Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-07-28

examinations. then the facts discovered In
bis treasure hunting expedition were fully
revealed
The various articles belonging to Jasper
Karci were Identified, and IN further con
frmation Of his story Frank was taken to
the DEVILS Patch, where he pointed out
the crevice from which he had emerged A
handsome reward was offered TO any one
who would make the descent, but no one
was found sufficiently stouthearted to ven
ture.
The sun shone ftfully that morning.
Dark masses Of cloud swept in amending
procession across the sky The old men
gravely coDned the signs and predicted
dirty weather.
That evening the storm came on. At
first a quickening land breeze, which I'm.
creased in violence until it blew with the
force Of tornado. The rain fell in tor
rents, singing the flesh of the unfortu-
mates exposed to the fury Of the storm like
hailstones
For twenty-four hours the war of the
elements ragged, and it was not until the
morning Of the third day that tic clear
sky was seen again.
Few OF the fishermen's cabins had es
capped damage, while many OF their boats
had been blown into the sea and carried
away.
Under the combined influence Of the high
wind and the ebb tide the sea had retired
farther than the Oldest inhabitant remem-
bered to have seen it. A broad belt of
sand appeared, stretching as far as the eye
could reach along the shore.
Frank Bryson had sauntered down to
the beach, walking unconsciously in the
direction Of King Solomon's tomb, when
be was startled by observing that the en-
trance stood high and dry above the water.
He called to the fishermen and pointed
to the dark opening in the rocks A party
was quickly organized for the purpose Of
recovering the body of Jasper Karch
Under the leadership OF the boy the task
was an easy one, the men returning in an
hour with the body of the old man resting
upon rudely constructed litter.
The corpse was carried into the nearest
cabin and the coroner summoned. The ex-
element in the village was intense 1t was
believed, without doubt, that evidence
was about to be produced which would
make Jack Hastings free man.
Polly Anderson flung her arms about the
neck of her cousin. overwhelming him
with her gratitude.
When the coroner and his physician ar
tIfcu IL was VIII QiilCulGy tudL Iut Inquest
could be inaugurated
At length jury was secured and sworn
The body was identified as that of the
missing man, Jasper Karch.
The outer pockets of the garments of the
dead man were empty, their contents hav
ing been brought to the village by Frank.
But when his vest was unbuttoned q
pocketbook Of oiled canvas was discovered
1t contained letters, papers and bank notes.
II had stains Of blood upon it. aud one
paper hastily folded was particularly
marked with the imprint of bloody fingers
An examination Of the body revealed a
crushed and broken leg. from the lacerated
arteries of which it was evident that the
life blood had oozed away
Another unexpected light was thrown
upon the affair by the presentation of the
anchor of Jasper karch's boat which had
been found fast to the rocks in front of the
cave by the party who had gone in search
of his body.
When the anchor was held up before the
jury for examination a fisherman pushed
himself to the front and asked to be sworn.
His request being complied with. he testi
fed that he had seen Jasper Karch i'll his
boat sailing in the direction of King Solo
mons tomb at noon on the day of his dis
appearance at the time that Jack Hastings
was known to be at the fishing grounds
! He also remembered that the tide was un
usually low ON that day He had not ties
titled at the trial because he could not fix
the time, but when he saw the anchor his
memory was stimulated so us to bring the
whole matter clearly TO his mind
As it was clearly case of accidental
death, never did jury render a verdict in
accordance with the facts as adduced with
greater satisfaction than did the fellow
townsmeu of Jack Hastings.
| The coroner, escorted by the fishermen
returned to Sedgwick, and before the day
had closed the ex-prisoner at the bar
clasped the radiant Polly in his arms, a
| free man.
The authorities having inferred the re
mains of Jasper Karch in the village
Gods acre,N proceeded to settle up HI
estate according to the law governing such
cases.
| When the contents of the oiled canvas
pocketbook were examined, crumpled
blood stained paper, which proved to be or
old letter, was found to bear on its back
the following, traced in pencil by a weak
and trembling hand:
In the name of tod. Amen. /, Jasper
Rarch. being in my right mind, and believing
that am about to die. DO make tins my last
will and testament. hereby revoking all form.
er wills that ! may have made. do give and
| bequeath the sum of ten thousand dollars
| $4,000, money at interest in the CONNER.
cial National bank of Boston. to Jane Bryson
| widow of William Bryson. late of Rockport
or her heirs, as an act of restitution for a
| wrong done the said William Bryson in the
| year lS-, by which he was ruined financial
| ly and his death FASTENED.
| | give and beQueath to my brother. Samuel
Karch. of Hillsdale, n Y, the residue OF
my estate, or in event of his having died pre-
vious to the execution of this my last will
and testament, give and bequeath said resi-
due to Jane Bryson, herein before mentioned
or to her heirs, making her my sole iegatee.
| appoint John Wilson. Esq. of Sedgwick, &c
| be my executor
Signed and sealed this 10th day of July, in
| the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred
and -. JASPER KARCH.
| Scrawled below the will, with its tumble
| of legal phrases. was the following
have been tempted to seek treasure in King
Solomon's tomb, and | have suffered ius'
! punishment for my sins against God and man
| A rock has fallen upon my leg am bleeding
! to death God have mercy on my soul
JASPER MARCH.
| As the closest scrutiny of the instrument
served but to establish its genuineness, ii
was presented for probate by the gentle
man named by the testator
| The news travelled quickly to Rockport
where Frank learned OF his good fortune
1t was flashed over the ectric wire to The
poor woman in Boston, who. on her knees
thanked the giver of all good for hi,