Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-06-08
A MYSTERY CLEARED UP.
Finding of the skeleton and Effects
of "Divine Healer" ssehiatter
in Mexico.

The disappearance of Francis Schlatter
the Colorado cobbler, who, year OF
west country in the role of "Diyine
healer" has at last been explained, as the
following letter, received by Mr.. j. A.
Summers, of Albuquerque, fully tells:
CAsAs GRANDE, CHIHUAHUA,
Mexico, June l, 1897.
j. A. Summers, albuquerque. N. Nj. ).
Dear Sir: human skeleton was found
in the north part of the Finga canon, near
this town, with papers, addresses ETC., and
supposed to be the remains of "the
Healer" Francis Schlstter.
The following things we're found with
the remains: Que American Denver sad
die; one club-like bar of copper weigh
ing 2S1a English pounds; one Spanish
English dictionary, one bible, with verses
and Francis Scblatter on fly leaf; and
some blank books with addresses and
yours among the rest.
No evidence of foul play could be dis
covered. He must have died six or eight
months ago. Please answer by return
mail saying what you know about him.
Yours truly, JOHN j. SEXTON.
P.S.-The authorities here have taken
charge of his things. The skeleton was
buried where found. grey American
horse, unbranded turned up in this vi
cinity about six months ago and was sup
posed to have been his. J. j.. s.
That the skeleton found is all that
remains of the strange man there
is no douht, Contractor Richard
Copies, George Locke, F. Stanley and
Frank Barnum arrived in Ell Paso few
days ago from Casas Grande, Chihuahua,
and substantiated the news contained in
the letter written to Mr.. Summers. The
story of finding the skeleton as told by
them is as follows:
son the Goth of last month, Mormon
cowboy, riding his range, 35 miles west of
Casas Grande, saw a saddle, bride. hat and
slicker hanging in scrub oak tree and
rode up TO the spot. Reclining in a per-
fectly natural pose, under the tree on a
blanket, was the skeleton of man. The
bones and skull were perfectly bare and
glistened in the sunlight as if they had
been POLISHED. The skeleton was lying
on it's back with the light hand resting on
the chest and the left arm stretched
straight out from the body. The right
foot was drawn up so as to make the knee
stand up, while the left leg was stretched
straight out. The position was such as
eight men out of ten will take when they
lie Gown on the grass. There was no
evidence of a struggle, but every thing in
dicated that the man of the skeleton had
passed away peacefully while resting.
Besides the skeleton laid copper rod
about three and half feet long.
Lying against the tree was a pile of
clothes on top of which were two mem
of the bible was inscribed the name
"Francis Schlatter" under the name we're
two verses of prayer and under the
verses was the address, "Clarence j. Clark,
Denver, Col" The cowboy then turned
his attention to the articles hanging in
the tree. There was a saddle made by
Denver house, a bride, rope, white felt
hat and a canteen containing water.
Over all of these hung a slicker, which
protected the other articles from the
weather. There was nothing in the shape
of cooking utensil to be found. The
man of the skeleton had evidently stary-
ed to death. The cowboy making the
find reported the matter to the judge at
Casas Grande, who took charge of the
skeleton's effects"
The cowboy, after showing the bones
to Messrs. Copies, Stanley Look and
Barnum, where they were found, buried
them and burnd the blanket.