PECULIAR POSTCARDS

25. BESOM JAMIE, THE KILLERMONT HERMIT

James Buchanan was born in the Saltmarket district of Glasgow around the beginning of the 19 century. After spending 11 years in a poorhouse in Stockwell Street, he became apprenticed to a Bridgeton weaver, but since hard work and honest toil did not agree with him, he moved to Carlisle and started a career as a professional beggar, under the guise of selling religious tracts. He), being 5ft (1.5m) tall and 3.5ft (1m) round the middle. The showman paid him two shillings a week and allowed him to send his hat round to collect money after each performance. After some time being exhibited in the freak show, an idle occupation that wholly agreed with him, Jamie was struck by a mysterious illness that caused him to rapidly lose weight. He survived his dice with death, but his career as a fat boy was shattered. He set out on a lengthy tramp from Glasgow to London, begging his way through the countryside for day after day after day. In Gainsborough, he was seized and sent to prison as a sturdy beggar. Once he reached London at the end of this marathon journey, he was again arrested and had to spend 30 days of forced labour on the treadmill.