcpiSSipg readily enough to oil questions.
] was 90 last April, but my father was IoG when
he died, and my mother was l02. Fathers
name was Ben and mothers name was Nancy.
S,he was brought up among the sammlses in
Hampstead. but l was born right here in Spring
We are all raised from Long Island stock,
and l suppose, they've got tho record over in
Springfield. lhavn't got any record. but every
body knows me around here, and they all know
how old ] am.
YES. l live here all alone. I did have a little
house of my own over at Hicks's Point, but l
sold it last year, like q fool, and went to live
with some people over In Hampstead. Then /
came here and hired this house. Take care OF
myself Oh, yes. ! always did, and l never
had a days sickness in my life. mean by that
l never had what l call hard sickness. / am
troubled with rheumatism some, and I'm not as
strong as / was. Sometimes l get kind O. dizzy
like in my head. That's the reason I gave up
following the bay. i followed the hay for a
good many years and l had a good boat, but l
sold her and settled down to basket making. I
get good prices for my baskets. and l can make
81 n day any time l want 10 work. But il don't
cost much to keep me. / don't eat a great deal,
Tor | can't. My appetite is very poor. Then
get 81 u month from the Government as long as
| live.
Il was a sailor a good many years ago. lie
continued In answer to further questions. but
! gave that up after my wife diel. ! have been
all over the world as n sailor, but that was a
as ever, except that l cant see al night, but my
hearing is very poor. / cant sleep at night,
somehow, SO l go to sleep every little while in
my chair. as you found me-"
"ReinR up ut night gives you a chance to
catch a postum now and them suggested the
reporter.
"'Possum. yes, SIR" no replied with instant
Zcst. do you eat 'possuln : They're monstrOus
good eating. But ! haven't seen but one 'possum
since last winter. There ant so many OF them
around as there used to be. Aud swapping tGr-
tie. Do you cat Swapping %turtleG They are
good. l eat them very often"