Life on a Houseboat.

Lake County Press, Issue 2114, 19 April 1906, Page 2

Life on a Houseboat.

IRISH AMERICAN'S SCHEME TO AVOID TAXATION. Joseph D. Hagerty, an Irish-Ameri-can, has taken up his residence with his wife and family in a houseboat, built by himself, moored in an inlet, of Kenmare Bay, county Kerry. Two years ago Hagerty came lo Ireland. His relatives soon discovered that he was Jilled with the spinl of liberty. He had -been a member of the New York police force, and in that city only the owners of real property pay taxes. Eighteen months he informed his relatives that for the house in whirl, he was to live he would pay neither rent, rales, or taxes, and he began straightway to build a houseboat. Six months ago the vessel was launched in nn inlet of the bay and since then Hagerty and his family have resided in it. The boat is called the Yankee. Ii is 40ft. in length, 13ft. in width, and more than 10 ft, from keel to roof top. The house runs nearly tlip whole length of the boat, and is divided into four compartments—kitchen, dining-room, and two bedrooms. Aft, outside the house proper is a store chamber. The roof of the house is utuli/.ed as a water tank, fresh water being secured from a i stream near by. Underneath the deck is a bed ol concrete, in the making of which two tons of material were used. Hagerty claims that the concrete will keep the house dry, and also serve as ballast. Hagerty, who is believed to have been in the United States navy, was interviewed by a correspondent of the :'lrish Independent." "We want no interference from any

one," ho said. "Wo arc free-born people, and wc intend to remain so. Everyone else in (his country are slaves. If they aren't, why do they pay to live on the earth that God made for them, eh? I'm busy. Good-day. Gel ofT the boat."-