Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-23
FAR FROM THE TRAIL.
Lost Nearly a Year Ago and Just
Found.
Horrible Fate of Two North Cnrolinians
Who Left Tennessee to Spend Christmas
with Their Families Thor Skeletons
Found.

The following appeared in the Raj
eigh Post recently
Murphy, N. Con the oath day of
December, 1899, two men by the names
OF Sherman and Oneal left a lumber
camp on lower Tellico river, In Ten
nessee. where they had been at work
for some time. and started to Robbins
Vile. Graham county. to spend the
Christmas holidays with their families.
Ihe way is through the Unacoi noun
talns and the only roads are trails.
which usually follow the ridges, except
when necessary to cross streams and
traverse valleys. Both men were
drinking when they left the camp. and
staggered as he walked, and they took
with them an abundant supply CT whis-
Key. The distance they had to travel
10 reach RobbinSville was some sixteen
miles or more. and the family of each
expected his coming. AT the expira-
tion of week, when they came not.
inquiry began to be made for these
men, and when ii was ascertained
that they had departed from Tel
leo with the announced intention
of proceeding to Robbinsvilc their
families and friends became alarmed
and diliGent search was made through
out the mountains lying along their
probable and natural route, but without
revealing any trace of them. Reward
was offered to anyone who could locate
made. but Sherman and Oneal were
never found until last week.
AS they had been at work for the
fIeyser Lumber Company for consid-
cradle time and made good wages.
many people suspected that they had
been murdered and robbed, but the
more conservative adhered to the be-
lief that they had lost their way and
had snccumbed- to the Intense eeld- OF
that bitter Christmas eve. Sherman
had several children, and his wife was
In destitute circumstances; so homes
were found for the little ones and the
wife went to work for living.
Oneal's family consisted of only a wife
and she had some property.
BLEACHING SKELETONS.
Early last week John Denton, his
son, Forrest, and others went on a
hunt into that splendid section lying
near Hooper's Bald, the Huckleberry
Knob and the wild Santeetlah Creek.
Forrest Denton was driving" an al
most impenetrable and dark laurel
near the creek, when he ran upon two
bleaching skeletons, miles from
human habitation. He informed his
companions of his find as speedily as
the difficult nature of the country per-
mitted The coroner of Graham
county was notified, who summoned a
jury and the next day held an inquest.
Portions of clothing remained on
each skeleton. They lay within few
feet of each other. and in the pockets
Of the heavy overalls they had worn
were found envelopes addressed to
Sherman and O'Neal. The grinning
skulls of both We're detached and had
rolled or been carried evidently by
beasts or birds of prey few feet down
the hill. About the bones were found
SIG and several small articles that
aided Identification; and a few feet
from one was found a jug that still
held about a pint OF whislley. while
with the other was bottle filed with
the same stuff. The poor fellows had
evidently gone too far to the left in
the endeavor to avoid the steep climb
up to the Bald. become bewildered and
lost all idea of direction. wandered
about until overcome by the cold and
fatigue and thus persisted. Their bones
are buried on the summit of the Buck-
leberry Knob, one of the most beauti-
full spots in Western North Carolina.