, 1898-08-15
LANDER DROWNING
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE UN-
FORTUNATE ACCIDENT OF
LAST WEEK.
Identity of the Victim Fully Deter
mined, But No Relatives Can Be
Found-The Drowning Proved to
Be Clearly Observation-Disclosures
Near the Scene of His Death.

of a mar in a reservoir near Lander,
the first reports of which we're some
what sensational in character:
Sunday. Aug. 7. the inhabitants OF
our little city were startled by a report
that a team and blackboard had been
found in the reservoir and soon many
We're the rumors in regard to who the
occupant or occupants were.
The following is a true statement OF
the facts as learned from Justice OF the
Peace Wallace, Monday. On his return
from the scene OF the drowning.
The delegates to the republican state
convention, IN their way to Casper,
discovered a horse and cart in the reser-
voir. which is located seven miles this
side of Muskrat for the benefit OF
f%reighters. They pulled the cart ashore
and SEM word. by some Indians to J..
c.. Burnett. proprietor of the ~sub-agen-
cy store. Mr.. Burnett Immediately sent
a messenger to Lander and Justice Of
the Peace DR.. Charles Wallace. being
the m authorized to go in the absence
of the sheriff and coroner, in company
with Deputy Sheriff Allie Axe started
at once for the scene.
Upon their arrival at the reservoir.
late Sunday evening. they found John
the republican delegation and had been
instructed to drag the reservoir for
body or bodies. They had so lone and
had brought the body OF a man to the
edge of the reservoir and there fasten-
ed the remains until Acting
Coroner Wallace's arrival. Justice
Wallace at once brought the body
ashore and found it to be the body Of a
man perhaps 40 years Of age, height
five feet four inches; weight, 1870
pounds: sandy complexion, partly bald,
stubby mustache. natural teeth, gray
eyes and from German letters and pa
pers upon his person. together with his
name. VIM. Gekle. they decided him to
be Of German descent. He also had on
his person a check from J. B. Dixie Of
Lost Cabin, for $500 and $3.50 in silver.
In the cart were some three of four
hundred pounds Of bedding. clothing.
boxes. etc. He had several suits Of
clothes. one nice suit turned and pack
ed carefully away. His clothes were all
neat and clean and indications were
that he was a sober working man.
About dark J. NJ. Kirk and Harry
Logue Joined the party and all camped
for the night.
When morning came Justice Wallace.
with the help of the others. dragged
the reservoir to be sure there were no
other bodies hidden beneath the murky
water. No other body was found and
after swearing in the jurors and wit
nesses the case was thoroughly inves-
tigated and the following verdict rend-
cred:
1--WE. the jury impanelled to inves-
tigate the death of William Gekle, do
find that the deceased came to his death
by drowning while trying to water his
horse in the reservoir"
After which they buried the remains
near by and there he sleeps the sleep
that knows no waking" Possibly rela-
tives or friends will hear of the sad
fate of the unfortunate man and care
for his remains. This was all that
could be done under the circumstan-
ces. The verdict rendered so far as we
have learned has given universal sat
isfaction and the work throughout re-
fleets credit on the gentlemen in charge
as everything was done in a clear and
painstaking name
The gentlemen came to the conclu-
sion that the deceased had driven in to
water his horse. and that the animal
had slipped, throwing deceased ont, and
that the drowning occurred about 5 D.
nj. Friday, as the tracks were made Just
after the rain. His watch had also
stopped at 5 p. m. and this was the
other evidence Of the hour, as the watch
was Of the cheap style that stop when
put in water.
We have since talked with DR.. Wal
lace and learned that the gentleman
was from Billings, Mont, and was on
his way TO Lander.
A gentleman with his wife, who
camped at Muskrat, told James Couch
as he came through that he had been
with the deceased and had asked him to
camp at Muskrat with them, but de-
ceased seemed to be in a hurry and
would not remain. He also stated that
the gentleman had left Muskrat Fri
day morning about 9 o'clock and says
that he was quite stif and lame with
rheumatism. which goes to further
show the impossibility Of his helping
himself after driving into the water.
An effort has been made to find rela-
tons but so far with unsuccessful re-
suits and the unfortunate rests in his
lonely grave among the rocks. where
the prairie dogs and coyotes make their
home, but his sleep is just as r/aceful
and his soul as safe in Gods keeping
as though sleeping where costly mar
bles were reared. with relatives and
friends to decorate and weep over his
grave. "In heaven we know u own"
FLOUR.
Wheatland or Colo
no ~ ";~L p@A>- -