The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-14

While racing for Copper river gold in
the interests OF a company Of rich Plila-
delphians, DR.. William Beard. noted
mining expert Of that city, met death
early in May on a mountain beyond the
terrible yaldes glacier. Racked With
rheumatism brought on by the damp
weather, he made the trip across the gia-
cier. only to become lost on the other side
and finally smothered by a slide OF soft
snow
III. c. Watkins q New York newspaper
man, who was with DR.. Beard, barely es-
capped with his life. For ten days he was
out on the mountain in the midst OF a
terrible blizzard. without fire or cooked
food. He subsisted on raw bacon. I'M
cooked rice and rolled oats. The two men
had abandoned their entire outfits when
the storm began and were making run
for their lives when the slide came that
cost Beard his life. Watkins is now at
Valdes. waiting for money on which 10
come home. II is said that Boards body
has been recovered and is buried there.
A letter from Boards wife has been re-
ceived in this city. in which she said that
she believed her husband had been muir
dered in the Copper River country for his
money. There seems to be no ground for
this suspicion, however, as all accounts
agree that he persisted from the exposure
and slide.
On Valdex Glacier.
The news of Boards death was received
here a few weeks ago in a letter from w.
C. Watkins, and at his request was kept
quiet When Mrs. Boards suspicious IF
murder were given out, however Watkins
friend decided to make public the letter.
The TWO men. according to the letter,
had a terrible time crossing the Vaides
glacier DIR. Beard was greatly troubled
with rheumatism. and was compelled to
lie in his tent for days at time. This
pulled him down greatly in health. The
first OF May found the two men on
mountain $500 feet high. with their outfit
scattered along the trail. One Of the ter
rible snow billiards. common 70 that sea-
son OF the year swooped down on them.
and having no timber for n fire, the two
men started back to The timber line. 1t
seemed their only chance for life. ac-
cording to Watkins.
small snowslide came down the NOUN
tain and caught Beard IN its smothering
grasp. II passed on and Watkins escaped
uniniured. For ten days he struggled
around through the drifts day and night.
The nights were bitter cold ana il snow
ed continually. He had to keep moving
for fear he would freeze to death. During
this time he subsisted on raw bacon. un-
cooked rice and rolled oats. minced with
snow A. last he struck the trail leading
back to Valdes, and landed there without
a cent. He wrote TO friends here for
money on which 20 come back 10 Seattle.
From another source It Is learned that
Boards body was recovered and taken -
Valdes on a Sled where II was buried.
There seemed to be no doubt about the
Identification of the body. which had been
preserved by the cold weather.
Well-KnOwn Expert.
DR.. Beard was Wei known in mining cir
Giles all over the world. 1t is said that
he has exported many of the best mines
in Old and New Mexico and that he spent
considerable time IN California. lie had
recently returned from South Africa.
where he had been working in the interests
of a big syndicate. The Philadelphia
Alaska Mining Company. In whose serv-
ice he made the trip to Alaska, was COM
posed Of rich citizens Of the "City %
Brothery Love- DR.. Joseph Hancock
was It's president. His partner. w c.
watkins was formerly connected with the
New York Herald.
Mrs Bearl lives at PCS North Twentieth
street, Philadelphia. She heard r,inors Of
her husbands death and believed that he
had been murdered ms he had a large
amount of money in his possession. She
wrote "a Mr. Del. Harbaugh OF the
Rainier-Grand hotel. for information.
Both Beard and Watkins stopped nj the
Grand while In the city. They made a
number of friends here who are positive
that the unfortunate expert was not muir
dered Watkins is expected down on the
next steamer from Valdes.