Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-02-17
HOPE YIELDS TO DESPAIR
Discovery of Clews that Unmistakably
Point to Murder of Col. F0un-
tain and His Son.
A POOL OF BLOOD. PART OF BOYS SHIRT
Belief that An Important Witness at
Las Vegas Has Been Murdered-A
l2-Year Old Boy Killed at Alma
Probably Accidental.

| Gen. E. l.. Bartlett returned from q
visit OF week or 80 at Las Cruces yes
terday morning. In conversation with
a New MEXICAN scribe this forenoon he
fully confirmed the reports that the
searchers have found the spot where Col
Fountain and his son Henry were un.
doubtedly murdered.
pool of blood, part of what is sup
posed to be Col. Fountains brains, but
ton from his coat, napkin in which
sandwiches were wrapped, blood stained
sleeve from the little boys shirt, and Is
cents in change scattered on the ground
mark the place where the awful tragedy
occurred. The bodies are believed to be
buried near by in the white sand, but it
is feared that the winds have obiterated
all signs.
A letter from Major W. H. Fl. Llewllyn
to friend in Santa Fe recites the facts
practically rs given above. He says that
with the other searchers he has ridden
over 400 miles, being in the saddle night
and day, and will return at once to the
place where Van Patten and others were
left in camp in the White Sands region.
He adds that Mrs. Fountain and her sons
and daughters are nearly distracted and
expresses fears for the sanity Of Alberto,
Col. Fountains oldest son.
Gov. Thornton has to-day decided to
offer a reward of $500 each for the arrest
Of the murderers of Henry Fountain in
addition to the $500 reward previously
offered for the apprehension of the assas-
ins of Col. Fountain. After conference
with influential Democrats and Republi-
cans throughout the territory, he has also
concluded to offer an additional reward
of $4,000 for the Fountain murderers, sub
ject to the approval of the next legisla-
tive assembly.
The Masonic lodges are also moving
actively in the matter of Offering rewards.
In addition to the rewards offered by the
Masons at Las Cruces, Santa Fe and Al
bnquerque, the Masons of Ell Paso have
forwarded $500 for the same purpose to
Las Cruces. Doubtless every lodge in
New Mexico will contribute to the fund.
FOUL PLAY FEARED.
The recent efforts at Las Vegas to
bring to justice the murderers of Abram
Aboulafia have probably resulted in an
other murder to get rid of dangerous
witness. An old man named Geronimo
Chavez, known to be able and willing to
give valuable evidence against Nicanor
Herrera and Esperidion Swayback, on
the charge against them of numbering
Aboulafa, after appearing once in Jus.
tice Wooster's court, has mysteriousiy
disappeared, and the prevailing opinion
at Las Vegas is that he has been mur-
dered. So at least writes District At
torney Long to Gov. Thornton.
In alluding to this sub ject the Optic Of
Saturday says: Other parties who prob
ably know enough about the dastardly
murder of Abram Aboulafa are said to
be Tomas Arm,jo, who is serving five
years. term in the territorial peniten-
tiary for bfutally nssaulting old man
Wentworth on public highway, and
Procopio Rael, serving sentence of ten
years, for participating. in the hanging
of Patricio Macs, at the Gallinas river
bridge.