The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-02
Dad OR DISAPPEARED!
.~rny SURROUNDS THE WHERE
ApouTs OF JAMES A. WOODS.
vssAinston Volunteer Who Was
,.uorted Killed Last June at
s.,e Seen Alive Aftsrward-Pre-
.t. some Sensational Incidents

..a.i Dispatch to the Observation-Disclosures.
rrrW WHATCOM, Feb. Lit is now
,.s.r.d. through officials of the war de-
sssr,ent at Washington and ex-Chaplain
E.s,hsn r. Wood, Of Oakland, Cal, for
syv az the Twenty-tbird infantry, that
.--S A. Woods, private of Company T.,
~s-.nty-thIrd infantry. was not killed near
ia philippine islands. some time early
8 Iune. 1859, as had been definitely re-
mss,,sd by letter from Jolo and published
x local newspaper and In the Post-ln-
,,nIrencer In July last.
~ woods case is and has been Gu
-.sss puxxIe. James A. Woods. as he was
s.own here, was a tall. muscular miner
~ nrospector who, In November, 1897, re-
ssrned from a long sojourn in Alaska and
,-1.d In New Whatcom with a large sum
= money, claimed to have been made
-. me sale OF rich gold claims. His for
~ vtfe and stepdaughter, Mrs. NJ. A..
wccds ana Miss Lillian Harper. resided
80 and he hunted them up and told
,ssrs stories of his sudden wealth. but
M declined to have anything to do with
him.
A.s,rht A handsome farm property near
- cdty. paying 81 800 cash and investing a
isrse additional sum I'm stock and inn
rroyeu,ents. But, during the ensuing year,
X tired Of the quiet life and, In the fall
n isss, he suddenly disappeared. Nothing
- heard regarding him until July, 1899.
49, a letter was received by the edi-
a. OF Z local paper from Jolo. Philippine
a1srds. inclosed in an envelope bearing
~ return direction Soldiers letter. Ste
rheu r. Wood, chaplain Twenty-third
tinted States infantry"
me letter inclosed was signed John
dat ytfvt Tn
80 II stated that during a skirmish
tbtre q soldier named J. A. Woods had
Men killed. that upon his person were
fo,nd 4 paper relating his return from
Alaska with much treasure and checks
sud drafts amounting to $4,000 1t was fur
shsf requested that the editor publish the
lstser 20 that the proper heirs might Sc
eurs the money.
he romantic character OF Woods ca
~. coupled with the enormous amount
Il money involved. gave the affair much
tu>licIty, and IL was the chief local sem
ssfIon growing out of the war.
REV. Alonxo Rogers. of tho Tabernacle
Congregational church. OF which Mrs.
weeds and Miss Harper are members. con-
ddssed the matter too unique to be true
and proceeded to investigate. Letters
known TO have been written by Woods
vers compared with tho letter received by
,hs editor and found to bear earrnarks of
The same handwriting. Finally Or. Rog-
~ received letter from Rev. Stephen
r. Wood, OF Oakland. Cal, who explained
hat he left Joio. Philippines Islands. last
Aurust 10, that "John Woods was then
alive, and as he was intimately well
Known to tho chaplain. there could be no
Doubt that no was the New whatcom
Woods.
Rev Wood writes: There has been no
fighting at Jolo or on any of the Sulu
Eroup 10 most certainly he has not been
killed. and have watched the official list
d dead. and his name has never appeared
IN any iist I have seen. Tho address he
gave me, OF nearest relatives. was Mrs.
/ A. Woods. New Whatcom, Wash. and