The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
LOVED ONES DEATH
MADE HIN HERMIT
Pecluse in Maine Mountains
Re ais Re uSnce
WORKED LONG TO WIN BRIDE
when Jack WILDER Returned 10
Claim Mary StOningham, He Met
the Funeral Procession Carving
Her Body to the Grave-Had Made
a Fortune in Southern California.

Bangor. Ne. May 15.-FaT Up the val
ley OF Crooked River. in washington
County, beyond the limits OF the logging
camps, lives Jack Wilber, the hermit OF
Peaked Mountain, who for thirteen years
has dwelt in solitude in a log hut
Something Of a mystery has always
surrounded this slender, paIe-faced rec
luse. whose physique did not seem strong
enough to Withstand the hardships OF
winter IN the Maine woods. and who in
every way appeared united for the life
which he had chosen 20 lead
It was known that WILDER had TO his
credit $4,000 in a local bank. and this
made his conduct al the more inexpIi-
rabie 10 those who knew Of his lonely
existence.
The explanation has. however. been
Z provided by two lumbernen. who returned
10 Maehias from a trip through the
Crooked River Valley, and who partO0k
one night OF the hospitality OF the hermit
They induced him to tel his story. which
reveals the causes which induced him
&C forever isolate himself from the haunts
of civilization.
This romance OF his life, he says, he
has never told before.
Hermit Tells Romance.
Ny home was IN the West" said VII
Der. and when I was a young boy my
parents died and was lntrested 20 the
fare OF an uncle and aunt, who lived in
Montana 9iy new guardians seemed 10
resent the additional burden which had
been thrust upon them, and my Hfe with
them was not pleasant
As became older. the sights became
still more UnbesTable. and had IL not
been for the growing attachment between
myself and their daughter, Mary Ston-
inghan. would have long before started
out 10 find employment and, II possible,
: less irksonae existence
One night. when I was about twenty
years old. I asked Mary II she would
trust ne and wait for me three years
During that time. I said, I would earn
enough money SO that we could get mar
Tied and 90 East.
" Yes. Jack she replied. 7 viii wait
for you three years, and I know I can
trust you
The story Of my attempts 10 gain a
living for the next TWO years is not Of
especial interest. but al the end Of that
time I succeeded in purchasing a build
ing lot OF L P. Small. who owned a
large ranch IN Southern California, and
by whom I was employed. Soon after
natural gas was discovered on the ranch.
and I sold my section Of II for S3ae0.
The three years were nearly Up and
ny first thought was OF Mary Stoaing-
ham. with whom I had been in constant
communication.
Finds Sweetheart Dead.
When I arrived at the little town
where she had lived with her parents I
deposited ny money in a bank and then
started for Mary's home
'Oa the way I met a funeral process
sion ] asked a former acquaintance who
was dead his reply shattered IN
moment the air castles which had been
building, for he told me that my sweet
heart had died only two days before.
after brief Illness.
Ny money seemed valueless 10 me.
Al the charm Of life had gone. did
not feel that I could meet my uncle and
aunt 50 I Immediately withdrew nv
money from the bank and took the first
.Zin East 1 kept on in that direction
I came 70 the wilds Of Washington
10y IN Maine in the eastenmost
- OF the country. and here I erected
- log hut Here is where shall always
tay
When I go i shall be 70 meet Mary.
and uatl then the loneliest place is none
TOO lonely for ne"