Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-02-11
The COL. FOUNTAIN MYSTERY
Gov. Thornton Expresses His Views
on the Subject to a New Mex
lean Scribe.
DOUBTLESS KIDNAPPED AND MURDERED
Earnest Efforts OF Searching Parties to
Solve the Dreadful Mystery-A
Stain on New Mexico-Prize
Fight Situation.

Cruces this morning. In response to
queries of a New MEXICAN scribe, who
| called upon him soon after he went to the
executive Office, the governor said that
since he left Santa Fe week ago, with
the exception of few hours spent in Ell
Paso comforting with the authorities with
a view to preventing the proposed prize
fights, he had devoted his entire time and
attention to efforts looking to the solu-
tion of the Fountain kidnapping mystery.
He continued that all the information
be had been able to gather convinced
him that Col. Fountain and his little boy
had been murdered by stock thieves
whom the colonel was actively engaged
in prosecuting as attorney of the South
eastern New Mexico Stockmen's associa-
ton. His opinion is that Col. Fountain
WAS killed near the place where the dead
camp fire was found in the foothills of
the Sacramento mountains, about five
miles from the abandoned buck board,
and that the boy was very likely carried
further into the mountains before being
disposed of.
REASONS FOR THIS OPINION.
He founds this opinion upon the facts,
previously recited in these columns, that
three horsemen we're seen both by Col.
Fountain and the mail carrier suspiciously
circling around on the plains near the
spot where the former and his boy were
last seen; that the tracks of three horses,
besides those of Col. Fountain, followed
ths blackboard out on the plains ten
miles to where it was found: that the horse
Col. Fountain was leading was turned
loose whore the buck board was left; that
another one of Fountains three horses
was released at the camp above men
toned, and that the hoof prints indicate
that only four horses left that point for
the ID Mountains.
The governor naturally concludes that,
if both Col. Fountain and, his boy had
been carried any distance away from that
camp, the released horse would have
been needed and hence would have been
taken along. Near this place he thinks
that the body of Col. Fountain will be
found and that the boy was taken further
into the mountains, to what fate no one
knows. Fountains third horse has not
been found.
SEARCHING PARTIES OUT.
The governor adds that several search
ing parties are still securing the noun
talns and plains for clues that may lead
to the solution of the awful mystery and
result III the capture of the cruel kidnap.
ers, and that he has done all in his
power to urge these parties to continue
in their righteous undertaking and to en-.
courage Others to 60 on the same errand.
He sent his proclamation on the subject
to every sheriff, postoffice and newspaper
in Dona Ana, Lincoln, Eddy and Chaves
counties, and confidently hopes that the
people of those counties will leave no
as far as possible wipe this foul stain
from the name of the territory.
PRIZE FIGHT SITUATION.
Gov. Thornton says that while away, in
obedience to his official duty to exert his
best efforts to aid in preventing the
proposed prize fights on New Mexico
soil, he went to Ell Paso for the purpose
of comforting with U. s. Marshal Hall on
the subject. The latter is now on the
ground with an adea uate force of deputies
and will doubtless be able to enforce the
law as to New Mexico without the aid of
troops. Touching the suggestion that "a
effort may be made to do the fighting on the
disputed strip between New Mexico and
Texas, the governor made arrangements
with the adjutant general of Texas where.
by the authorities of that state and this
territory will act together in the enforce
ment of thelaw prohibiting prize fighting.
What action the Mexican authorities will
take in the premises he was not prepared
to say, as he had no conference with them.
City Of Mexico.
Round trip tickets will be sold by the
Mexican Central railroad for three or
four days following the contest, at the
low excursion rates named below: Ell
Paso, Texas, to City of Mexico and return,
$40. Side rides from main line points
on the Mexican Central railroad will be
given on these tickets at very low rates.
Tickets will be limited for return pas.
sage thirty days from date of sale, and
tickets issued from other points to Ell
Paso for the Athletic Contest will be OK
tended, allowing passengers to make the
trip to Mexico. Call on agents of the
Santa Fe Route for particulars.
H. s. Lurz, Agent,
Santa Fe, N. M.
G., I. NICHOLSON, G. p. A.,