A GERMAN HERMIT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 3

A GERMAN HERMIT

LONELY LIFE AT WAGGA. A German, Andrew Mai, who for the past 26 years has lived the lifo of a hermit on tho Wagga Common, has just been discovered dead, after death had taken place about a month ago. In 1890 (states'the Sydnoy. "Sun") Mai took up his abode in a hollow log near the river, but latterly lived in the old mining tunnel close by. The tunnel is about 120 ft. long and somo 60ft. in there is a drive aoout 12ffc. long. The body was in this drive, It was pitch dark, and some troublo was experienced in locating the "corpse. There was no food about, and the only clothes were those deceased wore. Mai earned a precarious livelihood bytile salo of rabbit skins. Ho had the greatest antipathy to mankind, and it was practically impossible to get close to him. Persons walking on tho common frequently sought to come upon him, but could not succeed. It did not matter how far people wcro distant, immediately- he saw them ho hurried off. He used to come into town on Saturday night after it was dark, purchasing his necessaries and l , retire ii\ silence. When iiy 1910 tho census was taken tho authorities woro unable to approach him, and tho herdsman ascertained the particulars. Ho then gave the name as stated, his birthplace as Germany, and his age as 53. Mai was last seen about a month ago by some residents who were accustomed to see him daily.