The record-union., 1897-07-26

him on board, gave him food, and was
surprised to see him so soon recover
from the effects Of his long exposure.
His clothes were torn into rags, his
boots worn out, his bare feet on the
ground. He had not the small axe
now in his possession which he is re-
ported to have had on former occa-
SionS
The Captain gave him some clothes
and pair of boots. He explained that
he had walked from Quebec, and that
he intended going to Hudson Bay,
where he expected to get a situation.
He said he was printer by trade, and
if he did not succeed in getting a sit
uation at Hudson Bay he would return
to st. Johns. The manner in which
he tried to conceal his identity by Civ
ing different names and telling differ
ent stories, and his sudden disappear
ances, seem to indicate that he was
trying to flee from civilized man.
His last stopping place was at sta
ton belonging to the Hudson Bay Com
pany at Georges River, Ungava Bay,
which is kept by trapper named John
Ward John had been told by the In
that way. He jumped to the conclu-
sion that was one of his enemies, a
man whom he had injured, ad who had
sworn to come back and kill him. He
begged the Indians to protect him. But
when the man wandered limp into his
station in the winter of 1S93-94 Ward
was relieved to find that he was
a stranger
He remained quietly at this place for
about two months. and took delight in
teaching the children about the post.
Mr.. Ford describes him as we'll edu-
Gated man who had evidently travelled
considerably, as he often spoke of the
various places in the United States, and
although he would not directly tell
where he resided. Mr. Ford was under
the impression that he was from Phil
adelphia, and that his name was Cur
ran.
DEATH OF THE LOST MAN.
One night he was very restless. and
called several times for his mother. The
following evening he said that he must
continue his journey, and pointing
across the small cove on which the
post is situated, said that if he would
get to heaven he must go straight in
that direction over the hill, which rises
almost perpendiculary 1000 feet above
the cove. He insisted that Mr. Ford
should open the front door, which was
blocked with snow for the winter. Mr..
Ford, becoming alarmed, left him to
arouse the servants in their house, and
when he returned found that the poor
ha 1a
gone. Before doing so he had removed
all his clothes and gone forth in the
cold, starlight night naked.
They Immediately followed his tracks.
which led down a small hill and up
over the store belonging to the post,
and on the far side they found him
quite dead. He had slipped on the
roof and fallen, his neck striking on
the sharp edge of a fishing fiat that
rested against the store
Thus ended the life of this unhappy
Wanderer, who must have been a man
of exceptional physique and will pow
er to overcome, without any aid what
ever, the hardshipS and trials of a
journey up the coast of Labrador. His
body now rests in the lonely little
grave yard on the barren hill over
looking the small Hudson Bay post be-
side the grave of Mrs. Ford's eldest
son. The correspondent who gives
these particulars inquired of Mr.. Ford
if he had any papers or other articles
that might be used to identify the poor
fellow, but he replied that he only
found Bible on his person, and there
fore If he had a wallet he must have
lost it in his wanderings before reach
ing George River.
1t is DR.. Morris opinion that both
these men We're demented and that
their extraordinary endurance was due
to their mental condition.
1T has always been known" said DR..
Morris when 1 called upon him for
further particulars, that insanity de-
velops extraordinary strength. but the
case of the Lost Man of Labrador
raises new point in medical science.
1t would seem that insanity also de-
velops extraordinary powers Of resist
ence and endurance. No sane man
could have done what this man did. He
slept in snow ten feet deep. In the
depth OF winter he was out in the
nercest storms, even in storms that
Killed bears, without any protection
save a few rags. He did not perish of
cold, though thickly clad natives were
in danger. His feet did not freeze as
yours or mine would. He seemed proof
against hunger, fatigue and pain, for he
travelled on bare and bleeding feet over
Ice fields and mountain morasses when
there was no food obtainable save ber-
RES that had lasted into the winter.
Altogether the case is a most extraor-
binary one