Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-01-28
DEATH IN A TREE TOP.
u imb Evidence ~ ~ PitIfui Tragedy In
the NIruturino Ecdwonds.

F~
mountains OF M"ndpcimo, tell of n re-
mariable find among the great red
wood forests of that part of the state, a
story which. for thrilling, weird,
Woodland tragedy, cXccls.
In the northwestern part of the
county, lateo II afternoon, just before
sunset, while the hunters were making
their way to camp, they noticed that
the rays of the n in the tree tops of
a dense grove fell on and lighted up a
white object high up among the
branches of a large madrona tree.
Approaching the foot of the tree for
tho purpose of getting a nearer view
of the white object, they were aston
ished to find, lying ON the ground at
the foot of the tree, the remains of an
old Kentucky rifle barrel. with part
of a much decayed stock still clinging
to it.
The barrel and lock were covered
with rust, indicating il had lain for
years in lis position. While they were
examining the ancient gun, and look.
ing for further evidence around the
foot of the tree, the sun had so far de.
clined rs 10 throw the white object in
the branches in a deep shade, making
1t impossible 10 make out what il was.
AS it was somewhat difficult to climb
the tree, they concluded TO return in
the morning and make further inves-
tigation. Marking it by placing poles
and fallen limbs against the trunk,
they returned TO camp.
Next morning they returned TO the
tree, and in the bright morning light
had no difficulty in making out the
white object 10 be the skeleton Of a hu
man being. Mills climbed the tree
and found the skeleton TO be that of
quite "A large man. resting across two
large limbs, and tied near the thigh
bones To the same.
There was not Il particle Of flesh on
the bones, and but few dangling rags.
Near the skeleton, and lyingacross one
of the limbs, was the frayed remains
of an old coat.
Throwing the coat to the ground
Mills descended. it having been decid.
ed TO leave the bones where they lay in
the tree, rather than throw them to
the ground TO be scattered by wild an
imals.
There was nothing TO indicate how
the man had met his death. or why
his gun should be Oh the ground and
his skeleton in the tree.
They ~conjecturcd that the hunter
might have been chased by a bear and
had climbed the tree. and had acct
dentally dropped his gun, which,
striking the ground. had exploded
and wounded the man MORALLY; that
ere he died he had tied himself To the
limbs Of the tree to prevent the ami
mails from destroying his body. This,
they thought, would account for the
broken stock Of the gun.
\ search was then made in the re-
mains of the old coat, which was
nodded and matted together in a
mass.
An old moldy notebook was found.
In the book was pencil writing, which
was still legible in places, though the
leaves We're moldy and much injured
by long exposure 10 the weather. On
the first page there was part Of a name
ending with the letters -ngton; all
the balance of the name was obliterat.
ed by mold and stain.
There was writing on the next two
or three pages, but it could not be de-
ciphered. The next few pages were
comparatively clean and the writing
perfectly eligible. Ii was "a record of
his last days in the tree, and read:
lie is gone again, but she sits at the foot of the
tree. How long will this lasty For three
days ! have been kept up ia this tree and ] am
dying with hunger aud thirst One o. the bears
always remains, while the other guS away for
hours. . VIII they never leave tAu trpcS
Shall ! die here, and then fall 10 la eaten by
themg II | only had my rila again or a
drink q water. ] have eaten nothing bul the
leaves OF the tree AMI they Gre 80 bitter. . . .
The sun Is nearly down and the male bear has re.
turned. They win both remain all night. . . .
lis morning again. ! thought | was eating In
the slight dreams last night, No; ] am dying Of
hunger and thirst I am growing weaker. :
l have wept until there are no more tears. !
found myself trying TO get out Of tho tree last
night, but the bears growled and I came TO my
senses. . . . The bears arc under the tree.
The ground is covered with them. There are hun
dreds OF them. have been eating leaves and d.
not feel hungry now. think Ill get out Of this
yet IL all those bears will go away. . The
sun Is going Owl again ] won't write any
more.
The following was probably written
the same day, on i. might have been
written the following day; he writes
his last few lines, and they are inco.
herent:
had hard work TO get the book out Of my coat
] have tied coat over limb; tied my legs 10 limb
with suspenders, wont write any more
soon, as IL will be two weeks to-morrow-
Tilly-last night Tlly-was here-She here all
time now-asl viii be too weak In the morning
lat night she-Tilly-so are the hears. so many
find me-lnd me-Only-to thlnk-where are
they will put -put-put the book In pocket
god night III not be gone-love-Tlly-
Here ended the writing, of which
the above is q correct copy. There
were no dates to the pages, and moth.
ing 10 indicate that the writing might
not have been done all on the same
day and at the same time.
The writer retained the writing for
some weeks before he gave it for pub.
LEGATION, seriously doubling its authen.
ITCHY. San Francisco Examiner.