The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-11-15
Lived Life of Hermit for Years
Before Leaving His Hut
for the Forest.
STARVED HIMSELF TO DEATH.
When Captured Though Greatly
Weakened, Three Strong Men
Had All They Could DO to
Hold Him-Early Life
a Mystery.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Greenyille. H., Nov. 14-William Irish.
| the most UNIQUE character that has ever
lived in Bond County. is dead. Voluntary
| starvation brought about his end. and 1t
is believed that the early history of the
man. which he SO closely guarded In life,
is forever to remain a secret.
When Irish and his brother came to this
county, many years ago. nothing was
known OF their former history, and they
took pains never to divulge a word of 1t.
In seclusion they lived together. cutting
themselves off from the rest Of the world.
Nevertheless, William Irish was known
to be a scholarly man and an assiduous
reader of standard literature. No newspa-
per ever came into their home. and yet
it is said he was posted on the current
events of the day.
The reserve that the brothers affected
when they first settled in Shoal Creek
til finally they Stunned all visitors and
lived practically the lives of hermits.
BROTHERS MYSTERIOUS DEATH.
-Four years g the brother died a sud-
den and mysterious death, and William
Irish ran to the home Of his nearest
%neighbor with the news. He made the la
comic statement that his brother was
dead, and when questioned further turned
and ran away.
1he body was buried by the %neighbors,
and then the lone survivor settled down
to the life of a hermit. He went to bed
with the sun. arose when he pleased and
ate and drank when he willed. His farm
of seventy acres was mortgaged for 500
to a mar living in Highland. and, when
ever the interest was due, Irish walked
to Highland, a distance of over twenty
miles, n paid 1t.
He never marketed his products him
self. but whenever he had a load Of corn
to send to town he would sack 1t up and
place a sack under each one Of his trees
and then send word to his neighbor to
come for the corn. running away out of
sight at the approach of the man, who
had to go from tree to tree to gather up
the sacks of corn.
BECAME A WILD MAN"
Several weeks ago Irish began to starve
himself. n last week his condition was
reported to the authorities. He tore the
clothing from his body and ran wild.
When the officers went to his home to
place him in the County Poor Farm he
resisted, and In the struggle his clothing
was completely destroyed. 1t required the
united strength of three men to hold him.
few days later Irish began to sink.
He refused food and water, and screamed
In agony when the attendants attempted
to force water down his throat. A few
days ago he died. Coroner c. C. Gordon
held a post-mortem and found his stom-
ach and bowels to be absolutely empty
and dried up.
At the undertaker's rooms many have
and long hair. he looks like a statesman
and patriarch. But the impression is
changed by a look at his hands. They re-
semble claws. and it is evident that he
crawled on the back of his hands with his
fingers turned under. The palms Of his
hands are perfectly smooth. The mans
finger nails and toe nails are several
inches long and come to a sharp point.
resembling the spurs of a rooster. His
face is a mass of hair.
Bond County's wild man. with his hid
den history. is the %reigning sensation of
the day in this locality. The remains are
being held for several weeks by the I'M
dertaker. and many people are flocking to
Greenville to gaze upon the remains.