The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-04-26

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secluded life. For food he depends upor
his own supply, water he gets from the
streams, and his abode serves only as a
place where he can sleep at night anG
1 be shielded at all times from curious
eyes.
No one has yet been able to solve the
mystery of MitehelPs strange mode OF
life For more than twenty years past
that is known has he lived thus, and
whenever seen his pistol and his mani
fest aversion to association with mer
have ben his inseparable companions.
Undoubtedly there is Indian blood in
his veins, as is shown by his long, bony
frame and high cheek bones as we'll as
his vfndictive character. He never for
gets the good deed of a friend and al
ways maintains enmity towards a foe.
Mitchell has appeared In court several
times and declares that lawyers do not
villify and degrade enough, and argues
that when a man is mean everyone
should know about it.
Mitchell has a fierce manner and dis
position and his general appearance and
well known reputation effectually pro-
tect him from molestation. That he
will shoot is proven by his attempt on
the life of a policeman who arrested
him some time ago, when the cap
snapped and the pistol failed to go off.
In his earlier years Mitchell was called
Savage Dan"
Some years ago the old hermit was
ance than now With two young oxen
and a cart he would come to town, him
self leading the steer, while his dog sat
in the cart near a smoking kettle of
Goals which Mitchell had provided to
keep the animal warm. At that time
he carried two large horse pistols, but
now to make the solitude more supreme
he keeps no animal friend and is alb
solutely alone in his strange mode of
existence.
About his early life Mitchell is very
uncommunicative, and the romance or
mystery connected with It is deep Sc
cret. Sometimes to the select few he
talks. and his conversation indicates
man of intelligence whose mind has
been shattered by the stupendous
event He calls himself the Great
King and Key Prophet of Alabama,
and declares he can unlock things that
have never been solved before.
Some of his words are suggestive of
a different past. In his talkative moods
he jntimates that he is no ordinary
man, and that he has associated with
and students. In his con-
versation he almost invariably refers to
one of two subjects--the evil propensi
ties of men, or some scientific matter.
1t is evident that some cause exists for
this lack of trust in others, and his fire.
1uent illusions to astronomy and relig-
on are doubtless from a mind at some
time instructed in such subjects. Pro-
Tossing to be a prophet he freely dis
courses on the movements of the heav-
,nly bodies and their relations to mat !
.ers on this earth, and in his strange I
way declares that he has the key to UNI
ock the mysteries in science that are |
vet unsolved.
Persons who have visited the home of |
Mitchell report that some years ago he /
vas quite a reader, but at one time all I
Ills belongings were destroyed by fire, /
md now he leads a typical groundhog |
life. his only inspiration being his COM
nunion with self and his efforts to live
mart from men. His eyesight has also |
become weak andlhe can no longer read.
A few years ago Mitchell came near
osing his habitation which, however,
tumble, he considers home. He owns
orty acres of land, possibly by pro-
criptive right, and at one time, being
n i'll health, he failed to pay the taxes
N the place and it was sold. After two
ears the purchaser got deed and
vent out to look over his property,
nut was somewhat surprised when he,
s he afterwards related, saw what he
bought was a cannon thrust into his
ace. and he was requested to Yacate
he premises, which he proceeded to do
, as short order as possible. The tax
urchaser then appealed to the courts
D put him in possession of the proper
V. One of the leading lawyers of the
tate volunteered to aid Mitchell fight
he case, and the result ended in the tax
urchase being declared void, and
Titchell is still the proud possessor of
home.-W. M. Bunting in Montgom-
ry Advertiser.