Tombstone epitaph., 1890-05-03
NO LONGER 4 MYSTERY.


 EoII anal silver trinkets
 Ths discovery has solved a mystery
 that for long time has puzzled the in
 habitauts of the San Joaquin valley. cs
 therp Is but little doubt that the remains
 were those of Zarifa Martinique. the daughter of Jose. .Marti tinique. who fifteen
 gears ago was sheriff of Fresno county
 lu small iron chest found buried by the
 side of the skeleton were several Spanish
 coins and d faded photograph which bore the wUnan $ name
 The grave was discovered at the foot of tall redwuod tree ut the head of the -rrlIch and was surrounded by bowldcrs that had rolled down from the mountains above EI The trunk of the redwood were tLc initials z NJ and J F.. cut deeply. and as II seemed. with d sharp knife
 The remains were taken to San Felipe and buried i'll d plat iu the cemetery.
 where sleep her father. mother and two UrUt hers
 There is d romance connected with the life of ZIrfa drtlnique that the pioneer settler of the San Joaquin valley never fails to relate tO the visitor As the story goes she was a beautiful girl with the grace of an American mother and tho heat of Spanish ancestors i'll her disposition No man in the San Joaquin valley cOulu hold lhe bit ill q horses mouth with stpadicr hand than could Larifa and she rode like queen with or without sud de She could shoot with the accuracy of q practlcCd IIarkSmar, and possessed a spirit as fearless as a lion She was perfect type of the wild western girl. but tIp inhabitants of San Felipe. anong whom shA had been born and realed loved the haruu scarum girl. fer there vas always bright smile on her pretty face. and iu her bosom beat Eeart as tender and synpathetic as that of d child
 Al the age of Is years Zarifa was loved and courtcd by Octave Morez. 8 young Spanish rancher ill the valley who had ac- curIulated q considerable fortune. and her father was anxious hat his only daIgh- ter should become the wire of Octave but Zlrffa. when the subject wa8 broacked to her angered her father and as;on!shed her sutor by declaring thai ter heai't had iOng ago been given to Jack Raymond, and she should never marry if sEe could aot be his wife Jack Rlymond upon @honi the sheriff daughter had bestowed lcr affection. was handsome fellow. shiftlcss and daring. who divided his time between the gaming table and prospect als for gold among he hills h tkc lat. ter pursuit be was generally successful iI 4e former he was always unfort unatc so t!at he managed with but little trouble 10 keep lis uccoUnts balanced No enc accused Jack of being bas at heart. but ho TGs looked upon as d fellow absolutely worthless to himself and every body clsc. Jack and Zarifa had rlet. and bet wecn ho handsome spp:ldthrilt and the beautiful girl had sprung up mutual affection that was nursed until ii grew to mad in- fLtuatiol
 When Zarifa's father learned tho trend of bis daughters love, he Instituted a series of prosecutions against Jack. i:l the hope of driving him from the country He vas frequently thrown into jail on petty charges. and as often set free after paying a heavy fine. for the courts were with the sheriff and the community was rrcjIdccd against Jack. so that it vas hard matter for him to establish lis inno- c2ncc of any charge brought against hin. Eut Ec had friends :I his own class who stood faithfully by him.
 These prosecutions on the part of her :Gtlcr seemed oEiv to strengthen the love Cf I2Tifa for Jack. and her dislike for Elorv2 grew into open hatred. which c-2S- Pcr2tcd thc young ranchcr beyond control. and Lo swOrc vengeance on Raymond, openly vOving 10 shoot lin on sight if ho ever again showed public recognition of Ear1fa Che day. while Jack was seated | hy table iI a saloon conversing with {. friends, hlorcZ came in much tho worse fer drink. and recognizing his rival ut tered an oath. and. drawing lis revolver. i opened fire OI him Jack drew his own ! pistol and with unCrriuT ain sent bull | let through his rivGls heart. Knowing | his popularity in that community, Jack | lied tIe town. taking refuge in the noun &i2s. and though diligent search vas | cla,!e for him under the direction of tho ! '.:crilf, the hiding place Of tho refugee i .uuld not bc found.
 ECrifl never lost track of her lover. Tn | sulphur Gulcb. under the old redwood ! where Ter remains were found. tho two | 1ad met for months. and this trystiIg Cl2cc ed always bccn kept q secret between { lcGl Here tAc two continued to rect liter Jack vas q fugitive from justice. -@lifa owned q horse. fiery black animal, 4c Gilt of Ter father, and on this horse ...C yris in the habit of taking daily rides rough the vallcy So consistently did ! Ic continue tls custo:l after JLcii $ dis .prc@rancc. and so long cid she remain .L4cut each day. the suspicious of her ether were aroused. and through caro- Ully following her Eo enc day discovered he tryst. and week later. with posse # citizens rl2naGcI to capture JSc!Ii. vko -2s t&!,cn bac, il triumph to G.:l Io.ice nd lodged il prison.
 L2rila was inconsolablc. for sho i.rcv hct Ter father would never te satisfied 1, -N-f ,O'- T No I,,l uilCic2t influence il tLct community to 2rry oUt any plan hc night fern Sho oCld sec no escape for her lover Tho il il which Lc vas iiapriccrcd was c2-o. cLly guarded ard shc could lc~i Lin TO assistance, but skc did not despair &lo rGtchel Ter father with the cunning of . ct.
 The sheriff thirstcd fer Jccl;'s blood, d. kouGh Eo knew Le Lad l:illcd More. in elf defense, fer kc Led ryincd Lis Ercs- 'cctS for becoming father i:I-lav to the ichcst ra22chcr ill the San Joaquin valley. is Spanish blood w&s Up to white Eect, nd Eo spent G2v and niTht il the saloons f San lclinc E:,rcnSuing against Jack c-ll urging the citizens to sec hat il his case { he ends of justice were lot chCGtad ad The words of the sheriff zero ctICctual. fer he was q man of inlu. nee and Lis utteranccs were not to be oasidcrcd lightly. Ono night q rob 7ith their brains G1anc with whisky and he fiery speech of tho sheriff set out with rope for the jail, bent on lynching lay lOud. The sncrlG headed the mob. and his gave them courage. Tho j.il v.s cached. and tue iailer. seeing the deter ] lination of his visitors end recognizing T their lecdcr tke sheriff of the county,