, 1898-07-23

The discovery of a human skeleton
on the head of Cabin creek in this coun-
ty on July 10 may END to throw a ray
of light on the mystery e~nveloping the
sudden disappearance of Mr.. Oliver
Kilgore in February. 1895. He had
come from the west on the Burlington
and Missouri railroad and some time
during the month of February, 1895,
stopped a short time at the 101 ranch.
When he left there he stated that he
was going to the ranch of Joe Eagye,
only a few miles distant, to see his
boy, who was at Eagye's ranch with
his (the chiid's) mother. That was the
last ever seer or heard of kilgore.
Several months later, for reasons best
known to himself. Eagye offered a re-
ward for the body of Kilgore. if found
within the boundaries of a certain ter
ritory designated in the reward adver-
tisement. Subsequently this section of
country was carefully and systemati-
cally searched by men on horseback
and on foot. but every effort t find the
body proved futile.
On Wednesday of last week. three
years and five months after Kilgore's
disappearance, the bleached bones of a
human being were discovered by Mr.. T.
F.. Antrim. who is herding sheep for
Sam Woodbridge. The g of the
ghastly find is about FIFTEEN miles in a
northwesterly direction from the Ea-
eye ranch.
Although at this writing nothing
found has been positively identified,
there seems to be little doubt that the
skeleton is that of the missing kilgore.
Upon the receipt of the news that a
find had been made, NJ. Nichols, DR..
Miller and Horace Nichols departed on
Saturday afternoon for the scene of the
startling discovery. They were pilot
ed to the place by Mr.. Antrim. who ex-
planned that he first found a lower jaw
bone which he recognized at once as
that of a man or woman At a distance
of about fifty yards he found the re-
mainder Of the skeleton with the excep-
ton of the skull. which has not yet
been found. The position of the skele-
ton indicated that the person had died
on his back. with his limbs extended.
The bones were somewhat scattered.
but the majority of them were encased
in the winter clothing worn by the n
fortunate nan at the time of his death.
The garments had been partially de-
stroyed by the ravages of time and the
shoes and mittens were found. A plush
cap of peculiar color was found neal
the skeleton. This cap has been inden-
titled by c. q. Blackwell OF this city,
who says he has seen Kilgore wearing
the same. Matches We're found in the
vest pocket and a baggage check was
also found in the clothing. A package
of smoking tobacco that had not been
opened was also among the effects. In
one of the vest pockets was found a
small child's tooth-an incisor-which
was partially decayed.
The Nichols party had no authority
to hold an inquest and consequently the
bones were buried neal the place where
they were found. One of the femur
bones was brought to town for use in
case in the future the height of the de-
ceased may be desired. Pieces of the
overcoat, vest and shirt were also
brought in. Parties who have ex-
amined these claim there is a hole
therein. indicating that the body had
been pierced by a bullet.
If this is the skeleton of Kilgore. the
mystery of his disappearance is still
unsolved. Among some the theory of
fould play is strengthened by the find
ing of the skeleton. while others hav"
entirely dispelled such ideas by reason
Of the fact that the bones were found
at such a distance from the place where
kilgore was last seer alive. AT any
rate there is practically no question as
to this being the skeleton of poor old
kilgore.-Sundance Monitor.