Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-03
ONE.
Mysteries of the Black Hawk
Farm Deepen.
A MAN MISSING 10 YEARS.
Carrie Bastian's Admission as
to Ernest Miner.
Witness Knows Nothing Of
Lauderbach or kreinsen.
SHERIFF STILL SEARCHING.
Gallon Jug Containing Kero-
sene in the Shed.
An Ugly Looking Club and
Other Weapons.
Witness Knows Nothing Of
Lauderbach or kreinsen.
SHERIFF STILL SEARCHING.
Gallon Jug Containing Kero-
sene in the Shed.
An Ugly Looking Club and
Other Weapons.

Carrie Bastian. sister of Henry F.
BastiAn, admitted this morning that
10yeafs ago man named Ernes st Miner
lived on the farm when her father
was still running it disappeared, and
that no trace of him had since been
found. although he left $50 in money
and clothing. He went away the
middle of August 10 years ago, as
tensibly to go to La Sale to see
friend and expected to return the
next day, but that was the last seen
of him.
Carrie Bastisn told this story in
the Office of States Attorney c. J.
Searle. and in the presence of Mr..
Searle. Deputy Sheriff S. S. Hull,
Deputy Coroner L. V. Eckhart,
Robert Kuschmann. Thomas Camp
bell and representative of The AR
GUS. The states attorney hal re-
quested Miss Bastian to visit his of.
flee in order that he might have a
preliminary talk with her with refer
ence to the numerous startling de-
velopments at the Bastian farm.
Miss Bastian is 90 years OF age,
being two years the senior of her late
brother. She had been questioned
with reference to both Lauderbach
and kreinsen, the missing farm
hands. and denied any knowledge of
the disappearance of either, as she
stated she was in Kansas when they
left. She knew that both had been
employed on the place. but was not
familiar with any of the circum stan
ces of their going. When asked if
her brother had ever talked of the
men after they were supposed to
have left, or since Kuschmann's
death, when Lauderbach's case was
first discussed. she replied in the
negative, and in reply to the query
ii it was not little strange that the
fact that two men had left under
circumstances so identical and t.at
neither had been heard of since bv
relatives or friends who had inquired
at the farm about them, that no
mention should be made of them by
Bastian to his family. Miss Bastian
said she did not know that il was
She was asked i. it was not at least a
coincidence and she replied:
Not at all; man who worked on
our farm when my father run it
10 years ago, disappeared and we
heard nothing of him after"
What was his name?" was asked.
Ernest Miner"
"And who was he?"
Lob, an ordinary farm hand: a
tramp you might call him. He came
along and was willing 20 work for
little money. and he stayed about five
months"
Had he any relatives around
here?n
No. but he had friends at La
Sale. and he started to 90 there one
day about The middle of August 10
years ago and he did not come back.
He LETT q coat and $50, and we never
heard of him"
Did your family make any effort
TO find him?"
Yes; We told it all around the
neighborhood. but could get no trace
of him."
When asked if she did not regard
this, together with the disappear
ance of Lauderbach and Kreinsen, a
coincidence that would at least
arouse suspicion. Miss Bastian said
she did not know there was any
mystery concerning either of those
men. as she was not there when
either left.