"Disreputable looking but vicious billy goat." (Image by Steve Ford Elliott.)

People did whatever the hell they wanted to do in Brooklyn in 1900. If you felt like being a hermit and keeping a pet goat, sure, why not.  Not surprisingly, these asinine decisions sometimes turned out badly. That was the case with a recluse and his hollow-horned buddy as chronicled in the March 6, 1900 edition of the Brooklyn Daily News. An excerpt:

“William Randall, an aged recluse, was found dying of cold and exhaustion in a squalid hovel at 442 Graham avenue last night. His only companion and protector was a disreputable looking but vicious billy goat, who vigorously resented the intrusion of neighbors who sought to relieve the starving man.

Randall, who is 85 years old, has for the past six months been living the life of a hermit in a little one story frame house, formerly used as a stable. He was seen seldom by neighbors and was generally accompanied by the goat who followed him much after the fashion of a dog. Randall had not been seen for nearly a week and when groans were heard last night neighbors decided to investigate. When the door was forced open there was a sound of rapid hoof beats and the goat with lowered horns charged at the intruders. They retreated and summoned Policeman Melton of the Herbert street station who advanced into the place with drawn club. The goat immediately renewed the attack, but was stunned by a blow from the policeman’s stick. With a pitiful bleat the old man’s defender rolled over on the dirt covered floor. He was made helpless by binding his legs.

The old man was found lying on a heap of mildewed hay in a corner with a board serving as a pillow. His long white hair was matted and covered with dirt, which increased the ghastly appearance of his emaciated features. There was no fire nor food in the place. A call for an ambulance brought Dr. Halpin of the Eastern District Hospital. He said the man was on the verge of starvation and hurriedly conveyed him to St. Catherine’s Hospital. Randall was delirious and muttered continually, ‘Alone and dying. My only friend, Billy.’

At the hospital this morning the physician in charge said the old man had improved greatly. The goat will be cared for until Randall is able to leave the hospital.”

More Old Print Articles:

• Hobos steal fine clothes from decent folk. (1895)
• General Robert E. Lee kisses pretty girls. (1891)
• Fisticuffs at a male beauty pageant. (1893)
• Hairy woman thrown through barbershop window, uninjured. (1897)
• Kissing bandit captured. (1892)
• A maniac gymnast. (1877)
• Performing bears at Bay Shore. (1895)
• Brooklyn judge encounters sea monsters in his bathroom. (1902)
• Brooklyn geezer tries to shoot noisy dogs. (1896)
• Hoaxer pretends to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel. (1889)
• Manhattan madman goes on rampage. (1890)
• Viennese surgeon performs experimental operations in NYC. (1902)
• Tough girl breaks detective’s nose. (1898)
• Circus Freak gets indigestion after swallowing metal objects. (1904)
• George Francis Train loses his mind. (1888)
• Hunchback paramour has throat cut. (1877)
• Organ grinder has monkey kidnapped. (1899)
• Human vampire behaves poorly. (1892)