Barker the Black Hills Hermit at his cave, ca.1900

View Description

Download

small (250x250 max)

medium (500x500 max)

large ( > 500x500)

Full Resolution

Loading content ...

Description

Title	Barker the Black Hills Hermit at his cave, ca.1900
Description	Photograph of Barker (Baker?), the Black Hills Hermit standing in the opening to his cave -- a man who left the world behind after the death of the woman he loved to live in a cave. The cave opening is in a rocky outcropping on a scrub-brush covered hill. An animal pelt hangs from the barrel of a rifle leaning against the cave wall behind him. A metal[?] barrel sits to the left of the cave opening. The bearded hermit is wearing rough clothing and leaning on a rifle.; "'Barker,' the Black Hills hermit. -- This extraordinary individual, a man of 'great vigor,' despite his many years, is a character one seldom sees in this busy world. He has lived in this cave, completely isolated from all human companionship, for many years. The only evidence of civilization in that rude habitation was an old faded picture of a young girl with a singularly beautiful face. Feeling instinctly that she was in some way connected with his former life, to my repeated questions, he finally disclosed to me the following narrative: 'You are right. I loved that girl; I love her yet. A few days before we were to be united she died. The world lost its charm for me; the old pleasant scenes I once thought so charming became intolerable. So vividly did everything remind me of her that I resolved to go away and live entirely alone. But who can tell,' he added with a mournful smile, 'when the inscrutable mists that veil the future are lifted, that I may once more see her again.' He would speak no more, and so I left him, pondering over by-gone memories that all these long years had not served to obliterate."
Subject	Barker
Subject (adlf)	caves
Subject (file heading)	Mining -- Miners -- "Barker the Black Hills hermit"
Subject (lcsh)	Mines and mineral resources Hermits
Geographic subject (state)	South Dakota
Geographic subject (country)	USA
Coverage date	circa 1900
Photographer	Pierce, C.C. (Charles C.), 1861-1946
Publisher (of the digital version)	University of Southern California. Libraries
Date created	circa 1900
Type	images
Format	glass plate negatives
Format (aacr2)	2 photographs : glass photonegative, photoprint, b&w ; 21 x 26 cm.
Format (aat)	photographic prints photographs
Accession number	2145
Call number	CHS-2145
Microfiche number	1-111-; 1-70-48
Legacy record ID	chs-m15334; USC-1-1-1-14114
Part of collection	California Historical Society Collection, 1860-1960
Part of subcollection	Title Insurance and Trust, and C.C. Pierce Photography Collection, 1860-1960
Rights	California Historical Society
Access conditions	Send requests to address or e-mail given. Phone (213) 821-2366; fax (213) 740-2343.
Repository name	USC Libraries Special Collections
Repository address	Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189
Repository email	specol@usc.edu
Filename	CHS-2145
Archival file	chs_Volume92/CHS-2145.tiff

USC Libraries

University of Southern California

USC Digital Library

Find results with:

Searching collections:

Home Barker the Black Hills Hermit at his cave, ca.1900

Barker the Black Hills Hermit at his cave, ca.1900

Description

Comments

Collaborative Projects

USCDL Supporters

USC Digital Library