Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-01-01
THE HERMIT OF
CAPE MALEA

Of the most careless voyager doubling
II by day. touch OF human tragedy
and pathos belonging In point Of chro-
nology to our own time. but In univer
sal interest to ell ages. AT the extreme
pitch OF the cape stupendous cliff
rises sheer from the fret.ing waves for
about a hundred feet Then comes an
irregular plateau or shelf. Of perhaps
two acres In area. the mountain rising
again abruptly behind II to a height Of
about 1000 feet This plateau Is APP
parently inaccessible. and yet. percbed
upon a huge bowIdcr In Its center. q
mass Of rock detached from the noun
tain ages ago. Is a house. II ia rudely
built Of wooden fragments iugeniously
fitted together. but It's outlines convey
at once the idea Of its designer having
been an AngIo-Saxon.
About twenty-five years ago there
was young sailor who. by dint of
hard work. integrity OF character anu
firmness OF will. reached ut the age OF
twenty-five. tire summit OF his anibI-
tion-becomlng master OF what would
then be called q good sized steamship.
some 900 tons register. Upon this ac-
cession to good fortune be married the
girl Of his choice. who had patiently
waited for him since as boy and girl
sweethearts they parted on his FIRST GO
Ing to sea. And with rare complacency
his owners gave him the inestimable
privilege Of carrying his young bride
to sea with him. How happy he was,
How deep and all embracing his pride,
as. steaming down the grimy Thames.
he explained to the light Of his eyes all
the wonders that she was now witness
Ing for the first time. but which he haa
made familiar to her mind by his oft
repeated sen stories during the few
bright days between voyages that he
had been able to devote to courtshlp,
The ship was bound to several MedI-
terrancan ports. the time being late
autumn. and consequently the NEST
ideal season for a honeymoon that
could possibly be imagined. CadIz.
Genoa. Naples. Venice. delightful
tour with not one weary moment where
In to wish for something else, Even a
flying visit 10 old Rome from Naples
hail lcrn possible. for the two officers,
rejoicing In their happy young skip.
per's joy. saw TO IL that no unnecessary
cares should trouble him. and bore
willing testimony. In order that be
should get as much delight ont OF those
haleyon days as possible. that the Gu
tire crew were as docile as coulI be
wished. devoted to their bright COM
mnnder aud his beautiful wife.
Then at Venice came orders TO pro-
coed TO Galatx and load wheat for
home. Great was the glec OF the g,rl
wife. She would see constantinople
and the Danube. Life would hardly be
long enough TO recount all the wonders
OF this most wonderful OF wedding
trips. Aud they sailed. with hearts
oyerbrimming with Joy as the blue SKY
above them seemed yelling over with
sunlight. Wind and weather favored
them: nothing occurred 10 cast n shad-
ow over their happiness until, nearing
Cape Maiea at that fatal hour Of TIE
morning. just before dawn. when more
collisions occur than AT any other time.
they were run Into by laundering
Greek steamer coming the other way.
and cut down amidships to the waters
edge. To their peaceful sleep or quiet
appreciation OF the nights silver SPLEEN
doris succeeded the overwhelming iloOsi.
the hiss ard roar OF escaping steam.
the suffoeating embrace of death. In
that dread light for life all persisted
but one--he so lately the happlesi OF
men--the skipper. instlnctively cling
Ing TO a piece OF wreckage. he had been
washed ashore under Cape Maiea at
the ebbing OF ffe scanty tide. and his
strong physique. reasserting itself.
enabled him TO climb those rugged bat
Elements ai.d reach the plateau. Here
he was found gazing seaward by some
goatherds. who. In search OF their
nlmble footed focks. had wandered
down the precipitous side OF the noun
tain. They endeavored to persuade
him to come with them back TO the
world. but In vain. He would live.
gratefully accepting some OF their poor
provision. hnt from that watching place
he would not 20. And those rude peas
ants. understanding something OF his
woe. syliIaiillzcd with him SO deeply
that without payment or hope of any
they helped him To build his hut and
kept him supplied with such poor NOR
sells OF food and drink as sufficed for
his stuntetl needs.
And there. with bis gaze fixed during
all his waking hours upon that inscru-
table depth wherein all his bright
hopes had been quenched. he lived
until quite recent years. THE world for
getting. b. the world forgot" a living
monument OF constancy aud patient
grief. BY his humble
friends. whose laIsuage'h he never learn
ed he WIS regarded as saint. and
when one day they came upon his life
less body. fallen forward upon MS
knees AT little glazed window through
which he was wont TO look out upon
the sea where his dear one lay. they
fa~..s u r..