The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-09-27
An old TIMERS DEMISE
A Character Well Known to All Old
Settles In Yakima.
A LONELY DEATH In THE MOUNTAINS
Joseph Bowser Found Dead Near
the Headwaters of the Big kiick.
itat WHITTIER re Went en n Hunt
ing Expedition.


q remark which on Friday morning last
occasioned more reminiscent comment,
more stories Of pioneer days, than the
same statement about almost any other
resident would have done.
For "Old Joe," as he was without dis
respect) called, had many friend and
still many more passing acquaintance
among the "boysi and ranchers in this
county, and he was pretty well known in
the city, too, where his rather infrequent
visits always terminated in some episode
remembered laughingly or otherwise by
his associates after he had gone.
The manner OF his death will always
remain mystery, although it is under
stood to have been heart failure, result
ant from Joe's prevailing habit of indulg'
ing rather excessively in intoxicants.
He was found. dead, away up in the
mountains OF the Klckitat. with the skin
of bear he had killed flung across his
shoulders. There were no wounds or
marks OF violence on the body. He had
probably been dead couple of days.
When he left his cabinmste to 90
away on his trip he told him not to worry
If he did not return soon, as he was 60
ing to have "big hunt" When, how
ever, the dog he owned came back alone
and half starved several days later. fears
for "Old Joe's" safety ended in search,
and his body was discovered as above
etated. 1t was carried down to Tampico
flung across the back OF a pack horse,
that being the only means of transpor!a-
tion,. and Mr.. j. p. Marks then brought
it to this city, where it was prepared for
burial. The ceremonies were simple and
were held at the undertaking parlors Of
Lombard & Horsley, where the remains
were lying. His daughter, Mrs. N. H.
Lille, of Toppenish, was present.
sold joe was a character. He was q
man perhaps 60 years old, miner, pros
pector and stock owner in the early days
then livery stable keeper in the old
town when it was in its palmiest days
then prospector, miner and hunter until
he died.
There are many odd tales of the old
man afoat, particularly about his appar-
emily inexhaustible means of obtaining
money. He always cached it, digging it
up when wanted. He dug up $1,000
from the middle of the road in front OF
his livery stable in the old town one day,
and left the country. He unearthed $l2,-
900 from beneath an old tree at the First
that did not represent all OF his wealth,
apparently. No ons knew where he got
1t, but he always had it. Once he had a
little trouble with a member of his fam
lily, it is reported, and thinking that his
money was wanted and that he was be-
ing conspired against, he packed up all
his goods and went off to South America,
where he spent every dollar he had,
merely to keep it from his fancied enc
mics. The amount he took away is said
to have been $4,000
=" hchcsri uc Cduc " lhhlllt uc al
ways had 800, 5000 or $500 in gold with
him, yet he never had bank account.
II is probable that there may yet be
money planted near the Marks ranch at
Tampico or about his camping place in
the mountains.
"Old Joe" was not "squaw man" in
the common acceptance Of the term. He
was legally married to an Indian woman,
by whom he had one child, now Mrs. n.
II. Lille, of Toppenish.
He was jolly, good hearted and typi-
cal westerner, free with his money, his
hospitality, and perhaps his manners.
He had enemies, of course; who has not ?
But he had mary staunch friends who
"roughed'' it with him and who knew
"the man inside OF him." While
there may be but few, comparatively, to
mourn his departure. those few will re-
member him as a boon companion, a
sturdy pioneer, happy-go-lucky hunter
and trapper, who knew how to make the
camp fire more enjoyable by his wild
stories, but who could take mans part
when it came to physical demands.
"Oid Joe" is dead but his memory
lives in the hearts of his hardy pioneer
friends.