The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-09-25
FLINTER's FINE OLD AGE
At 92 We'll Known Resident
 Appears As Witness In Court.

One of the oldest men in Bridge port appeared in the city court today in the person of James FIinter. AS Harral avenue. who was a. witness
 After the court session MT. FIinter, who sis 92 years old, related many amusing anecdotes of old Bridgeport and gave several novel. reasons for his lon gevity, principal among which is the asserted fact that he has seldom slept more than two hours out of twen- ty-four during most of his minority. He believes in constant activity, the use of tobacco and drink to modera- ton.
 workers produced by this city. X As a steamboat man he is known in all eastern waters and his featss of her culean strength are ofte1d cited to those who aspire for 1aurels-
 Born in the wicklow mountains, Ire land, in the year 1821. he came to tHis country in the latter part of the year 1S4s when the first rush to the Cali fornia, Gold Fields began. So great was the rush from the old country that the ship Isaac Webb,'' a fulI-rigged vessel still af1oat according to the re- side the crew. It took about five months to make the voyage.
 Landing in New York city. it was his intention to first see that city and then go west, when upon his sec ond weeks stay, while wandering up the East River he was told of a, trad ing vessel scheduled to sail for Bridge port Inquiring about the destination he was told that Bridgeport was in Fairfield county. This reminded him to the states had mentioned living in that section and he journeyed here in the hopes that he might find him.
 He had been here the better part of a day without finding anyone who knew Tom F1inter, his. brother, and over the Housatonic railroad when he met Big Bi1T' Smith, g. colored cab-driverszs of whom he inquired if there was not an Irish cabman in the city.
 He was referred to John Kelly, who then drove a. cab, and who later per ished in the river when his team ran off the dock. Kelly asked him his name. F'1inter replied, There is no use telling you fny name as you nev- CT heard similar in your Hfe'' It appeared however, that Kelly had and also knew his brother, Thomas F'lin- ter who lived where Seaside Park now graces the Sound. In fact it was the same Tom who planted the mas sive elm tree in front of the Mallory residence on Park Place, said to be the grandest tree in Connecticut
 With the exception of a few years absence during the civil war when he was employed on a government trans port, MT. F,linter has spent his days since AS in Bridgeport, where he is respected by his friends. He is the father of a well known teacher in the public schools.
 Tn speaking of his. friends today Mr. F'Iinter has to look back over two generations and says when he really wants to remember them he has to Journey through the cemeteries and read Inscriptions on th= tombstones which refreshes his memory to many incidents long since passed.
 On the matter of sleep he is firmly fixed and if you ask him why he only seeks two hours each night, he will present his hard and rock-like muscles for your inspection and tell you Both your father and grand father died in bed; I am alive and still want to live. You must be active to stay alive in this world
 MT. FIinter pursued the vocation of landscape gardner.