Terrible Old Man, The

A resident of Kingsport, known only as the Terrible Old Man, he was a ex-sea captain who lived on Water Street (the house backs onto Ship Street).  He had a grey beard, walked with a knotted cane, and had strange yellow eyes.  He was generally
avoided (except by Olney, who liked his tales).  He was, though, dangerous to intruders.  His yard was scattered with a collection of stones pained like South Seas idols and he kept a collection of bottles in which were pieces of lead suspended by
strings.  He was heard talking to these bottles, each of which had a name such as Jack, Scar-Face, Long Tom, Spanish Joe, Peters and Mate Ellis.  The bottles seemed to answer back by means of strange vibrations.

[The Terrible Old Man," "The Strange High House in the Mist - H.P.L.]