New-York tribune., 1885-02-05
LONG SEAR CH FOR Il WILL.
HEscUING AN ESTATE FROM CHANcERY-BoNE'
AND PAPERS FOUND IN CAVE

IEsCUING AN ESTATE FROM CHANcERY-BoNE'
AND PAPERS FOUND IN A CAVE.
BRATTLEBoRO Feb. 4.-JOhn Stevens, who
arrived here on Saturday night from three years
search through the far West for his fathers WILL tells
remarkable story In the early days OF the Colorado
gold fever his father Bartholomew Stevens then living
in Montreal, disappeared with his infant daughter
Every effort in the power OF money was made to find
them but without Prosperous In his business
and happy his domestic relations the reason for his
sudden departure from Canada has never been
Ten years afterward when his wife died. no trace OF his
will could be found and as the two sons,
Peter and Richmond, could not establish any claim
20 the estate il went into chancery Richmond stevens
died soon afterward leaving Peter athoughhe heir to
several thousas pounds compelled TO work Tor MS Nv
ing Fer years he remained in Montreal WORK
Ing for small salary and trying in vain to win favor
able Judgment from the courts. He then began life OF
wandering which continued for ten years and in
which he worked, begged and "roughed 1t" in nearly
every part British America and the United States In
California he made the acquaintance OF Abran Beckett
nm old man, who had lived his whole life In the noun
tains ana mining camps. He told stevens tnat man
and tSor and ssies baS aI Ssd IN e
Wahsatch Mountains in Utah. for several years, and
spot The cabin where they had lived had been burned
when they arrived, and 30 trace OF the man OF woman an
remained Stevens whose hopes had been revived by
the statements of Beckett was completely discour-
aged lie turned his face eastward again arriving
Brateboro, where for several months he was common
on the railroad and worked for dollar day.
In 1882 he received letter from Salt Lake CITY, which
had the Montreal post office unLotced Tor nanya
year The letter from man whom Beckett had got
10 write for him and contained clew to the missing Will
Stevens lacked sufficient money To take him TO U tan,
aud borrowing what he needed OF his landladys
daughter a charming widow to whom he was be-
trothed he again started westward Arriving IN salt
Lake CITY he found that the who wrote the letter
was dead and that Beckett somewhere near Tucson
of that amount invested in eatabes, he started on foot
for Tucson unarmed and at the mercy OF the Indians
whose country he had 10 Ii took him TWO months
to and another month TO hnd Beckett here
another disappointment awaited him Beckett had found
the bones and clothing Of man IN
q cave I'm the Wahsatch Mountains, about ten
miles from the burned cabin whore steyens,s father
and sister were supposed TO have lived. wallet was
found In the cave the dead man and several
papers, more less mutiated, were strown about
Beckett could not read but had taken the wallet and
papcrs Salt Lake City where friend OF his SAID sat
fhey we're the will and private documents OF BarthoO-
NEW Stevens, of Montreal, Canada. Beckets friend
wrote account OF the matter TO stevens whicn was
The letter that mislad long IN Montreal Beckett
left the papers with friend and went TO Arizona where
he hac been since Beckett and stevens started az
opce for Salt Lake City, where they arrived
In October. 1888. 10 took them long time
to And the papers which Beckett had left with his
now esd friend but at last they got them stevens had
rot vet reached the end Of his troubles and had TO stay
10 the West uati he could earn enough money to take
Rim back TO Canada the midst OF his abors he was
taksn sick and for long time his recovery seemed I'M
possible Once back In Montreal he had no amculty IN
fetng possession Of his property ana now compare
lively rich he Is here after his bride AS soon 40
hoy married they will West at once 10 searen o
The missing sister and to bring the body OF Barthoomo"
btevens home for burial