The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-07
HEALER SCHLATTER E A
STARTED HIMSELF IN THE NOUN
TAINS NEAR CASA GRANDE, MEX.

skeleton Pound by American Prospectors In n
Gorge Through which tho Puetas veraas
River Runs-ETects showed That It was
schlattor's BodJ-soen Last by Cowboy.
Ell PAso. Tex, Juno Ca week ago on last
Friday two American prospoctors found in the
foot hills of the Slerre Madre on the Puetas
Verdas' River, thirty-ave miles southwest Of
Casa Grande. in the State Of chihuahua, all that
remains Of Francis Schlatter, the "Divine
Healer" who. a year ago. was the subject Of
much wonderment throughout the Western
States, particularly in the Southwest. The pros
pectors' attention was attracted to his camp by
espying a saddle astride 4 limb in q dead tree
high up in o gorge through which the river runs.
Schlatter's skeleton was found lying stretched
out on o blanket close up to the tree. His bones
were bleached white, and alongside lay the cop
per rod and q miniature baseball bat
Piled up alongside the trunk of the tree were
saddlebags, q largo memorandum book, Q pack
ago OF letters bound by a rubber band. some
blankets, and six suits of underwear. A Bible
and a canteon wero alongside the pile, and
the canteen was half full Of water. The saddle
ropes and some extra clothing were directly
over the skeleton on a limb Of tho tree. In q
knot hole In tho tree were found needle, thread.
and buttons. In the inside cover OF tho Bible
was inscribed the name Francis Schlatter,"
under two verses In prayer followed, by the sig
nature Clarence J. Clark, Denver, Col" There
were no signs Of violence. and the prospectors
believe Schlatter died OF ~self-imposed starvation,
as there were no cooking utensils of any kind in
camp.
Tho Jefo Politico at Casa Grande was notified
on May SO, and on June 2 the skeleton and
effects were brought to that village, whore the
authorities hold them awaiting q claimant
Casa Grando Is situated fifteen miles from the
present ermina of the Rio Grande, sierro
Madre and Pacific Railway-a new line for the
past year under construction from this city to
Casa Grando. Americans at Casa Grande eI-
amined tho letters and other effects and pro-
nounced them undoubtedly those Of Schlat-
ter. An Indian informed the authorities
that several months ago he came upon o
gray horse In the neighborhood where the
camp was found. The horse was hobbled. A
Mormon cowboy said that during the month Of
November last Schlatter rode up to his camp,
nifty miles west Of Casa Grande. on Q gray horse.
He was unarmed. carried no provisions or cook
ing utensils. refused to eat anything. and said
he was fasting. Tho cowboy said his visitor
seemed strange and preoccupied, and during
the few hours at his camp cured tho cowboys
horse of q swelling on the back and forelegs by
rubbing his hands over them. He identified the
saddle at Casa Grande as that Of his visitor in
November. 1t bears the mark Of q Denver man
ufacturer.
Francis Schlatter. three years ago, was Q shoe
cobbler in Denver. and earned o precarious liv.
Ing at his trade. He began to hear silent"
voices, as he said, and In obedience to their COM
mands gave away his tools and began q pilgrim
age toward the Pacific coast. He was arrested
several times as o vagrant and thrown intp jails.
He footed the entire distance. apa returned to
New Mexico, where he was heard Of among the
Indians as the messiah In the early part
OF last year near Albuquerque. The news-
paper reporters discovered that he was
followed by mobs Of Indians and that he cured
the sick by touching tho afflicted with his hands.
He tasted for forty days, laboring continuously.
and went to Denver. where he was besieged daily
by immense throngs from all parts Of the coun-
try. He suddenly disappeared from there when
some fakirs were arrested for selling handker-
chiefs blessed by him. against whom no was
summoned as a witness. He was soon afterward
found in New Mexico, travelling through tho
most uninhabited part, going southwark. He
was last seen by cowboys near Lordsburg. nine
months ago, going toward the Mexican Line.