Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-06-01
THE TRAIL OF GOLD.
A Romance OF the Pael1c Coast
and the Istbmus.
fts~ . Iketsrsiisz ai4a.F ~ - K0iasa ss>i
hsssArssa ~hsis Crss-IsaS the i.thasus
-lts~ ths Griasa1 = .s Discover
"a 4ssd F1alshea



6rss rush "a gold seekers, and ia = very
fess years. having la lslaing and tasiness
sp.esliasioas anlassod a fortune Nth us-
usual iapbilty even Cor those days, sailed
olt thr3agh ths Goldeu Gate ga bis <ay
- Ses York flied vita bright antloip pa
tioas nsr tha future sshsn be should have
trought his brzvely ~on wealth home o.
as ~aitias @Is-the vile ~hom. as it
prpsei, ho ~ss aessr % $50 again
he nad chosea the isshusas F0ate for bis
return, and the voyage down the Pacific
Coast Has without ineidezt. the steamer
making ths trip saf ely and landing her pas
sengefs at Panama ~ithout accident or
untoward occurrence of any knd twas
bsS1rs the day ~ the railroad, and the
Trip across o. AspinWau Was made either
on foot or muls-back The passengers
landed early in the moFaing, and a ma jor-
lty immediately made the necessary ar
rangemsnts aud proceeded ou their way
without loss og time. AtweIl, however,
IA ring friends residing in Panasla
With whom be wished 70 spend as much
time as possibie, fingered behind. not
starting until late in the afternoon. He
~as warned that the trip woali not be-
safe Tor single travelcy after nightfall,
particu arly one who was known 10 be
rvtarnlag Sold-seeker. and was strenu-
o-Iaiy urged % remain over night; but,
having always been a stranger % fear, he
paid 40 heed, bar lsisurely made his fare
wells and set of as stated. accompanied
by three natives 20 guide him on tho way
ani carry his baggage.
IL seems almost impossible 70 credit the
fact, taking the circumstances into consid-
GRAFTON, that ia part OF this baggage was
contained a large quantity OF gold dust
besides "A number OF valuable nugget spec
linens, which fact ho had not concealed
from tho bearers; nevertheless such was
the case. Brave 20 rashness aud Of IA mus
cuiar and athletic form, he was utterly
careless of personal danger, tho more SO,
perhaps, from having passed unseathed
through vari0a. perilous experiences Ia
California, aud seorned the idea Of any
thing happening % him on such n short
trip as this was 20 be.
During tho next day message was re-
scived from a friend of Atwell. who had
gone Oh before to Asplnwall, asking It'd
lngs OF bis whereabouts AMI with this con-
drinasion % their previous fears his Pan
anna friends lost no time In organizing IA
search party and endeavoring TO follow
Ip the missing man. b. careful. extendol
tnd persistent inquiries wherever il was
possible 90 maze them, they traced tho
party % q certain point on the road, after
which nothing more could be- heard OF
shem. The searchers were here met by
number from Aspinwall, and the combined
parties instituted thorough search "a
possible along tho borders Of the road for
! distance OF several miles II was for IA
ong time wi hout result, but at last a na-
tive, uotieiny something singular lying in
she mud aud rubbish cf the road, stopped
10 examine IL, and the next instant sprang
Ip with a cry of horror, holding it aloft To
.hs gaze OF his companions. II was tho
1alf OF a human hand.
There was now no doubt that something
.ragical had occurred, tho hand being thas
d "a white man. and strict investigation
II the immediate vicinity was begun,
.hough for some time without result.
Finally another startled exclamation
brought all OF the party To one particu ar
spot 80 tho roadside, whore man who
lad been "a miner in California was in
emily gazing at something upon the
ground. Look :" he exclaimed excitedly;
.see the gold dustv' IL was true. Those
who hail been ia the mines Immediately
! rocog nized the glittering grains which lay
sbickiy scattered upon the earth. Robert
Atweu was known % have had n cOnsid-
able quantity ~ the precious metal con-
sealod in various receptacles about his
person, beside that already mentioned as
contained ia his baggage. The searchers
resumed their Investigations with
The sagacity and perslstency OF
bloodh0unds. aud success crowned
may soem. the trail OF gold was
actually followed up tor some distance
from tho roadside. until it ended az the
edge of cluster or rather thicket OF
rank vegetation, within which the bor-
rifed seekers found the lifeless and
manxlsd body % tho man they sought.
Hs right hand still he'd with iron firm
ness the handle OF pistol OF which one
chamber was discharged, while the fin
gers and hsf the palm Of the left hand
were gone. evidently severed by the Same
fio,v which had inflicted ghastlv wound
iu biz head. The skull being completely
cleft He had evidently raised his hand
% ward 0f The murderous machete, but
o. no purpose. A deep stab in the back
Ia Go rlainly indicated how the first At
tack bal been made
In sheir haste 90 conceal the body OF
heir victim. ths murierers had not no.
ticed The spjlinx ~ ihe gold dust from
BAL. belt ur some other receptacle. and
clue vas thus furnished - the discovery
of the corpse.
hurn uz with Indignation "a they were.
che dead mans fellow passengers hal no
ehoice bnt b. proceed Immediately on their
homsSarl way, their passage being paid,
snd the steamers day ~ sailing fixed
Bat the dastardly murder 3id NOT e. al
together unavenEed William Barkley, n
relative ~ Atwell. then res ding at Pana-
ma. ami the father of ~. II. Barkiey. II
rhis city. pressed the matter So earnestly
apou the attention ~ the authorities that
party % soldiers were put upan the
srai ~ the assassins t'So - whom they
verteos and shot down Ike dogs. The
bird esranod-
But 81 poor Mrs. Atw-.l. awaiting her
f-..fs.s.ff4 n.rts.- --..f.t hfs raff.r.. 80