The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-31
BELIEVE HE WAS MURDERED.
Family Apprehensivc Over Fate of n
Gold Seeker.


Gold Seeker.
Chicago, October 30.-The Chronicle
says The family of Louis Scala of this
city who left Chicago on quest for gold
in Alaska last May gre convinced he was
murdered He was we'll provided with
fuIhs, purchasing minlrg machinery and
steamer in Seattle and enlisted eleven
man in the enterprise. Mrs. Scala says
she has strong reason to belaeve some one
or more Of the party killed him, took his
money and equipment and Started for the
Yukor river gold district and that BY
whas she regards SIS a remarkable co.nci-
derce or an act OF providence, retriibution
overlook the party on the trip north stat.
mime of the eleven men were Crowned
curing the storm.
Mrs. Scala declared mat the manner in
which the news of his death WAS. sent
home and conflicting stories as to the
mariner in which he met his death, coupled
with many other suspicious circumstances,
make her certain her husband MAJ with
foul play in the far north.
Mr. Scala for years has been ia building
contractor in Chicago apta at first intended
to take trip around the world for his
hesLth but changed his plans and decided
10 go to the Kloai!iks to develop claim
which he had purchased earlier in the
year. Four days after leaving home he
wrote to his wife that he had nearly $ioOo
in cash with him and would buy an outfit
in Seattle and fit out am expedition to go
up the Yukon river to his claim On ms
arrival in Seattle Mr. Scala bought the
steamer Alpha and purchased steam ma
olyilary for the purpose of facilitating the
work Of digging gold. He formed a party
OF twelve men for the invasion of the gold
/ district.
u . rst letter Mis Scala received from
her husband was written at st. Mlchaeis,
August g. I.s lit MIR. Scala said he intended
to leave fer the Yukon valley in few days
ana THU he was we'll and strong. TWO
daus sie,- an anonymous letter was mailed
from the same place to Mrs. Sea when
impaired the Information thu. her husb9n't
! was sick. Three days after the receipt OF
this letter Mrs. Scala received in the ms,i
a strip of paper from st. Michsels which
| simply read 'Your husband is dead"
AS in the former letter no signature was
attached ard Mrs. Scala would net De-
lieye her husband was dead. She wrote 10
those OF tho party whose names she kteW
but did not receive reply. stiil hopihs
agatret hope, she patiently waited Tor luI-
tier part culars, firmly believing mem
hers Of her husbands party would acquabn'
her with the sad news and the clieuni-
STAGES atrcr.lsl,. upon his death, II ne
had eied. Week after week passed witn-
out any wonI and Mrs. Scala made up nsl
m,nl that her husbapd wss eiiher ANY :
or had met with foul play. SATURDAY Sc
received ano her peculiar letter from tne
Alaskan region, II purported 10 s osr,r bli
neme ~. give any address The letter
CONFIRMED the news OF M scsla's deatn,
hut gave an entirely different exparation
of the cause from the previous NOTE
H..
oels in the alpha and were caught IN wv w,
lent storm on the Yukon river TWO ua nd !
later: that the steamer sprulg a isak an.'
thn Marty Ind to take TO the small peals
W;dbin IN hour afrer the steamer mad pre-,
anandoncd he said the small boats cspS s,ng
and all but two Of the raIry nnwrua
scala were drowned. The two survivors;
The letter continued. we're finally rescus"
and made their way to Ramnart Oily I, A ,s,a.
ka. ,rhc letter was pcst-marks,a iIg nv Mrs.
Scala on Saturday ..,u,,s~r
/ Mrs. Scala after showins s0s 'e0o''s'