The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-02-27
manitowof 1)ilot.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY u, 1890.
DEATH IN A TREE TOP.
A Sad Tragedy That Happened in the Red.
wood Forests of Nendocino.

A Sad Tragedy That Happened in tho Red.
wood Forests of Nendocino.
w. S. Mills and Henry Eckhart, Of
Colusa county. who recently returned
from camping hunt among the coast
mountains of Mendocino. tells of Il re-
markable find among the great red
wood forests of that part Of the state. u
story which. for thrilling. weird. wood
land tragedy. cNcels.
In the northwes. ern part Of the cOun-
~ late one afternoon, just before sun
set, while the hunters were making
their way TO camp, they noticed that
the RAYS OF the sun in the tree tops of
a dense grove fell on and lighted up
a white object high up among the
branches Of large madrona tree.
Approaching the foot OF the tree for
the purpose of getting a nearer view of
the white object, they were astonished
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 ciinging to it.
The barrel and lock were covered
with rust, indicating it had lain for
wears in its position. While they were
examining lllt dutltii gun, anu HUM
inc for further evidence around the
foot of the tree, the sun had so far
declined as to throw the white object
in the branches in deep shade, max
ing it impossible TO make OUT what 1t
was.
As it was somewhat difficult to climb
the tree. they concluded to return in the
morning and make further inyesti@a-
ton Marking it by placing poles and
fallen limbs against the trunk, they re-
turned TO camp.
Next morning they returned to the
tree, and in the bright morning light
had no difficulty in making ont the
white object to be the skeleton of Il 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 a particle Of flesh on
the bones, and but few dangling rags.
Near the skeleton. and lying across one
of the limbs, was the frayed remains OF
an old coat.
Throwing the coat to the ground
Mills descended, it having been decided
to leave the bones where they lay in
the tree, rather than throw them to
the ground to be scattered by wild ami
mails.
There was nothing to indicate how
the man had met his death, or why his
gun should be on the ground aud his
skeleton in the tree.
They coniectured that the hunter
might have been chased by a bear and
had climbed the tree and had accident
ally dropped his gun, which, striking
the ground, had exploded and wound-
ed the man mortally: that ere he died
he had tied himself TO The limbs OF the
tree TO prevent the animals from de-
stroying 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 mold
ed and matted together in mass.
An old moldy notebook was found.
In the book was pencil writing, which
was still lcgible in places. though the
leaves were moldy and much injured by
long exposure to the weather. On the
first page there was part Of Il name end
inc with the letters -ington; all the
balance OF the name was obIiterated by
mold and stain.
There was writing on the next two
or three pages. but it could not be
deciphered. The next few pages were
comparatively clean and the writing
perfectly legible. 1t was a record of
his last days in the tree. and read
He is gone again, but she sits at the
foot OF the tree How long
will this last? For three davs | have
been kept up in this tree and am dy-
ing with hunger and thirst. One of the
bears always remains while the other
goes away for hours. Will
they never leave the tree? Shall | die
here, and then fall to be eaten by them?
If only had my rifle again
or Il drink OF water | have eaten
nothing but the leaves of the tree and
they are so bitter. The sun is
nearly down and the male bear has re-
turned. They will both remain all
night. It's morning again.
though / was eating in the slight
dreams last light No; am diving of
hunger and thirst. | am growing
weaker. | have wept till there
are no more tears. | found myself try
ing to get out of the tree last night, but
the bears growled and | came to my
senses. The bears are under
the tree. The ground is covered with
them. There are hundreds of them.
| have been eating leaves and do not
feel hungry now. think I'll yet out
of this yet if those bears will 90 away
The sun is going down again.
won't write any more. :
The following was probably written
the same day. or it might have been
written the following day; he writes
his last few lines, and they are iucoher-
cnt:
II had hard work to get the book out
of my coat. | have tied coat over limb;
tied my legs to limb with Suspenders,
won't write any more soon,
as it will be two weeks tomorrow
''Tilly-last night, Tilly-was here
She here all time now-as | will be too
weak in the morning last night She
Tilly-So are the bears. SO manv-find
me-tind mn-onlv-to think where
are thcyI will -put-put the book
in pocket god night i'll not be gone
love-Tiliy-"
Here ended the writing. of which the
abe is correct copy. There were
no dates to the pages, and nothing to
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 ii for publ
cation. seriously doubling its authentici-
ty.-SQH Francisco Examiner.
Corn Husking.