The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-12
HAS WANDERLUsT
At THE ACE OF 107
Alexander Herriott Yeams Once
More for the Sea Which He Left
Sixty Years Ago.

NEW YORK. July 9.--Alexandei
Herrlott. the l07-year-old citizen OF
Yonkers, who spent ell OF his youth
at sea from the time he ran away
from mis- seacoast home In Scotland to
ship as little boy before the mast,
Is bent again on taking TO the sea-
at least for long enough TO reach the
places of his childhood
II Is almost 100 years now since ne
shipped as cabin boy on big square
rigger Those were the days OF stern
chases. when ships luffed and came
about, and did lot OF other interest
ing things they do no longer. and
Herriott stayed before the mast iii he
was So, had many brush with
French cruisers. and once caught
glimpse OF Napoleon on st. Helena
And now, though for 60 years he has
lived quietly enough hereabouts, the
craving for his old wild life has come
back to him.
He insists he Is as strong and Wig
orous as ever. and indeed ne seems
10 be. He has taken 10 wandering
all over the country along the Huc-
son, sometimes even 10 the water front
" Of this city, in order TO hear again
the rattle OF tackle. and the hoarse
cries OF men and officers In the hustle
OF getting schooner under way.
Mrs. Levack, the daughter with
whom nc lives, doesn't know what 10
do about it, She daScs not let MIN
wander far alone, yet he Will have
no one with him. Until IA few weeks
ago he was always seen with his 10
year-old granddaughter Sally, aud as
the two walked down the street, he old
and somewhat bent. she fresh and
pretty. people were often reminded
of Little Nell and her grandfather or
Dickens. But now he wants 10 go
alone, for he Is seheming to return 10
the old country.
On Friday night he gave them a lis
scare Until lately he was always at
home at 10 smoke Il final pipe, and
drink a final pint OF beer, and then TO
bed. Often OF late he has not come
In till 10, but last night ii was not
TIL /. and he was much excited. lie
talked OF the old days before he mar
-fef-Att+f e+f-i4t,ttf Before Novrft
20 10 bed. Then yesterday he got up
at o'clock and was off again without
telling where he was going.
Several times they have sent out an
alarm for him. The description says:
Alexander Herriott. age 107, feet 3
inches tall, LIS pounds, gray hair, white
whiskers. and brown eyes.
But this IS merely statistical Any
one that sees him may know him by his
seafaring aspect--a more typical old
sailor than any Of the modern ones
Of steam vessels-with his ruddy,
weatherbeaten face and the semi-cir-'
Gle OF white whIsker5 that grow not
on but under the chin.
They may know him too, IL they
hear his voice, for 1t is voice that
men have who grew hoarse shouting
from the rigging when heavy sea
was battering at the bows. and the
wind was singing In spars and tackle.
and there suddenly appeared TO star
hoard seething while streaks in the
blackness. which showed that II they
did not hear on deck the cry OF Hard
apOrt.' the things mat made the
streaks would SILVER the timbers OF
the hull.
His daughter can never tell where
TO look for Herriott. He likes TO talk
OF old times. and often frequents the
cafes OF Yonkers and other towns
spinning yarns and talking with high
-nEa4se over his glass of beer and his
nine of the ships on which he sailed
-brigs and barks, and sQuare-rigged
merchantmen. Sometimes the way he
talks OF the excellence OF things In
those days. brings one OF his young
listeners to remind him that now
ships sail farther and faster than. bo'
fore. Then with the stick he has al
ways with him-so black one that
II might have carried at its point the
knotted handkerchief with his things
I'm II when he first put 10 sea-he
THUMBS the table and shouts
Young man. it isn't so much the
ships I'm talking about. It's the men,
Young NATIVITY, where's the likes o
Nelson now?"