The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-08
SCHLATTER'S DEATH.
Details of the Finding of the Divine
Heaier's Skeleton.

Ell PASO, Tex, June IA week ago last
Friday two American prospectors found in
the foothills of the Sierre Madre on the
Puetas Verdas river. thirty-five miles south
west of Casa Grande, in the State Of Chi
huahua4 all that remains of the Francis
Schlatter who a year ago. was the subject
of much wonderment throughout the West
ern States, particularly in the Southwest.
The prospectors' attention was attracted TO
his camp by their espying a saddle astride a
limb in a dead tree high up in a gorge
through which the river runs. His skeleton
was found lying stretched out on a blanket
close up to the tree. The bones were
bleached white, and alongside lay the cop
per rod. a miniature baseball bat weighing
about forty pounds. Piled up alongside the
trunk of the tree were saddle bags, a large
memorandum book, a package of letters
bound by rotten rubber band some
blankets and six suits of underwear A
Bible and canteen of water were alongside
the pile, and the canteen was half full of
water. His saddle ropes and some extra
clothing were directly over the skeleton on
limb of the tree In knot hole in the
tree were found needles, thread, buttons,
etc. In the inside cover of the Bible was
inscribed the name Francis Schlatter, and
also under two verses In prayer. followed by
u. IL,
Col" There were no signs of violence
and the prospectors believe that Scnlatter
dled or self-imposed starvation, as there
were no cooking utensils of any kind in
camp.
The Jefe Politco at Casa Grande was no.
tilted May 80, and on June the skeleton
and effects were brought to that village
where authorities hold them, awaiting
claimant. Casa Grande is situated fifteen
Grande, Sierra Madre d Pacific Railway
a new line, for the past year under con-
struction from this city to Casa Grande
Americans at Casa Grande examined let
ters and other effects. and pronounce them
undoubtedly as those of Schlatter. An In
dian Informed the authorities that some
months ago he came upon gray horse in
the neighborhood where the camp was
found. The horse was hobbled. Mormon
cowboy stated that during the month of
November last Schlatter rode up to his
camp fifty miles west Of Casa Grande on
gray horse. He was unarmed, carried no
PROVISIONS or cooking utensils, refused to
eat anything and said he was fasting The
cowboy stated his visitor seemed strange
and preoccupied, and during the few hours
at MS camp cured the cowboys horse of a
swelling on the back and forelegs by rub
blng his hands over them He identified the
saddle at Casa Grande that of his visitor
In November which bears the mark of
Denver manufacturer.
Francis Schlatter three years ago was a
shoe cobpler IN Denver, and earned a pre-
car1ous living at his trade. He began to
hear silent voices, as he said and in
obedience TO their commands, gave way his
tools and began a pilgrimage towards the
Pacific coast He was several times arrest
ed as a vagrant and thrown into Jail He
rooted the entire distance, and returned To
New Mexico, where he was heard of among
the Indians as the Messiah in the early parf
or last year near Albuquerque The
newspaper reporters discovered him being
followed by mobs of Indians, among whom
he cured the sick, paralytic and blind by
touching the afflicted with his hands. He
tasted for forty days, laboring contin-
uously and went to Denver where he
was besieged daily by immense throngs
of people from all parts OF the country. he
suddenly disappeared from there when some
fakirs We're arrested for selling handI<pr-
chiefs blessed by him, against whom he was
summoned witness. He was soon after
wards found in New Mexico travelinsy
through the most uninhabited part going
southwark He was last seen by coWboIS
near Lordsburg, nine months ago, going TO-
wards the Mexico line