Arizona silver belt., 1896-05-14
A GHASTLY FIND.
E. M. Reavis' Body Found on the Trail, Partially DevOured by Dogs.

Trail, Partially Devoured by Dogs. | News of the death of F. M. Reayis
 the "Hermit of the Superstition Mount
 nins," was received here last Friday
 with surprise and regret Reavis hat
 gained considerable local notoriety by
 reason of his peculiarly of dress ant
 secluded life, he having lived for up
 wards of twenty years a recluse in al
 unfreauented locality in the Super. stition mountains. But, notwitbstanl
 ing his eccentricity and unkempt ap. pearnnce. he was man of more than ordinary intelligence and, contrary to the common belief, the wayfarer was always welcome to his humble abode, save the Apache, whom sclf-preserva- ton caused him to shun.
 Reavis' body was found May 5, on the trail about six miles from his ranch, by James Delabaugb, q prospector, 
 who reported the discovery to J. c. Narron, whose ranch is on Pinto creek, eight miles below the Reavis place. Mir. Narron immediately went to Upper Salt river for assistance and F. Nj. Cooper and A. J. Henderson accompanied him to the place indicated by Delabaugh. They found the decomposed end mu- tilated body of Reavis near the trail, and a survey of the surroundings fur nished almost conclusive evidence of the cause and manner of his deatk.
 The old man left his ranch April 20 with nine burros to go to Mesa for supplies, and it is supposed that, after travelling five or six miles, he was taken sick and made camp. He had tied the burros, spread his blankets, made fire and was preparing to heat water in n tin coffee pot when stricken down. Death probably came to hiin suddenly. Little remained of the corpse except the bones, and the supposition is that Reavis' dogs had deyoured the flesh. The head had been severed and was found about twenty five steps from the body. One leg was of at the knee and the other little below the knee. The body was buried near the spot where it was found. There WAS nothing to suggest foul play. sum of money was found on the person of the. de- ceased and apparently nothing had been disturbed or removed from the camp. Four burros, still alive, re- mained where Reavis had tethered them; two had died of starvation aud three had broken loose. Two puppies which he was taking as present to an acquaintance were found in camp alive.
 Little is known of E. NJ. Reavis early life He was brother of l.. U. Resvis, of St Louis, man equally noted for his eccentricities and whose special hobby was the removal of the national capital to St Louis l.. U. Reavis was man of large frame, with deformity of the right leg, and as uncouth in appearance as his brother, the hermit
 Since the above was put in type a communication has been receivea from A. J. Henderson, giving a detailed account of the dolorous affair, which does not differ materially from our statement, except that a few additional facts ere given. Mir. Reayis, he says, had been in feeble health during the past winter and was subject to smother ing spells, which prevented him from sleeping at night A Mexican whom Mir. Reavis left in charge on his place stated that Mr. Reavis, when he left home on the morning of April 20, ex- pected to reach Fraser's ranch that night. Mir. Henderson says further that he was informed by Mir. Reavis short time ago that he would be 70 years old on his next birthday.