The Detroit times., 1913-08-22
HERMIT KEEPS
SECRET OF HIS
HIDDEN Mine
Recluse Boasts of Having Lived
In One Place for Over Forty
Years
HIS ALLEGED TREASURE
THOUGHT TO BE RUSE
Old Man Believed to Have For
tune Which He Covers BY
Story of Mine

STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Aug. %.
In the hills back OF the Stanford
: University campus. In secluded spot.
lives hermit whose little home is
one OF the fayorite afternoon excur-
sions OF the Stanford students. So
carefully tucked away is his humble
dwelling that unless previously di.
rected one would pass IL by without
notice.
The Hermit Is the only style he
has in Stanford life. for no one has
yet been able to learn his name. He
takes greSt interest in showing his
visitors book Of panoramic views OF
Italy which. he says, he left forty
four years ago 10 come to California.
. II is with great pride that he tells
that he has stayed in the same place
for over forty years.
Usually the little old man may be
found working in his garden or wash
ing his clothes, but he is always will
ing to pause in his work TO extend his
hospitality TO visitors
The hut is divided into two rooms;
one a bedroom into which he takes no
one. while the other is his kitchen
and living room. Neatness also pre-
walls In the house. The floors and
walls are spotless and dustless. His
stove, which might have been new In
the early eighties, is kept In the neat
est order.
No Smoking Allowed.
Upon the wall four signs telling the
old mans aversion TO tobacco attract
the eye. La four languages, French,
Italian. Spanish and English, guests
are requested not to smoke. After
placing chairs for his guests, he pro-
duces bottle Of wine of his own vmt.
age, which Is, by the way. very differ
ent from the Falernian Of his native
land.
After refreshments he questions his
visitors OF current events in the out
side world He wants 10 be told OF
the war between the Italians and the
"Barbar" Turks which he did not
know was over until week ago.
Then he tells of his mine hidden back
In the hills, in a place OF which no
one knows
He shows ore which might contain
valuable metals. and then produces
assay sheets some years old that tes-
tify that certain submitted ore as
sayed from $62 ton TO $l22.50 ton,
In all OF which silver was the pre-
dominating metal. with smaller de-
posts OF gold, lead and copper.
He tells how he has been troubled
by members OF the Malta companies.
commonly called the Black Hand, who
have attempted TO force him to sign
over his property TO them and show
them where the mine is.
His Living a Mystery.
AS he is hearty and hale. ii is a
question where he gets sufficient food
on which 10 live. His garden does not
produce much and he rarely makes
trips 10 the stores. How he obtains
money with which TO purchase food
is another question.
Many have thought that his mine
yields him sufficient and others have
thought that he has a hidden fortune
and uses the mine as ruse to keep
people from thinking he has such
fortune
When his visitors are ready TO leave
he escorts them back 10 the trail lead
ing to the university campus, describ-
ing the detail how he Is going to build
a chateau when his mines ore devel-
oped. and inviting his visitors to re-
turn and bring their friends with
them.
At the head of the trail he stops
and says "Adios." As you are abo>t
to pass beyond his view you turn TO
see him standing motionless, watch.
ing until his guests are out Of sight.