The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-11
7REACHERY OF 4 GUIDE
Recent Incidents Recall the Story
of Colorado's CannibaI.
How Alfred Packer Betrayed n Party
of PROJECTORS In IsT3-Lcd Them
to False Trail and KILLED Them
for Their sion-y-FutiIe Efforts to
Secure Pardon for the Man.

The efforts to secure executive cIemen-
cy Tor Alfred Packer. who Is known as the
man eater. said gentleman from Den
yer, recall wildly the story OF the crime
for which he was convicted. and the de-
tails OF an extraordinary case. Several
years ago an atter1pt was made to have
Packer pardoned. Those who agitated tie
matter evidently believed that the people
had forgotten the details OF his crime.
and. as General Adams. the principal
witness against him. had died, they sntici-
pated success. When the petition was pre-
sented to the Governor. however. there
arose storm of protest from those VITO
remembered the revolving character OF
Packers offence. and the pardon was not
granted.
| Several weeks ago another petition.
signed by many prominent citizens. was
presented to Governor Thomas. but. nav
| ing referred the matter to those who we're
familiar with Packers crime he. too. re-
| fused to grant the man his freedom. The
| agitation was then taken Up q Denver
| newspaper, but complication has arisen
which will probably put an end to the par
i
juornal in question have had falling oct
with their attorney, resulting in shooting
affair. during which both of the edit5:s
/ were wounded.
The "Mnn-Eater's'' Crime.
ALFRED Packer. the man eater is now
serving sentence OF forty years in the
Colorado penitentiary at Canyon City. He
1 Sfo M Cat
| fall of 1873 with party OF sixteen pros
peetors. allured by the tales OF returning
miners ffsm the 'silyery' San Juan of
Colorado. OF the seventeen prospectors
| all were plentifully supplied with money
| with the exception OF Packer. He was
! taken along as n guide.
After crossing the Uncompahgre River.
| about 500 miles from Salt Lake. the travel
ers came upon the camp of the Curay
Indians. Chief Curay advised the white
men that it would be impossible to cross
the Uncompahgre and Saguache mountain
| ranges because of the heavy fall OF SNOW
The prospeetors were divided as to what
should be done. Their supply of food had
given out. Seven OF them concluded that
they would push on to Saguaehe 100 miles
distant. They left Packer and nine of their
companions with the Indians. After nearly
three weeks OF hardship they arrived at Sa-
guaehe. Several weeks later Packer in
duced five of the remaining prospectors at
the Indian camp - undertake the journey
10 Saguache, with himself as guide Packer
led the way across the Uncompahgre range.
striking the Gunnison River and following
the stream for about fifteen miles. then
turning abruptly to the right and tracing
the lake fork OF the Gunnison to the south
ward. Packer as an honest guide should
have led his comrades twenty miles fur
Their along the Gunnison River until the
Saguache tran was crossed following that
due east to the town. He took his COM
panions up into the mountains and they
made their last camp where Lake City now
stands.
Packers First Explanation.
Zone day in the midwinter of -. Pack
err arrived at the Los Pinos Indian Agency.
close to the Cochetopa range. He was
suffering from the effects of the cold. but
seemed to be well supplied with food. He
explained that he had started out from
Salt Lake with party OF prospectors. but
that they had separated. he coming d.
rect to the agency and they taking an
other route. He claimed to be igno-
rant of their fate He declared that for
weeks they had been without food. living
rosebuds and cactus plants. From the
Indian agency he went down to the town
OF Saguache. about forty-five miles dis
tant and there met the seven members
of the original party that had started from
Salt Lake. They enquired anxiously after
their companions, but became suspicious
upon hearing the story narrated by Pack
er.
1.-The guide claimed that he was with
out money One day he became ntoxi
Gated and entering the Indian trading
post bought a horse. considerable cloth
ing, and a prospector's outfit. He took
from his pockets four or five wallets which
aroused the suspicious OF the storekeeper
and the matter was reported to General
Adams. the Indian agent. Adams talked
with the Utah people and with Packer.
coming to the conclusion that the guide
had murdered his companions for their
money. He told Packer that he should as
sist the others in finding their companions
bodies. The searching party started out
the next day with Packer. While crossing
4 creek close to the Los Pinos Agency. the
guide threw something into the water. IL
was believed 10 be OF the stolen wal
lets. Upon arrival at the agency, General
Adams accused Packer of numbering his
companions and then the guide related the
man eating story which gave him the name
of the eannibal.'
a Cnnnibalistic Tale.
had been out for several weeks. when
Packer returned to the camp one day
from a hunting trip and found that one
or the men had been shot. The others.
he declared had cut the body up and we're
roasting the flesh over the camp fire. Sew
eral days later. with still no signs of re-
lief. another OF the party. he explained.
was accidentally killed. and his flesh
eaten by the others. This feasting upon
human flesh continued. according to
Packers story. until only two were LETT
and the other attempted to kill him. but
was killed by Packer before he could do
so. He said he lived on this fellows flesh
until he found his way to the Indian
agency The remains OF his last compan-
ion. Packer said. he wrapped in a blanket
and buried. Packer was asked to lead the
party to the place where he buried the
last of the party. but after going short
distance, refused to proceed, and was
turned over the sheriff on a charge OF
murder A few days later. Packer broke
Jail. and nothing was seen OF him for eight
years.
In the spring OF 1874. a representative
Of an illustra publication. while taking
photographs OF the Uncompahgre Noun
tains. came across the remains of a camp
fire. around which lay the bodies OF four
men. wrapped in their blankets. and with
feet toward the fire. The skull Of e
was crushed as though they had been
struck with a Ratchet while asleep. Ire
body of a fifth was found some fifty feet
way with several bullet holes through il.
TN 1882 General Adams while serving
Is United States Postoftice Inspector in the
Western States, stopped at frontier hc. nd
tel in Wyoming Through a thin boari