Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-13
AN INTERESTING CHARACTER.
"UneIe Tom" Who Has Walked Thous'
ands Of Miles.

The negro, Uncle Tom, as ne calls
himself. who has travelled all over the
country on foot and who has receiver
countless columns doubtless OF news
paper notices was the center OF an III
terested group much of the time, yes
terday. at the Maine Central station.
He would attract attention anywhere
as he is an unusually large man to be-
civ, with. He is now "a years old AND.
his hair and beard are almost white,
out he enjoys the best Of health APP
parently and spends almost all OF MS
tirle out of doors tramping from place
to place and getting accommodations
wherever he can.
His clothing, yesterday, presented a
nueer appe arance. He evidently had
plenty sucn as it was to keep him
warm. The outside garment, which
was thrown over a winter oVercoat.
vas the most noticeable at first. This
vac OF rubber water proof cloth ana
had apparently served some other per-
son originally. 1t had been roughly
ia shioneG into a sort of cape while the
back had been adorned with IA huge
patch of much newer cloth, partially
sewed on. This was to keep off the
rain and in spite OF it's appearance was
apparently serviceable enough.
His hands were encased in roughly
made and much patched mittens. Sew
eral kinds of cloth of varying textures
and cOlors appeared, sewed by some
hand unaccustOmed to the needle. But
there were no holes in them and they
looked warm and comfortable. His
head was surmouated by a dingy, soft
felt hat.
Hut the most peculiar part of all the
outfit was the foot coverings. 1t is
we'll known that the old man says that
ne can find shoes large enough for him
40 where but in Bangor, and after
cooking at his feet, yesterday, this
statement would not be doubted for an
Instant. They were doubtless made to
Look much larger than they really Were
on account of the wrappings about
them, but they must have been fairly
large to start with.
The outside covering consisted of
rubber boots but not worn in the usual
style. They had apparently been cut
down through the center of the sole
so that this part was up about the
ankles while the feet were in the legs.
These hal been puckered up at the
toe with ropes and We're bound secure
ly to the feet with more rope. In fact
there was pretty nearly rope enough to
rig small schooner.
This arrangement made water
proof covering and protected the gen.
Ii
sisted of old quincy sacks and other
cloth and thus rugged the feet looked
to be enormous. Their owner seemed
TO be rather proud of them than other
wise as he usually tapped them gently
with his staff while talking.
And it was a rather interesting talk
too. The man has travelled thousands
of miles on foot and is a fairly good
observer. Some of his theories may be
a bit startling. but a good bit of SOUND
common sense is mixed in with the
rest. Born a slave in Virginia, he was
freed with the others and spent part
of his life farming, afterwards taking
to tramping. He has followed the
course of Washington's campaigns and
been all over most of the noted battle
fields of the Rebellion.
His memory is still good and he can
talk by the hour of the places he has
seen. He will accept "a ride when Of
fered but prefers to tramp most of the
time, following the highways rather
than the railroad. When asked which
part of the country he liked best he de-
clared that it would hardly be fair to
say, but he rather thought it was 'Ole
Virginia. where he was born. ''If a
man is born on a rock said he, its
home to him and he likes dat the best
But he likes Maine, too, and her pine
trees remind him of the pines of his ma =
tive state. He can neither read nor
write and all ne knows has been learn
ed from hearsay or observation, chief
ly the latter. His wanderings have
robbed his tongue of it's negro dialect
and only an occasional bit is dropped
now and then His English is fairly
good, although mixed with manerisms
from all parts of the country.
He said, yesterday. that he arrived
in the city, Tuesday night. and was on
his way TO Bangor. 1t has been some
time since he has been through this
way before and he sees many changes
in the towns, cities and country. He