The herald., 1898-10-14
BRAVE WOMAN'SBATTlE
sEARCHINo FOR PROOF TO CON-
vICT THE SLAYER
HER SEARCH FOR HIS REMAINS
A Snow Blind Companion Now in the
County Was Left in the Tent
When Beard Started

months of fruitleSs search amid the snow
and Ice of Prince Williams Sound country,
In Alaska, Mrs Valasquez- Beard, the wife
of Prof. William Beard, the eminent geo.
logist, scientist and mining expert, who
went to the gold fields with a party from
New York In 1897, and who was reported to
have been buried beneath a snowslide on
the Valdes glacier.
From her own researches Mrs. Beard be-
lieves her husband was foully murdered
and she claims to have proof which sub
stantiates her claim. Her coming to this
coast at this time Is to arrange for the set
tlement Of her husbands mining interests
and to arrange for the bringing out of the
frozen Businesses Of Alaska his body.
Mrs. Beard says that the place where
her husbands body was found, which was
discovered, after she had left Alaska, COM
pletely disproves the story of his death as
told by the only man with him when he
perished. which man returned in safety to
camp.
The following from the Philadelphia
Herald. where Prof. Beard lived with his
wife and boy before starting for Alaska,
tells the story OF his venture and the news
nrst received OF his death That paper says:
"Prof. Beard left this city In December
last to explore Northwest Alaska and PEN
citrate to the Yukon river in the interests OF
the North Star Mining company Of this
city, of which Dr. Joseph Hancock Is pres
ident. IT. was the intention OF Prof. Beard
to explore the southern part Of Alaska be-
fore going further north into the Yukon
river district, where he was to examine the
gold and copper mines controlled by the
Philadelphia syndicate.
Arriving at Seattle, Washington in April,
Prof. Beard was Joined by three compan-
ions, among them H. c. Watkins, ajformer
New York broker. and the party shortly
atterward made the start north. When they
had travelled into the midst of the Valdes
glacier, an eight days cnow storm pre-
vented their progress. After the storm
ceased, Prof. Beard, according to q letter
received from Watkins went ahead to ex-
plore the route. and was found underneath
a snowslide. The rest Of the party sub
sisting on scant food supplies. waited his
return for over q week, and finally reached
Valdes. half-starved.
Another version Of Prof. Boards death,
Seattle, states that Watkins and his party
returned without Beard. and they have
been detained to await developments. Prof.
Boards body, It Is reported by the dis
patches, has been recovered.
Prof. Beard was born in Wales IN 1896.
and was from q family of iron operators
and mine owners. He was great traveller
and after leaving college explored Africa
and, Oriental countries. From 1857 to 1861
Prof. Beard Travelled through Alaska and
Oregon and afterward controlled large
silver mine in Oregon. Prof. Beard organ
city last year."
'It was with the sole intention OF recov-
ering my husbands body" said Prof.
Boards widow yesterday, "that!I went to
Alaska. DR.. Hancock president Of the
company, and were both suspicious of the
story Of his death, but you know how
things get garbled from far-away coun-
try like that and made up my mind to
learn the truth.
''As the clipping given you says. H. c.
Watkins. New York broker and one, not
two others were with my husband In camp
the day he met his DEATH The other man
besides Watkins Is In this county now and
ieft. snow blind, in the tent, when Wat
kins and my husband went out that fatal
day.
"On my arrival m Alaska I found my
work almost impossible for, aiwoman to ac-
complish Fortunately I am well known in
Washington and not only President Nc
Kinley but many others high in official
circles. aided me. This is what 1 learned.
"My husband and Watkins left the tent
together to mark out the trail after. not
during a storm, and left their snow-blind
companion In the tent. How far the men
went only God and Watkins know and what
happened only the Great Father and the
man who returned alone to the tent know
This know:
on his person $4,000 In money and gold dust
He was an old and experienced traveller in
Alaska and knew its dangers.
The other man was penniless reenhorn
30 far as Alaska was concerned, and yet
he returned to the tent. we'll and hearty
and later on wore my husbands clothes
and shoes into an Alaskan hotel when he
reached standardization.
when my husbands body was found
there was not a penny on 1t and 1t lay six
miles away from any glacier and six miles
away from any possible snowslide. 1t was
buried where found and when the SHOWS
melt we will bring 1t home. Whether or not
the poor body OF one of the bravest and
best men that ever lived will aid Dr. Han
cock and myself in having justice done I do
not know but believe that the God of the
widow and the orphan will aid me to bring
the truth to light"
Mrs. Beard was Miss Velasquez OF New
Orleans, we'll and favorably known
throughout the South during the rebellion
for the work she did for starving Confed-
crate soldiers AS young woman she be-
came an heiress to great sugar plantations
In Cuba-where by the way. she was born
and In Louisiana and Mississippi. The war
stripped her Of her fortunes and she went
to Washington where she met and married
Prof. Beard
1t Is probable Mrs. Beard, who is at the
baltimore. will remain in this city until
the date Of her return to Alaska as she
has large mining interests left herself and
son In this state. Mexico and,Arizona.
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WESTMINSTER