Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-25
BURNED TO DEATH.
Isaac Dow, the Aged Hermit
Of Benton, Me-,
Perishes in Hut to Which He Fled to
Escape Poor Farm.
cremated Alive in Sight Of heighbors Power.
less 10 Save Him.

isaac Dow, aged so years, was burned
TO death, last night, in his hut in the
eastern part of the town, where years
ago he had fled to escape being sent
to the poorhouse and where he lived the
life of a hermit. When the remains
were taken out the body was 50 badly
burned that the flesh in places dropped
from the bones.
Dow formerly lived in Winslcw,
where he was born. During the time
of the Civil War he was too old to go
to the front but acted as drummer to
call out the men when a draft was to
be made. He lived In Winsl0w until
something like six years ago. At that
time he was inssuch destitute circum-
stances that it became necessary for
him to be helped by the town. During
this time he partially supported him
self by cooperinG, doing little jobs for
the people in that section.
AS years went by and his strength
began to fail he became more and
more unable TO take care of himself
The town not caring to support him at
the place where he lived, sent him TO
the town farm where he stayed for a
number of years.
He became discontinued and, to avoid
dying on the town of Winslow, went 10
the town of Benton, where there was
then no poor farm, and there took up
his residence on the land of Edward
Bradbury in the section known as
"Hardscrable." Although then over 10
years of age he built himself log hut
which he spent the remainder of his
days in solitude, living the life of a
hermit, that he might not be obliged
to go to the town farm.
The only furniture in his hut was a
stove. bed and two chairs. The stove
was so delapitated that it had to be
bound together with wires. and al
though he had two other chairs be-
sides those in his house, he had to
keep them outside. owing to lack of
space.
During the summer months he sub
sisted mainly on the products of the
little patch he cultivated in the rear
of his hui. In addition to this he had
q small income from his work as
cooper, making tubs which he sold to
the neighbors. His son. private in
the Goth New York Regulars. sent him
money from time to time. this being
his only income i'm winter. with the ex-
ception of what he was given in the
line Of provisions by the neiehbors.
He has received nothing from his son
since last spring. The neighbors have
helped him and he has earned little
money by working as much as he was
able for some of the lumbermen.
When the snow in the woods be-
came deep enough for sleighing Her
bert Gibson moved into the woods. n
mile above Dow's camp, with his family
and through them he has been ma
terially assisted and in fact almost sup
ported. He went to their log cabin,
Saturday night. and the people there.
seeing how feeble he was and learning
that he had nothing in the house to eat.
to his hut. Since that time they daily
sent him food. He had gone without
food so long that he was sick, in fact.
hardly able to walk through weakness.
He was at Mr.. Gibson's place. Mon
day night, shortly after sunset, and
then it was noticed how feeble he was.
He left after being given his supper,
and was drawn to his hut on a sled.
That was the last seen of him alive.
Shortly after O'Clock, one of Mr. Glib
sons children went TO the door and there
noticed a light. He thought 1t was the
moon rising and called the attention of
n n he fnr he c
again called to the door and this time
saw flames issuing from the roof of the
Dow cabin. When his fathers attention
had been called to it. he at once called a
neighbor and started for the hut.
When the two arrived at the hut they
could see Mr.. Dow inside trying to es-
cape but unable to pass the barrier of
flame which confined him. Attempt after
attempt was made by the old man to es
cape and as many times the men on the
outside attempted TO save him, but the
only thing that they could do was to wait
until the log hut had burned sufficiently
to allow them to remove his dead body.
The logs of which the hut was built
were a foot or more in diameter. and hav
ing been cut so long were as dry as TN
der. 1t was in this furnace that Mr.. Dow
was burned to death. On account of the
size of the fimbers the building was II
long time in burning. and it was not UNI
til several hours after the fire was DIS
covered tfldl MI. Gibson ana MS COM
panion were able to take the body out.
The body was found with the legs
crooked as though Mr.. Dow had been sit
ting on the bed. while the bones OF the
right hand from which the flesh mad been
burned, tightly clutched the remains OF :,
kerosene lamp. The body was frightfully
burned. the flesh having dropped from the
bones of the leg in several places.
From the surrounding objects 1T IS
thought that soon after leaving the Glib
son nlace he went to his own hut and
there prepared to shell peas. W1en alive
he had a habit of carrying his lamp about
without having a chimney on it. 1t IS
thought that he overturned the lamp and
thus set fire to the building. Weakened
from old age and not having enough food
he was una BILE to reach the door and per-
ished in the hut which he had built TO
escape being sent to the poor farm.
The remains were taken in charge by
Selecitman Jacob Peasley and. this morn
ing, carried to Winslow, where they were
inferred.
He had lived long enough in Benton TO
acquire a pauper residence and the town
knowing of his condition and
destitute circumstances, We're planning To
take him to the recently built town farm,
today
Dow is described by the neghbors rs 2
man of a very uncertain temper and hard
to get along with. lie son and sons wyfe
went to that place to live with him. a
year ago, but were obliged to give 1t up
the neighbors say. Besides his son IN