The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-07-23
IT'S IDENTIFIED.

90. astronomical Instrument at
uoekwf.e the Property Of "PrOf.
rowie-," ahOse Murdered Remains
were FOand In d Has Couuty-A
singular and Mysterious History.
The HRRALp's reporter at Rock vail
ssropicled, in his bulletin Of Thursday's
a.,e, the circumstances under which valu-
able astronomical ipstrrm meat was left at the
,ssidence of William Harvey, about four
years ego, and which to thi, day RENAME
xi,hout Q cisimsnt although valued at
$4,000. Inquiry among former resi-
dents of that county, show that thu
owner Of the instrument was named
DR.. Fowler. an eccentric man Of meaDs
whose murdered remains were found near
the northern confines of this county, some
years ago.
DR.. Fowler was a robust man, past the
meridian Of life, we'll versed in history and
the current liter ture of the day, and fluent
upon scientific themes especially chronology.
the details Of which he effected. HIS exami.
nations were psinstakiDg, accompanied with
chart and given to bis
subjects without reward other than
that which no was pleased TO term 'the
gratitude yelling from heart aud brain that
Knew themselves, Through his philanthropy.
Hs was polished in manners, suave in cons
yerss.on, and ready to answer all interro-
CATIONS, other than those prying into his
psst or family history, upon which topics hi.
re,icence waa remarkable.
DR.. Fowler came to Lone Oak,
in R,ckwsll county, from nobody
knew whence, rented property, located
,hers aud lived off Of his private means,
which. to all APPEARANCES, were ample if not
prpcely. He would at periods mysteriously
disappear, and upon his return manifest
asgsrues, for investments ia any and every
thing Fl ring, provided he believed that he
was purchasing with q margin to be reals
lad with the material development
nj the state, which be WAS cen,
viuced would be superinduced ty
immigration within bis allotted three score
and ten.
Among his numerous purchases was a
steam grist and fJuring mill and magic.
lantern show. Twenty thousand dollars
cash was psid for the former, and fifteen
hundred in cash and barter for the apparatus
and tents of the latter. His interests W. re
htted away between the Two. The mill
was stoI ped in order to enable him to devote
bis en- ne attention to the education
Of tho masses BY eratui,ious scientific
exhibitions, which fl ,slly was disposed of TO
shsrpcrs who pledged themselves to contioue
the good work at maximum entrance fee of
ten cents for adults, and free admission to
children and school pupils. During his tour
as scientist his mill WAS destroyed BY fire.
and was almost total loss to him being
uninsured.
About three years ago, when the total
eclipse of the sun Of 1873 was uppermost in
the minds of astronomers, Dr. Fowler dissp.
peared, and after an absence of several
months, returned with the astronomical in.
strument in question. He held that the
heights west of r ckwsll offered the best
advantage for observation on the continent,
and that it was his purpose to note infinitely
the details of the eclipse, which he intended
to contribute to science in the shape of a
monograph descriptive of the phases of the
phenomena and explAnstive of
bis own dedications. As the time for
the eclipse was yet distant, he hal
the instrument housed at Mr.. Harvey's.
disappeared again, and some months after
ward remains answering bis description were
found, murdered as above stated. When
last seen in life DR.. Fowler was accompanied
by two young men who, II is supposed,
murdered him for his money.