Sharp County record., 1878-06-28
A Bloody Tragedy OF Fifty Years Ago.

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daughter, Mrs. John Parton. Capt.
Wilmar is a fine specimen OF the western
frontierSman, and has perhaps seen as
much wild life in the west as Kit Car
son, Daniel Boone, David Crockett or
old Greenwood. Although in his seven
ty-ffth year, he is as straight as an ar
row, an eye which has not been dimmed
by years, and, except an occasional
twinge of the rheumatism, is in as good
health as when he first tore himself from
society fifty years ago and began the
life of hunter, trapper and Indian
fighter. At that time he lived in Ken
tucky, where his wife died, leaving Il
girl baby, which the father placed in the
hands of a near relative to raise and
care for. That was over half century
ago, and the child is now Mrs. Parton,
the daughter whom the Captain is now
visiting.
When he first left home he and three
companions came down the Ohio River
to its mouth in canoe, thence up the
Mississippi River to St. Louis, which
was then but village.
They had heard much of the wealth
of New Mexico, which was then under
the rule of Spain, and concluded that
they would visit Santa Fe. They pur-
chased horses in st. Louis and other
necessaries and started on their long
trip, going as near on bee line as pos
sible. Only a few miles west of st.
Louis and they were out of the settle
ments and travelling over the trackless
and almost unexplored plains, which to-
day are the most fertile spots Of Mis-
souri, In course of time they came to q
fine stream of clear running water which
they followed down until they came to
where it plunged over ledge of rocks,
making most beautiful and picturesque
waterfall. Although the stream bore
no name at the time Capt. Wilmar is
confident that it was ShOal Creek and
the falls were what are known as Grand
Falls, situated about five miles south of
Joplin. Here the little company halted,
intending to rest few days before pro-
ceeding on their journey, as fish and
game were plenty and no signs of hos
tile Indians. One day the Captain and
another member of the company named
Harmon shOuldered their muskets and
went on foot in search of game, leaving
their companions to take charge of the
camp. They were gone nearly all day
and toward evening started on their re-
turn to the camp well loaded with game.
When they arrived here a sight met
| their gaze that nearly froze the blood in
their veins. Both of their companions
lay dead-one covered with knife
wounds and the other with bullet-hole
through his forehead. Not a thing
about the camp had been disturbed.
The horses were still standing where
they had been tethered, which shows
that the assassin, whoever he was, did
not intend robbery, but was bent upon
revenge for some cause which was un-
known to the two survivors. They
buried their dead comrades near where
they fell, and that evening left camp
and Travelled all night in westerly di-
rection before Ethey rested. 1t was
full 20 years afterward before the mys-
terry was explained, and then by chance.
During the Mexican war Capt. Will
mar took an active part on the side of
his country and organized company
of Texan rangers. Among his men was
a middle-aged man, very quiet in his
demeanor, but bold as lion. In a
skirmish with the enemy this man was
mortally wounded, and when he saw he
must die, called his captain to him and
asked if knew who he was. His officer
said he knew nothing about him only
what he had learned since they had
been together. He then told the cap
tain his true name and that of his ia
ther. Capt. Wilmar remembered his
father well, who had been lynched in
Kentucky for committing an unprovok
ed murder and which, at the time, Great
ed a great sensation.
The dying man said he had killed the
captains two companions, and he did
it because he knew they had been en-
gagged in lynching his father, and that
he had followed them from Kentucky to
what is undoubtedly now known as the
Grand Falls of Shoal Creek before he
had an opportunity to carry his design
into execution. He had dogged their
steps from St. Louis across almost the
entire State before he could catch them
alone. When the opportunity arrived
he crawled upon them, within ten feet,
and shot one of the men dead, and be-
fore the other could recover from his
surprise he sprang upon him, and with
his long, keen hunting-knife soon ended
his life He then mounted his horse and
left the spot, going back to his native
State, but soon emigrated to Texas.
There can be no doubt as to the truth of
the narration, and the captain is certain
that Shoal Creek falls is the spot where
the bloody scene was enacted.
"A little boy had one day done
wrong, and he was sent. after patcrnal