Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-05-29
Headless Skeletons in California.

A few days ago the fact was briefly
mentioned in the Call that the body, or
rather the remains of the body, of o
man had been found in the brush about
two miles from Belmont, Some China
men discovered them while engaged in
clearing the brushaw away. They yfrstfound
skull, and then found, lying in a
hammock of blankets suspended from
the bushes, mouldering skeleton that
had once been a man. The discovery
was at once reported to the authorities,
and an investigation was instituted.
1t was noticed that the spot was the
most secluded that could have been
found in that part of the country, and,
from appearances, it had been used as a
camping-ground by one or two men.
The skeleton was found to be clothed
in a superior manner, the Under gar
ments being Of good quality, and the
other apparel consisting of light cassi-
mere pants, light checked pattern
vest, light cloth coat and heavy
beaver overcoat. The pants were cov-
cred with waterproof overalls, and an
overcoat of the same material was
spread over the body as it lay in the
hammock. Among the bushes near at
hand were found revolver, an um-
brella, and leather valise. The last
named contained q quantity of fine
clothing, some new and other that had
been worn. Between the canvas lining
and the top of the valise was found q
fragment of the Morning Call, of the
date of February II, 1872; and in q
rats. nest few yards from the valise
were soda bottle filled with laudanum,
and silver watch. The watch was ex-
hibited at the police Office. tits of su-
perior manufacture, is stem-winder,
enameled back, and bears the name of
"Roscoe," manufacturer. On the in
side edges of the case, at the back,
these numerals are cut in different
places: "XVII," "VII," GIL" A
silver chain is attached to it. When
the skeleton was lifted from the ham
mock it was found that the bottom of
the hammock had been soaked with
blood, and the garments in the neigh
borhood of the loins were also heavily
stained from the same cause. Beneath
the body were also found number of
pads and bandages, made of strips torn
from some linen garment. They had
apparently been used to stop flow of
blood. The skull was found about fifty
feet from the hammock, having fallen
from the body and rolled down a de-
clivity. Another skeleton was found
about four months ago, half mile
from the spot where the last skeleton
was found. A pistol was also found
near this skeleton, and q hole in the
skull showed that death had been caused
by gun or pistol shot. Scraps of a
newspaper found near the skeleton in
the former instance correspond in dates
indicated with that found in the ham,
mock, and the circumstances seem to
point to some connection between the
deaths of the two men, which must
have occurred near the same time,
about a year ago. The first skeleton
was found at the foot of thickly wood
ed gulch, leading directly to the locality
of the hammock. Mr.. Phelps and
other parties interested in investigating
the affair, believe that the men were
malefactors of some description hiding
from justice, or that they were fugitives
from the city. Some quarrel sprung
up between them, and the difficulty
was settled by pistol combat at the
foot of the gulch. One of the COM
batants met his death instantly by q
bullet sent into his brain, and fell
where his skeleton was discovered many
months afterward. The other, mortally
wounded in the lower part of the body,
succeeded in regaining his camping
place, and after Intellectual attempts to
stay the ebbing current of life, finally
died unseen and unattended.