The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-05-26
LOVED ONES DEATH
MADE a YOUNG MAN A HERMIT
IN PEAKER MOUNTAIN.
Returning With a Fortune to Claim
His Bride He Met Her Funeral
Procession.

ASS$So$S&@s
Far up the valley of Crooked rive.
in Washington county, Maine, be-
yond the limits Of the logging camps,
lives Jack WILDER. the hermit of
Peaker mountain, who for 13 years
has dwelt in solitude in log hut
Something Of a mystery has al
ways surrounded this slender, pale
faced recluse, whose physique did
not seem strong enough to Withstand
the hardships Of a winter in the
Maine woods, and who in every
way appeared untitled for the life
which he had chosen to live.
It was known that Wilber had to
his credit $4,000 in local bank,
and this made his conduct all the
more inexplainable to those who
knew of the lonely existance.
The explanation has, however,
been provided by two lumbermen who
returned to Machias from a trip
through the Crooked river valley,
and who partook one night Of the
hospitality of the hermit. They in,
duced him to tell his story, which
revealed the cause which, induced
him to forever isolate himself from
the haunts Of civilization.
This romance of his Life, he says,
he has never told before.
my home was in the West, "
said Wilber, "and when I was a
young boy my parents died and I
was intrusted to the care Of an
uncle and aunt, who lived in Mon
tana. My new guardians seemed to
resent the additional burden which
had been thrust. upon them, and my
life with them was not pleasant.
tAs I became older, the sights be-
came still more unbearable, and had.
it not been for the growing attach.
ment between myself and their
daughter, Mary Stoningham, I would
have long before started out to find
employment and, if possible, a less
irksome existance.
"@ne night, when was about 20.
years old, asked, Mary if she would
trust me and wait for me three years.
During that time, I said, would
earn enough money SO that ne could
get married and go East.
Yes, Jack, she replied, I will
wait for you three years, and I know
can trust you
The story of my attempts to gain
living for the next two years is
not of especial interest, but at the
end Of that time I succeeded In pur-.
chasing building lot of L. P. Small,
who owned large ranch in Southern
California, and by whom I was oms
ployed: Soon after natural gas was
discovered on the ranch, and sold
my section Of it.,for $4,000.
The three years were nearly up,
and my first thought was Of Mary
Stoningham, with whom had been
in constant communication.
when arrived at the little town
where she had lived with her par
ents deposited my money in bank
and then started for Mary's home.
ION the way 1 met a funeral pro-
cession. I asked former acquain-
tance who was dead. His reply shat
tered in moment the air castles
which I had been building, for he
told me that my sweetheart had died
only two days before, after a brief
Illness.
My money seemed valuless to
me. All the charm of life had gone.
I did not feel that I could meet my
uncle and aunt, so I Immediately
withdrew my money from the bank
and took the first train East. l
kept on in that direction unit!
came to the wilds of Washington
county in Maine, in the easternmost
part Of the country, and here erect
ed my log hut. Here is where shall
always stay.
when I go it shall be to meet
Mary, and until then the lonelies.
place is none too lonely for me-" =.