The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-09-07
SAD INTELLIGENCE.

aItie AUS oStsC' hh'"ii, oI iuOfe MIG u
fos, eotei than John wills n. familiar.
~ known as Jack Wilson, the light
ming pitcher" On the sixth OF April
last he started for the East, where be
was to receive q handsome sum O,
money. left TO him by his mother. to
be given him at his majority. A,
Walla Walla be joined the party Of
drovers. who were to take a band O!
eleven or twelve thousand head of cat.
tie across I country 10 the Missouri
A gentlem here in town received the
following letter from another we'll
known young man from this city, who
is also with the party We publish il
in full, as it give. .ac particulars very
uinutely:
GE cES RIVER. Wy. Ter,
August 22d, 1873
DEAR FRIEND NICK:-Perhsps In
the whole course Of my existence no
more painful aud distressing duty has
fallen to my lot than that | am now
called upon to perform. II is to tell
you Of the dreadful fate which has be-
fallen our young and esteemed acquain
lance. Jack Wilson. | scarcely know
III what words to convey the heartrend-
ing intelligence Truly, dear friend.
10 the mids, of life We are in death.
and alarming indeed is the thought
that a. any moment whether prepared
or unprepared) We are liable to be
thrown off life's trail and taken into the
unknown region of eternity
When | look back only three short
months ago and see poor Jack as
fancy paints him, standing in the
doorway Of the Slime House. in Walla
Walla, i'll perfect health and spirits.
looking forward with brave and eager
heart to the happy future. when he
would return to Seattle to receive the
loving welcome there awaiting him.
and compare that time with the pres
ent. l can almost feel my flesh creep.
and cannot repress q shudder of horror
and dread. Nick. for am exposed t.
the same danger "a. he. We ar pass
ing through the very heart Il an Indian
country, Of which you know the dan
gers as we'll as eau tell you. We had
entered the pretty little valley Of Wood
River on the morning & the 10th. aud
finding good grass and water there had
determined to lay over DAG or two TO
recruit and rest the cattle II must
have been about four o'clock in the az
ternoon. when Nature seemed dressed
in her richest garments. The sun slim
ing brightly. and the few scattered and
tleecy white clouds flnat,rg overhead
FAR from m~rriEg serving only TO en-
h.nc- the exquisite. lovelinc>s f hN~,-
ems blue vault tlI.. stret,h",. like u
beautiful blue canopy from summit 20
summit Il ID" mountains that hemnied
IN tue valley in which we were camred.
The boys. never dreaming of danger.
Ia. around in careless Incidence meath
the willows bordering the banks Of the
stream, the cook was busting about
preparing the even,n: meal, and all
hands in the best of good humor in nn
ticilation Of choice mess of mountain
trout when suddenly the crack Of u
rifle was heard. and simultaneously
with the report. Jack (uttering q fierce
cry jumped up and began tearing of
his clothing. his face all the whilo un-
dergoing the most fearful contortions
Of agony. In q moment the entire camp
was thrown into the utmost confusion.
all hands expecting to have to fight
dearly for their lives. However, few
minutes having elapsed and no more
shots being fired. the intense excitement
somewha. subsidized and comparative
quiet was again restored. when atten-
ton was turned to Jack. He had dis
appeared; but. on searching. he was
found behind clump of willows, lying
on the fiat of his back. stripped to the
skin, and large red spot Of blood on
his breast. Bending over his PROSTATE
form and placing q hand on his heart.
it was ascertained that he still lived.
though breathing with great difficulty.
In few short but bitter moments all
was over; the deed had been consum
mated: another life had been taken,
and poor Jack. in the youth and flower
of his manhood. lay there bloody VIC
tim TO the curss of the trail.
When the first burst Of their grief is
over. Nick. it may afford his sorrowing
friends some feeble consolation to know
that, after he first laid bis finger on it,
that ioa~ nerer cruelei Il hairs breadth :
Jack mashed him where he found him.
right over his heart. SO perish oil
eraybscks. j. r.