Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-11
NO LONGER A MYSTERY.

gutch, In the coast range nornIans,
near San Felipe. discovered grave con-
tanning the bones Of q woman and many
| gold and silver trinkets.
This discovery has solved mystery
that for long time has puzzled the in
habitants of the San Joaquin valley, as
/ there is but little doubt that the remains
were those of Zarifa Martinique. the
daughter of Jose Martinique. who. fifteen
/ years ago, was sheriff Of Fresno county.
/ In small iron chest found buried by the
/ side Of the skeleton were several Spanish
coins and faded photograph which bore
/ the woman's name.
The grave was discovered at the foot
/ of a tail redwood tree at the head of the
+ gulch, and was surrounded by powders
that had rolled down from the mountains
above. In the trunk of the redwood were
+ the initials q. NJ and J. R., cut deeply.
and as it seemed, with sharp knife
The remains were taken to San Felipe
and buried in plat in the cemetery,
where sleep her father, mother and two
brothers.
There is romance connected with the
life of Zarifa Martinique that the pioneer
settler of the San Joaquin valley never
fails to relate to the visitor. As the story
goes, she was beautiful girl, with the
grace OF an American mother and the heat
of Spanish ancestors IN her disposition.
No man in the San Joaquin valley could
hold the bit in a horses mouth with
steadier hand than could Zarifa, and she
rode like queen with or without sad
die. She could shoot with the accuracy
of practiced marksman, and possessed
spirit as fearless as lion She was
perfect type Of the wild western girl, but
the inhabitants of San Felipe, among
whom she had been born and reared, loved
the harum-scarun girl, for there was
always bright smile on her pretty face,
and IN her bosom beat heart as tender
and sympathetic as that of child.
At the age of Is years Zarifa was loved
and courted by Octave Morez, q young
Spanish rancher in the valley who had &C
cUmulated a considerable fortune. and her
father was anxious that his only daugh-
ter should become the wife Of Octave, but
Zarifa, when the subject was preached to
her, angered her father and astonished
her sutton by declaring that her heart had
long ago been given to Jack Raymond,
and she should never marry if she could
not be his wife. Jack Raymond, upon
whom the sheriff daughter had bestowed
her affection, was a handsome fellow,
shiftless and daring, who divided his time
between the gaming table and prospect
ing for gold among the hills. In the lat
ter pursuit he was generally successful,
in the former he was always unfortunate,
so that he managed with but little troub
to keep his accounts balanced No enc
accused Jack of being bad at heart, but he
was looked upon as a fellow absolutely
worthless to himself and everybody else.
Jack and Zarifa had met, and between the
handsome spendthrift and the beautiful
girl had sprung up mutual affection
that was nursed until it grew to mad in
fatuation.
When Zarifa's father learned the trend
Of his daughters love, he Instituted q
series of prosecutions against Jack, IN the
hope of driving him from the country.
He was frequently thrown into jail on
petty charges, and as often set free after
paying heavy fine, for the courts were
with the sheriff and the community was
prejudiced against Jack, so that it was
hard matter for him to establish his inno-
cence of any charge brought against him
But he had friends In mis- own class who
stood faithfully by him.
These prosecutions on the part Of her
father seemed only to strengthen the love
Of Zarifa for Jack, and her dislike for
Morez grew into open hatred, which eXas-
perated the young rancher beyond control,
and he swore vengeance on Raymond,
openly vowing to shoot him on sight if he
ever again showed public recognition Of
Zarifa- One day, while Jack was seated
by table IN a saloon conversing with
friends, Morez came IN much the worse
for drink, and recognizing his rival ut
tered an oath, aud, drawing his revolver,
opened fire on him. Jack drew his own
pistol and with unerring aim sent bull
let through his rivals heart. Knowing
his popularity in tina. community, Jack
fed the town, taking refuge IN the noun
tains, and though duigeut search was
made for him under the direction Of thu
sheriff. the hiding place of the refugaa
could not be found.
Zarifa never lost track Of her lover. In
Sulphur Gulch, under the old redwood
where her remains were found, the two
had net for months, and this tTysting place
had always been kept secret between
them. here the two continued to meet
after Jack was fugitive from justice.
Zarifa owned horse. fiery black animal,
the gift Of her father, and Oh this horse
she was in the habit of taking daily rides
through the valley. So persistentfy did
she continue this custom afser Jacks dis
appearance, and so long did she remain
absent each day, the suspicious Of her
father were aroused. and through care +
fully following her he one day discovered .
the tryst, and o week later, with q posse F.
Of citizens, managed TO capture Jack, who
was taken back il triumph 70 San Fslipe
and lodged il prison
Za-fa was ncoosolable. for she knew
that her father would never be satisfied
until Jack wcs dead, and she knew he had .
sufficient influence IL that community TO .
carry out any plan he might form She +
could see 10 escape fer her lover. Tho .
] all IN which he was imprisoned was care
fully guarded and she could lend hin no .
assistance, but she did not despair. She
watched her father with the cunning Of .
cat.
The sheriff th;rsted for jack blood. 81
though he knew he had killed Ao-ez IN
self defense. for he lad ruined his pres
poets for becoming faeher-in-law to- the /
HIS Spanish blood was up TO white heat,
and lie spe1. day and night il the saloons
Of San Felipe haralsuicg against Jack
RAYMOND and urging the citizens 70 see
that in his case the ends Of justice were
net cheated The words Of the sheriff
were eAectual. for he was nan Of iniu-
elce and his utteraacsS were Tot 20 be
considered lightly. One night 8 mob
with their brains afane with whisky and
the sery speech OF the sheriff set out with
a rope for the ISL, bent On lynching Ray
noad. The sheriff beaded the mob, and
this gave them courage The jail was
and the iaile-. seeing the deter
uioatioa Of lis visitors sid recognizing