The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-10-01
A WHITE CANNIBAL.
Horrible Deed in the wIIds Of the Rocky
mountains--A Miner Kills and Eats
Five of His Companions.

The particulars Of 6 horrible murder
in the Rocky Mountains have been re-
ceived, and for diabolical ferocity this
deed exceeds anything known in the
annals of modern crime. The muir
derer, Packer, is still at large, having
escaped from his captors but the au-
thorlties of Nebraska have offered 5000
reward for Packers apprehension, and
it is believed he soon will be taken.
He was last seen near Del Norte.
The names of the murdered men are
Israel Swan, Samuel Bell, George
Noon, James Humphrey and George
Frank. They were all from Salt Lake,
Utah, and the bodies have been identi-
fed by Mr.. Burke, who knew all the
actors in the tragedy. ..
Packer started out with these men
last spring from Utah for the San Juan
mines, and Mr.. Burke knows that they
were all in company. Several other
parties started out about the same time
and encountered deep SHOWS and suf-
fered great hardships. 1t is probable
Packers party got lost in the noun
tains, and wandered about until nearly
frozen and starved. Two men, Frenchy
and Martformer, saw them, and they
were then enduring many privations.
Frenchy and Martformer made their
way into the Los Pinos Agency, which
they reached only after great exertions,
and in footsore and almost famished
condition. They reported the condi-
tion of Packers party, and believed
they would make their way in, but
none of them ever came except Packer,
the murderer of his unfortunate COM
panions.
A short time ago Captain Graham,
while out prospecting with a party on
the south branch of Gunnison's river,
came upon the dead bodies. They were
all lying under large pine tree, the
branches of which swept the ground.
1t stood in a secluded spot, and the
men had evidently taken shelter there
from the cold and storm. The dead
men were five in number and lay near
together.
Four of the bodies had the flesh cut
from the breasts, thighs and calves of
the legs. The remains of two of the
bodies were in state of perfect pres
ervation, except where the flesh had
been cut of. All the bodies shove l
bullet holes. One had the skull crush
cd in and another had the head severed
from the body, and it could not be
found. One of the men lay little
apart from the rest, bullet hole in his
breast, and his skull crushed with
some blunt instrument like hatchet.
It is believed this was the last man
killed, and that there was struggle
between the victim and the murderer.
Packer finished him with an axe or
hatchet. Israel Swan was an old man,
whose hair was quite white, and near
his body lay pocket-book open, and
by it note torn in two. The note was
much weather-beaten and almost
illegible, but enough could be read to
show it was for $500, and drawn IN
favor Of Israel Swan. No signature OF
date could be made out, both being ef-
faced by water, wind and weather.
Swans body had been but little mutt.
lated, only a little of the flesh being
cut from the thighs. No arms of any
kind could be found, but two old blan
kets and three tin cups lay near the
bodies. Captain Graham thought
the bodies had lain under the tree
about four months. A camp, where {
single man had apparently stopped {
couple of weeks, was found some dis
tance off, by the side of little lake.
1t is believed Packer was actuatet
by the double motive of self-preserva
tion and robbery in committing thu
murder of his companions. He may
, have meditated asking some to kill thu
others and eat them but, fearing HI
could not bring them to his purpose
kept his counsel and killed all tn
others. In such a case one woult
J naturally fear being made victim him
{ SELF. Even if Packer had taken the re
sponsibility and shot down one of hi
party, that the others might have foo(
, to eat, it is likely the others, fearin,
) their turn would come next, woult
have killed Packer. We read of lot
| being drawn in such emergencies to de
, termine who should die, but neve
1 believed these tales, and here is cas-
3 in proof that the old law of self-preser
, vation stands first, and there is no ro
{ nance, except in books, for one's dyinj
that others may drink his blood or ca
4. his flesh and live.
: Packer, probably, would have pre-
a ferred to kill only one or two of hi
q companions, but he had to kill all o
l. none and so killed all. When or ho'
9 the attack was made, none but God an
Y the murderer knows, but it is probabl
: he took away their arms in the nigh
I and then began the massacre with til
q bloody hatchet. This theory is suf
: tanned by Captain Graham, who say
g "the bodies, except one, lay as
: sleeping" The breaking in of th
:. skulls was likely done first and th
e shooting afterwards. One man wake
s and sprang up, only TO be shot dow
I like dog and then finished with
n hatchet.
t 1t is dreadful to think of this ma
camping near by and going every da
: for two weeks to cut a horrid me-
4 from the bodies of his dead comrade
n What were his thoughts through til
b silent watches of those long, bleak vii
e ter nights, with his dead companion
l. slaughtered by his own hand, lyir
Q cold and stiff near him, none but I'll
All Seeing One and himself can ev
e know. The savage cannible may N
= know of God or reason, but the civilize
% cannibal has all the knowledge and re
il soning powers which should make SUI
if horrors doubly horrible.
a The murderer is reported to ha'
told, while in custody at Saguache, ty
a different stories about the TRACED
~ ~ First he said the men had gone back
- Utah, and then that he had killed al
% eaten them to save himself from dyil
40 40 by starvation. When he came in
40 had good Henry rifle and some al
to munition.
70 70 The full name of the murderer al
10 ao,n;bol 10 n packar and tba n