The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-20
NEW FORKS ONLY CAVE DwELLER.
He Is an Alchemist, Doesn't Work and
Seems to Have Plenty of Money.

He Is an Alchemist, Doesn't Work and
Seems to Have Plenty of Money.
WATERrowN. N. Y. Nov. 10. In the crowds
that watched the election bulletins here was
an old man whose long hair and beard hang
ing braided below his waist over a coat OF black
calfskil. hairy side out, excited curiosity
wherever he went. The old man was Will
loughby Burnapp. the only cave dweller in JEFF
fcrson county. After learning from the bulle-
tins that the State had gone Whig" again. he
started on his long tramp back to the wilder
ness and will not be seen here again until an
other election day comes around.
Years ago Burnapp was a well-to-do farmer
In the town Of H%opkinton, st. Lawrence
county. Half a century ago a craze for trans
mutinG base metals into gold struck Burnapp
along with others. and he abandoned his
plough and transformed his wife's kitchen
into a laboratory, where day and night he OK
perimented with retort and crucible. trying to
change tin, brass. lead. and other metals into
gold. The farm was neglected and sold acre
by acre TO purchase chemicals. material. ap-
paratus. and books. Finally, when all but a
few acres had been thus disposed Of. the
alchem!st's wife hit upon a scheme which she
thought would end the f~ruitless experiments.
She managed to save up $40. which she OK
changed for a gold eagle that Squire Chitten-
den Of Hopkinton had brought hone from the
California gold mines. This she slyly slipped
into the crucible. and when her husband tested
his compounds o few hours, later and cried out
that ,nnte he ~ h s6, a. d'f Sc Efa eIot fne secret SEe s she G Ere.
covered, to her dismay, however. that she had
only added fuel TO the fame: for now the
ever. melting over and over the same gold
nugget which he gave to his wife to store away
ing pots. At last his brain gave, way. and Tor a
year he was an inmate Of an asylum. he, came
out with the idea firmly liked in his mind that
he had discovered the secret Of transmitting
base metals into gold. but with no further
desire to experiment..
After the death OF his wife. about a month
after his return. burnapp lived alone in the
farmhouse; rorinG oyerhis books. He covered
the walls 81 the iarmhonse with blaekboaTds,
propositions and figures. He was frequently
visited by teachers and students from the
which he demonstrated difficult problems and
particnlarIy at the short t. cuts IT'S he eo nag devised a
perform any labor or 10 have any occupation,
but always seemed to have money for his
h n Soid c9in shp inIs ic SHi to tIe %R eiieI hat fSy e had
Iea!l discovered n method to obtain gold. and
R home. @SieS was T%n"f burned S%i in H' his absence. WITH III
all its contents. In the early dawn Of tho next
morning several men we're, seen searching
among tho smoldering ashes for treasure.
Burnapp then became a ,wanderer and Mt
length discovered IN n rocky ledge. amid the
the rock, which he enlarged by pryinG loose
masses OF limestone until he hal made, a room
ten feet wide by fifteen deep, He faced up the
opening with rocks plastered with clay. leaving
adoorway.. and there he has SINCE, lived. His
cave. which Is frequently visited by hunters
and woodchoppers. has no furniture except n
bedstead and n. chair made from curiously
twisted roots and limbs OF trees, and a rough
table. In one end he has chiselled out a fire.
place. a ~crevice in the rock above affording a nat
ural chimney, He has gathered quite a library,
the side walls, Burnapp sets traps through
the woods in winter and gathers spruce gum
and berries in summer. b"t gives ava both
tho skins of the animals and the gum and her,
ries.. How he gets his Livelihood is as much =
cared for. though his clothing is made of skins
Although he was never known to vote. he in,
yariably comes TO the city on election day &c
hear the returns,