The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-01
WHERE is r. w. BARTO
Squak Slough Farmer Missing
for Several Days.
HIS FRIENDS FEAR FOUL PLAY.
He Had Money on Elis Person when
Last Seen-Aecids entail Death or
Suicide Also Possible.

The mysterious disappearance OF K. w.
Barto, . farmer Who owns . ranch on
Squak slough. near Redmond. is worrying
his friends He left his home on the I'D
of July. stating to Henry Bohle. who
lives with him. that he would return soon.
He borrowed a small sum Of money. about
$50. from Bohie before leaving. and. SO far
IS can b. learned, that is all the money he
had in his possession. Since then no trace
OF him has been found. and his friends are
beginning to think that he has been foully
dealt with or that he is dead.
Mr.. Barto came TO Seattle from Dakota
about ten years ago. and going out into
the Squak valley took up piece of land.
He built house on his place and lived
there the greater part of the time. He
owns some property in Seattle, however,
and until recently has occupied room in
one of his houses on the corner of Four
teenth and Warrington streets, renting it
from his tenants. Not long ago he gave
up this room, and during his recent visits
to Seattle he has roorned at the Queen City
hotel on South Second street.
During his long residence IN King
county and near Seattle he made but few
friends. on account of his reticent DISPOSE
ton. and but little is known OF his life
before he left the East. From one of his
few very intimate friends it is learned that
he had been married and had raised
family Of several children. now grown I'D
and married. and that his wife had been
dead for many years. For some reason he
did not correspond with his children. He
was Bohemian by birth. but had lived in
this country many years, and had lost all
trace of foreign accent. In personal APP
pearance he was a man of about medium
height. slender and would not weigh over
14O pounds. His eyes were blue and his hair
and full beard had been light colored, but
were very gray. He had never mentioned
his age to any one. but he is supposed to
have been nearly 60 years old. His habits
were good. He made but few friends, and
was not man who talked q great deal,
even to them.
Mr.. II. 7. Harmon, who was one of his
few intimate friends, said last night that
when he had last had any conversation
with Mr.. Barto. about three weeks ago,
Mr.. Barto had told him that he was not
feeling we'll, and that he was worrying
owe: the condition of his health and over
money matters. Mr.. Harmon is positive,
however, that it was ill-health. and not
money troubles, which was the cause Of mis-
dependency. After this conversation Mr..
BartO left for his ranch, and. informing
his neighbors that he was going to dispose
Of some shingie bolts he had cut last win
ter. he left home and since then has not
been heard of.
A note of his for 500 was about to come
due. and it is thought by some persons
that he had money to pay this note when
he lett home. From his ranch to Lake
Washington, where he was accustomed to
take the steamer for Seattle, Is about four
miles through the heavy timber. and there
is bare possibility that he was murdered
and robbed while on his way to the boat
landing. This may be the case. or he may
have killed himself, met with an accident
or left the country. Mr.. Harmon believes
that he has fallen i'll in some out-of-the-
way place. Inquiries have been made in
all directions and search Of all the lodg-
ing houses and hospitals has been made
BY Mr.. Harmon without finding any trace
of the missing man. The police also have
the case in hand.