The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-03
MADE HIS W GRAVE.
h Strange Suicide Unearthed by y Calf
f0rniA Cowboy.

f0rniA Cowboy.
REDWOOD CRY, CAL. April 9.-From
self-made grave in the hills Of Han Mateo
county has been brought the body OF a man
who went about the matter OF getting out
of the world in a fashion that was decidedly
novel. A COWBOY namod Jones. employ ed
by II. g. Sheath. proprietor OF tho Jersey
farm, five miles from Millbrae, while tiding
over the ranch on n tour OF inspection. dis
covered what appeared TO be a newly made
grave far up the side OF a high reak that
forms Il pntt of II low range of mountains
known to the settlers in San Pedro valley
as tho "Blaok hills" A closer investiIa-
tion shove that the mound OF newly
turned earth was indeed u grave. but OF a
construction ao peculiar that tho curiosity
of the cowboy was aroused. AT the head
OF tho mound Of earth was an old feedbox
partly buried AZ il it had been placed there
for u h%oadboard. When this box was
pulled out the CHASTITY face of a corpse
could be seen at the bottom Of the opening,
the eyes wide open.
Assistance was summoned from the
ranchhouso two miles away and the work of
disiuterring the body begun. Across the
top OF the grave, which was about eight
feet long by three feet wide and three feet
deep. boards had been placed, ana over
them. to CLOSE the cracks, were spread sew
eral gunny sacks. On top of this the earth,
which had been removed from the hole.
was piled up in a ~well-rounded mound.
This left the space beneath entirely free
from dirt. At one end of the grave a slop-
ing hole had been cut In the earth to serve
as an entrance to the larger space beneath
the covering of planks and dirt. 1t was
into this hole that the old feed box had
been thrust.
On tho bottom of the grave several planks
had been laid. and on these were spread a
half dozen sacks. Stretched ont on this
rude floor in an attitude of repose was the
body of a man in an advanced state Of de-
composition. In one corner of the cavern
ous space was an iron pot which rested in
a niche cut in the wall ak inches above the
floor. In 1t were the remains of a coal fire.
the smoke of which had %blackened the
walls of the grave. A sack lying beside the
body contained half a peck of hard coal.
The head of the corpse rested on a coat,
which had evidently been removed and
carefully folded up to serve az a Pillow.
The cracks about the box found in the
opening had been stuffed with sacks. the
apparent intention being to make the grave
air-ti2ht.
Everything about the self-made sepulchre
indicated that the man had deliberately
planned to take his " life, and had gone
about the work of preparing his own grave
in a system attic manner. The general the
orv is that the man, having decided to take
his own life. ent about it in a way that
would leave no clew to his identity il his
body was discovered and SO that if not diss
covered he would insure for himself proper
burial. The boards over the grave would
have soon rotted away and allowed the dirt
above to fall in and cover the body be-
The fact that the body was clothed
In entirely new garments indicates premed-
and the destruction of any clews
might lead to the mans identity. I'm
doubtedly death was caused by the inhala-
ton of coal smoke and gas.