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The body of Jimmy McQuat, the hermit of White Otter Lake, who has been missing
since last October, was found on June 27th by T.C. Campbell, a fire ranger.
The head and arms were gone, but the body was identified, and the mystery
of his disappearance solved. He had apparently fallen into the water near
his home while working on his nets, and becoming entangled with them was
drowned, although he was said to be a good swimmer.
Jimmy McQuat was well-known to many lumbermen and prospectors but he disliked
much company, preferring to be alone. He was haunted by the curse directed
at home when a lad in mistake for another boy.
A stranger was annoyed at some mischievous prank, and said he would not die
in a shack. After failures in life he came to the north woods and going
to White Otter Lake about 25 miles south of Savanne, determined that he
wold not die in a shack.
There he erected his castle with entirely his own hands. It is a building
34x24 three stories high, surmounted by a tower, built entirely of logs
hewed and placed in position by himself, entailing an enormous amount
of labour and patience. It was well finished and made a comfortable home.
It was surrounded by an old-fashioned garden, and was certainly a quaint
pleasant place in the wilderness.
During the war, he offered the place to the government as a convalescent
home for returned soldiers.
In addition to his castle, he also built a tomb for himself near his home
where it was his wish to be buried. He feared the curse might be fulfilled
and his last resting place left unmarked.
The wishes of the strange old man have been complied with.
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