New-York tribune., 1901-12-01
AN ADIRONDACK WIZARD
"JOSu" RICHARDS, WHO BELIEVES A
MITCH is HIS GOOD ANGEL AND
BURNS PANTHER'S HAIR
TO HER
TO HER.

Caldwell Lake George, n. Y. Nov. so (spec!aD.-
Up in the mountains back OF Shelving Rock and
Black Mountain, on the east shore or the lake IS
a curious character. known to residents in that
vicinity by the euphonious name of Josh Rlch-
ARDS. He is notorious for a good many things
among which are q strong admiration for red liquor
and tobaAo, panther's skin, which he worships
and another important fact that never in any cir
cumstances was he known to tell the truth. Josh
is a suggestive sort OF individual He was never
known to beg but his suggestions specially in
teresting For instance he is wont to remark mat
If he had such and such thing 1t would De con-
ducive to his wellbeing, and If he had as much or
some things as other people he would not see other
people want for anything, not even "iAsheS Vi "
baccO.
And usually other people take the hint and the
old fellow gets what he is after
His cabin or castle as he calls 1t, is little diff
ferent from the usual 1t IS built or pine logs
with a Uido riazza in front. and corner a
tower twenty feet high There is a maghl1ceht
view of the lake and ISLANDS from the plateau III
front Of the cabin But scenery Is not one OF
"Josh's' strong points Behind the caolH Is d
little patch of cleared ground. or which the ola
fellow manages to raise vegetables enough to help
him weather the winter. There is no lack OF shaoe
rather too much shade one would lhlih' oN' 'i'.
idea is not to be mentioned before Rlchdrds as Hot
a tree in the wilderness Wouia De cut "'' ~
he the ordering of things
He has no use for new tangled ideas or improve
ments. To him pulp mill Is an inVetluon Vi 'tie
devil: a sawmill dream of horror; a filrodu 'iie
beaten path to hell; and. although given 10 ahcieH'
wildwood witchcraft. he cannot bring hinse1 10
look upon manufactures with any particular oe-
gree of equanimty There Is no i oe ~ ts m is o1 In
beb;tsmts IS wilderness of streets bricks and
mortar. Richards is a hunter mysuc' uappei'
thing ne INDUCES in san sPPscla Pc pck iks
cantation week on which 3ecasEn ne nanthT
and burns them with appropriate ceremonies
bca 3f wtch supposed to inhab undiscovered
eaVerns on Black Mountain Josh believes that hat
aid him in all of his pursuits ..,o.b, had inst
There was beautiful smell in the neighborh3od,
were had been eminenty satisfactory. Noticing the
skin of the panther lying g ne1r have IL the Tas sam
on the lady. Josh" looked speechiess with ihos
:" Josh. how do you know that the witch isn't
humbug?~ - the he writgr rnrd asksT I've tried her. When
forget burn panther a hairs she f0rgetS me- ana
how his faith in the witch had been rewaroeu s @ aio
scrapes. once he had an interview with large
bear in the woods or Mount Efep9S hen he thousht
Of The witch He called to her for help and al at at
Was enabled to introduce his hunting knife between
the bears ribs without any great amount u
said Josh" in an earnest kind Of way: ,, .,a
e talk tod to me or of bad 1he luck she know the
woods by heart and manages things to suit hersel s
and MdeR green g0 all ~y oSer But got his hide the
same and that's what's left of him over there Dy
the bunk When ! got home that night burned
six hairs in her honor-she just loves the smell OF
morning was as trim a whistle"
And ne seemed to believe it, He went on:
lone night she came to me In cream saw
her lust as plain l the nose on your face.
and she saws says she: There next time you go 5
dshing take lot of 'lasses and smear 1t on the
boat lust above the line. did II, and come
flies The critters settled the sides OF the boat
and there they stuck fast until the craIt WIS Wa.
covered The trout hungry and jumped tor
the flies so fast that they come tumblng into tEs
four come in, / up with club and Knocked Gay
lights out of them. But | had to crop that anu
take TO the When reached shore the Doas az
was loaded to the waters edge with hundreds OF
the big iurnping fish. If had had another roo TO
row / would have sunk sure" -
Then he proceeded to give few more instances
thfs most marvellous of women: how through her
assistance he once made MS escape from @ the aen zen
of a bear back of Sheivi2g Rock, and when on on
returning home one dark night ne 1ouHa S niS
ont of a clear sky down a numbering Dig
rain and put out the fire in tny. az ano.her ~
time when provisions were low, ana ne was III
danger of starvation, the deepness OF the SNOW
prevented visit the village of Fort Ann, where
/ he usually obtained his food, he burned seVerai
hairs from the NANCY old hide. went to bed, ana
door not thirty away. stood a big buck ready
. to be shot He blazed away. and hao Veflisoh
enough and to spare for several weeks
All of his actions and, indeed. his Wnole me- ar
regulated by that old panther skin. when IL nrsl
came into his possession it covered WIN nan
and was considered rather good looking SKIN as
panther skins go. To-day 1t is nearly & nad; ,,n and
70 sacrifice bear hairs or invest in new panther
skin.