Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-03
a MYSTERIOUS DISCOVERY.
LEOTI, Kan, March 80, 1889

LEOTl, Man., uarCn 81, 1903.
| To the Editor Of the Eagle
Dear Sir-A discovery was made upon
Beaver creek IN Wichita county on the
Goth inst. which may throw some light
upon some deed of darkness or mysteri-
Gus circumstance hitherto nnrauelled.
In rough, rocky canyon leading
| down into the creek, on the south side,
about eight miles from Coronado, two
human skeletons were found, together
with a large number of remnants of
blankets and soldiers clothing in such
shape as to excite some suspicion regard
ing the death of the parties, who prob
ably not more than ten or fifteen years
ago belonged to these bones and blank
cts.
Mr.. A. c. Holloway had built stable
near the head of the canyon, and in
walking down the same under large
projecting cliff he discovered pieces of
clothing which had evidently been drag
ged from small cave under the boulder.
He went to the mouth of the cave and
saw that some stones had been piled up
to conceal the cave. Looking in he saw
clothing and bones which, after calling
some companions, he hauled out and
found to be the remains of two persons
which from the clothing and blankets
are supposed to be soldiers. Now the
questions are who were they and how
did they come there?
The clothing was of very fine quality,
part of which appears to be the dress
suit of q cavalry officer. Pieces of about
six different blankets were found.
Nothing was found in the shape of metal
save the buttons upon the coats. No
boots or shoes were found. Some of the
bones showed that they were evidently
broken before the bodies We're placed
there. indicating violent death.
Much speculation is INDUCED in re-
garding the matter but no satisfactory
information can be given until this dis
covery is connected with the disappear
ance of certain parties several years ago,
before this territory had been reduced to
any considerable degree of civilization.
1t is not such place as people bury
their friends in. If they were soldiers,
as ..the clothing indicates, they would
naturally have been taken
to Fort Wallace and respecta-
bly, inferred in the military cemetery.
Had they crawled in this cave to escape
blizzard in the winter time they could
not have filled the mouth of the cave
with rocks, since the cave is not large
enough to do such work from the in
side. Had they been killed by Indians
they would have been left lying without
their scalps upon the bare prairie.
Now if they were soldiers and had met
with violent and unknown death they
would probably be recorded as deserters.
and it is due them that some examina-
ton be made and endeavor to solve the
mystery of their death and clear their
record from the charge Of desertion. II
they were civilians who were in posses
SIGN of soldiers clothing and blankets
who have mysteriousiy disappeared,
these facts may meet the eyes of some of
their friends and thus establish their
identity.
have taken the precaution to
make 8 personal examine
ton of these facts and know them TO be
correct. Have visited the spot and ex-
amined the remains. Am not an expert
bnt should say that these bones are ten
or fifteen years old, some are IN re-
markably good state of preservation. the
articulation being still perfect. ***