The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-09

a Quaint Kentucky Character who once
WALKED Home from California.

walked Heme from California;.
DANS1LIE, KY, Jan. 7.-By the death of Col.
Montroso Graham at his cabin near Rookcastle
Springs, Kentucky loses another OF her quaint
characters. Tho son Of an eminent physician,
the brother-in.law of q United States Senator,
born In comfort and reared in luxury, he chose
the wild life of a mountaineer. stunning society
and laughing at all material prosperity.
'Troso" Graham. as he came to DO known.
was about rs years of age. He was a son of
DIR. Christopher Columbus Graham. the pio-
neor, who was born in q fort near Danville and
died in 1885, 100 years and o months old. DIR.
Graham, too. was fond OF tho woods. and moro
than once riskod his life Mt the hands of the In
dian in virgin forests. After a singularly
eventual carly career he settled at Harrods-
burg, Ky, and founded the celebrated Graham
Springs. This was many years before the war.
Tho springs became famous for their annual
gatherings of rich planters from all over the
Southern States and were known as the Saratoga
Of the South. Laterhe penetrated the mountains
Of eastern Kentucky and in tho Wilderness es-
tablished the Rockcnstle Springs. near which
Montrose died. Ono Of DIR. Graham's daugh-
tiers married the late Gov. Bramlette. An
other is the wife of ex-senator Blackburn.
Col. Graham, "Old Trosc.' inherited his
fathers love Of the wilderness and to this added
many other ecoentricitics. He had a brilliant
mind. and supplemented his school training
with wide and deep reading In all branches of
he was a conversationalist of rare bowers and
q companion much sought after. 1t was sell
dom, however. that he could be drawn into the
drawing rooms at Graham Springs, where were
assembled the wit and beauty OF kentucky and
the adjoining States, and as for the dance. he
would have none OF IL.
When about IS years old he began to make
short excursions. ON foot, into the ultraviolet
PORTE portions .,; Of l. Ras Kent GRADUALLY ina extending
other CONFERENCE.-The. With means to travel
in the best style of the day, he sneered at the
ferring to wander afoot at will, without worry
or ,hindrance. stopping wherever night oyer
of some woodsman's cabin. This continued
until his reputation as a pedestrian spread be-
You'd tho limits Of his acquaintance.
them true, are told of his accomplishments as q
walker. One concerns his trip to California.
attention Of DIR. Graham, and he concluded that
California would be a good field for ''Trose."
% jdSpncSsa t To Sa% York e; s0 and E sSipped " for t tSs
the Horn. ,They, finally arrived at their. destina.
ton, ana the old doctor, after seeing Montrose
comfortably settled, began his homeward jour
ney by way Of the two oceans Montross,
fornia almost before his fathers ship had
disappeared from sight. and he. too, set out
any more than he did wheeled vehicles or sad
died beasts, and he struck the trail across the
Rockies on foot.
Kentucky, and at Frankfort took the stage for
the old stage slowly wound its way around
Daviess Hill at Harrodsburg, and there the
ddp riVer,' s RSseSMf ont Tse W WP2ni ss9 lei ss = yah ahead sHe
He had walked nearly all the way from the
gold fields, beating his father home"
After the war, during which "Trose' Ora
tied at Crab Orchard. Ky. and later. to avoid
wild and rocky Rockcastle River. While he
was living at Crab Orchard a gentleman from
back. He asked for some one to take the ami
happened lobe standing near. toldshimi that
he was just starting for that town, and would
be glad to take the horse with him,
Montrose departed for Harrodsburg, thirty
some Of his friends inquiring as to the cause or
i nss o Weii, and me 1 Worried him him sq good d deai BY gi pull.
ing back" 'Trose" had led tho fine saddle
horse all the way from Crab Orchard to Harrods.
When Graham moved to Rockcastle Springs
life of a recluse.. When he was wandering over
the mountains he would break the monotony
If ms ? me for by t s%nsshti stop 5o act at as th sai spri ana
hotel. He was a deep student all his days, but
never engaged in conversation upon any topic
keen sense of humor to assert itself, and there
by displayed his knowledge: 4 guest at the
Springs, n young professor, took a friendly in
terest in him. and once, while out with a large
ffe nliIoy % a Iong lecture about ESS the HIDDEN a mysteries the ies
of nature with which they were surrounded.
The professor talked learnedly of geology. 20.
ology, botany. and kindred subjects. "Trose'
listened very. patiently, indicating every now
and then, as the professor completed his address
and then as the, professor paused, as if in in,
quiry, that he had comprehended 1t all and
appreciated his attempts at elucidation; When
the professor completed his address .'Trose"
disputing some of his arguments and theories,
and never desisted until the young pedagogue
fairly prayed for mercy.
A few years ago "'Trose' married a pretty
mountain girl, and lived happily with her until
his death.