Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-02-27

A BOdie Story.

t9. A Bodie Story. i..t-
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The Boaie Standard tells this
yorY, which, true or false, in q coed
I4rs: There came into this place q
few days since q man who is a living
evidence of an. astonishing freak of
natlre. There is an episode in his
hiptory Of the most astounding and
phsnomenal kind. This man goes
by 1he name of John Jarboe, though
his real name is George Roberts.
Upon this change OF name hangs a
m5st wonderful tale. Many may
think the story about to be related
q mere fancy sketch, but its truth
can be substantiated by number of
reputable men here and in Nevada.
To begin: In q small town in West
era Illinois there lived wealthy
family by the name of Jarboe. Its
members consisted Of the father,
mother three daughters and one son,
christened John. Hard by lived q
Mrs: Roberts, widow in reduced
circumstances, with an only son,
named George, who was about the
same age as young Jarboe. John
Jarboe and George Roberts grew up
together, and went to the same
school, shared each others. pocket
money, and were the closest bosom
friends. A short time before the
rebellion broke out, the elder Jarboe
dieda About the time Fort Sumpter
was Ibombarded, young Jarboe, then
ladNof some sixteen summers, took
biz share of the estate aud went to
the Wllds of Colorado. At Denver
he opened a saloon, and did thriv-
ing business for years. Young Rob-
erts answered the first call for volun-
teers, ,Sand went south with one of
the fist regiments of Illinois troops.
He served through the war and came
home ct the close a tall, handsome
youth, but with his head premature
ly bald. 1t must here be remarked
that Jphn Jarboe had very dark fea-
lures iAnd an abundance OF straight
black hair, while young Roberts was
a fairshaired. blue-eyed and ruddy-.
Checked blonde. Shortly after Rob-
erts' return from the war, he re-
ceivedsa letter from Jarboe, inviting
him out to the growing city of Den
yer. !. poberts went, and for many
years the two friends were ihsepara-
BILE. They lived at Denver, Central
City, Golden. Blackhawk and other
places in Colorado. and always to-
gether. About 1873 they came west
to Utah. And now comes the
strange part of the story.
Some five years ago the two were
occupants Of a cabin in Bingham
Canyon, Utah Territory, rude hut
covered with a dirt roof. One night
the roof gave way, and fell in on the
two friends, while asleep in bed.
Early next morning the neighbors
extricated them from the ruins.
Both had sustained severe contusions
about the head, and we're for many
hours in a comatose state. The first
to recover was Jarboe, but strange
to relate. his first utterance was,
"Did Jack (Jack was the name
George used to call Jarboe) get
killed? ?" Those around the bed
asked who he meant, and he replied,
"Jake Jarboe, OF course" They
told him he himself was Jarboe, bu:
he cot angry and swore he was
George Roberts. Seeing it was use-
less to argue with him, his attend
ants dropped the subject, thinking
he would recover from his strange
deluson in a few days. Next day
Roberts recovered consciousness and
inquired the first thing, " Is George
dead?" In vain they tried to per-
suade him that he was George Rob-
erts; he insisted that he was John
Jarboe. During the interim OF in
sensbility, the two friends had COM
plesely changed their identity.
Thus Jarboe insisted that he was
George Roberts, and Roberts as
stou.ly affirmed that he was John
Ja1boe. Their friends and acquain-
tances thought they must be crazy
fo- a while, but it was soon sean
they were perfectly sane upon other
subjects. It was no use to show
them their photographs taken before
the accident. They could not 40
count for the change in their respec-
tive appearances. but they remained
positive Of their identity. After .
while it became q sore subject with
them, and they would consider any
allusion to it an insult. Thsre wss
much talk Of the affair at the time.
but it finally died out as everything
does. At last tho two friends went
on visit to their old home in Illi-1
noia Roberts presented himself to
the mother and sisters Of Jarbos
as the son and brother, but his I'D.
yan.es were spurned. Jarboe vent
TO Mrs. Roberts as her son, but she