Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-06-27
Supposed Distressing Death of Former Civil
Engineer Of the Chesapeake & Ohio Road.

SUPPOSED Distressing DeaL1 OF fofmer U1Vl
Engineer Of the chesapeake 4 Ohio Road.
A letter from Colorado, published in the
Baltimore "American.' gives an account
of the death from thirst of VIM. johnson
and S. Mactier Winchester, two of the
Medary surveying party, engaged in sur
veying government lands in Colorado by
contract. Mr.. johnson was about forty
five years of age and was formerly one of
the engineer corps of the Chesapeake &
Ohio r. R., having been prominently en-
gagged in building the Big Bend tunnel.
The surveyors started out from the main
camp on June 5th, at their work, and got
lost. The account says:
Not until Monday, June 9, did the
searchers get any clue of the missing men.
About 2 P. M. on that day they came upon
poor Winchester, out on the open plains,
but he was too far gone to be saved. A
few drops of water were given him, but in
five minutes he was a corpse, dying in the
arms Of a companion, who had arrived too
late" While searching for johnson. in a
crevice of the large rock, in whose shade
the wanderers had rested, was found a
note, written by Winchester, and dated
June 18th, saying that johnson and he
were lost, and ha0 made up their minds to
60 south. in the hope OF striking 1.-THE
Willow" The note was written in firm
hand, and showed the writer to be in his
right MIND. The diligent searohers travel
ed south, and after travelling six miles,
were rewarded by finding canteen be-
longing to johnson. It was Thursday,
June 18th, before they gave up searching
for the unfortunate men. The cayOte has
probably found him, and ere this has de-
voured all that remained of once bright
and promising young man.
Another account says;
'sMac Winchester was found the after
noon of June 9th, just as he was breathing
his last. We buried him the following day
on a sunny hillside, whose base is washed
by the precious water he failed to reach.
AS stated, Johnson's body has not been
found, but of his fate we can only conjec-
ture one thing. After the long and faith
full search which was vainly made for him,
it is hardly possible that be can be alive.
RACE FOR ENGLISH RIDERS AT THE
AUGUSTA COUNTY FA1R.-We under
stand that at the next county fair there
will be mile race for Englishmen only,
weight $50 pounds, to come off on the Sc
cond day Of the exhibition. The prizes to
be awarded are two silver cups, offered by
the Augusta County Agricultural Society,
and the Virginia Hotel Cup" massive
silver cup, presented by Mr.. Jno. D.
Crowle. of the Virginia Hotel. An Eng
lish gentleman. residing at Barterbrook.
has already been notified of nine entries
for the race, and thinks there will be some
twenty in all. The race will be run in
English style and will be novelty to our
people.
HoNoRs TO AUGUSTA BoYs.-At
Washington & Lee University Commence
ment, Wednesday, the University Prize
Grafton was delivered by ]. H. Hamilton,
a son of Mrs. Virginia G. Hamilton, of
Augusta. The honor of delivering this
grafton is awarded by the Faculty to the
student, who has submitted the best es
say. Young Hamilton also had the de-
gree of Bachelor Of Science conferred upon
him by the University.
The degree of Bachelor of Law was con-
ferred upon G. w. Echard. of Staunton.