The Oldest Man Alive

At No. 157 Sarah Ann street, in response to the reportcr's summons, the door was opened by Unele Williani Scott himself, who asked the writer and his comjianions to come in and take a seat in a nimmer which savored of oldfashioned politeness. " Únele Bill " is a fine, intellectuallooking oíd negro, abont tive feet eleven inches in height, well-propcrtioned, and still muscular, with bushy gray beard and hair. The first question asked him was, of course, whether his age was as great as reported. Únele Bill at once replied, in a clear voice, " Yes, sir; 149 years, sir." This reply caused an exclamation of surprise and wonder from both the Sergeant of Pólice and an officer who had accompanied the reporter. According to his own statement the year of Scott's birth would have been 1729, three years before Washington was bom, and when Baltimore city bore the now-forgotten title of Jones' Town. At the suggestion of the reporter üncle William reliited the history of his life. " I was boni," said he, " in Calvert, Md." When asked the year, he replied : " Deed, master, I can't remember the figures." His father was a slave, and belongecl to Miss Percy Lawrence, of Calvert county. His mother was a free woman, and the mother of " twenty-six heacl " of children.as Uncle Billtermed thein. William was the fourth child. He has no idea what becanie of the rest. He reniaiued with Miss Lawrenee until he was 48 years of age, at which time he was made free, on account of his mother bcing free-born. After leaving Miss Lawrence, Scott went to live with a Col. Hoskins. With the Colonel he remained three or four years, and actcu as his body servant. At the time, about the year 1775, the Indiaus were a cause of a great annovance to the people of Maryland and other colonies. As Col. Hoskins was on active service, his duties being to tect settlers oi the Irontier, he tmveled a great deul, during all of wliicli he was accompanied by his faithful servant. Scott says that during one of his orossings of the "Kocky mountains," probably the Alleghenies, witb the Colonel and his regiment, he was one day captured by Indians and held as a prisoner for two and a half months, during which time ho was treated rith kindness by the savages. He was flnally released through the instrumentality of Col. Hoskins, who always expressed a strong liking for him. Afterleaving Col. Hoskins he obtained employment in Gen. Howe's (the Eni lish General's) service. Scott says that aftcr being with the General about a j year in this country, the General took 1 him to England with him. Scott says he remained in England thirty-two years. He was asked who held the throne of England at this time, and the answer was George III. After remaining abroad for the long : period mentioned, Scott returned to I America. He says that ho was twelve j months crossing the Atlantic, making ! thirty-threc years exactly that he was away from this country. Uncle William said that he was cerI tain of lijs age, because of some papers tliat had been given him by Miss ILawrence, and whieh since had crumbled to dust. He also atated that ofteu liad he ciirriod "Mastor" Disney, now 80 years old, when a baby, on liis shouldor. With regard to Lis health, Unole Bill said lie thanked the Lord that hü had always been healthy, but for the past fiftyyears lu had been very wcixk. Ho lias lost his teeth, and couipliiins of wpakness in his knees. He seems to think that he will not live much longer. A re])orter saw Mr. Snowden Disney, who stat('s that bc is 77 years of age ; that he has known Scott since he can remember; that Scott mirsed his futher when a boy, and that his father died thirty-iive years ago at the age of 76. His (Mr. Disney 's) father alw.ays spoke of Scott as a man of niiddle age wluui he first knew him as a boy. Scott was a religious man, and Mr. Disney stated that he had been a body sorvant of Gen. Howe. He has recently walked out on the Reistertown road sevoral miles to hold religions meetings. Mr. Disney is a feeble old man, with white hair and beard. He expresses the full est belief in Scott's great age, and thinks that he is even older than he claims to be.-