The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-03-26
HAS A DEATH RECORD
Coast Range Has Claimed
Many Victims.
The Young Lads, Ward land Coff-
man Bring the Number to
Nearly a Dozen.


Cofman IN the mountain range be-
tween Tiliamook and North Yamhill
which was first announced dn yester-
days mornings Historian caused con-
siderable comment througout the city.
While the real facts regarding the
death were meager ~ received AT this
point, the Oregonlan yesterday con-
tained dispatch from Tilllnool, that
threw a little more light on the case.
The dispatch stated that coffmsn had
prevailed upon Ward 10 make the trip
against his Judgment and against that
of his friend, that q Mr.. Wells for
whom young Ward had been working,
told them they would not be able TO
get through the mountains alive. and
Offered 10 buy ticket ror the Ward
boy II Is also stated in the dispatch
that the Ward boy vas tifinly clad.
The last seen OF the boys was when
they passed the Trask house at the
tollgate early In the morning Until
they were found by.th mailcarrier la
ter. One OF the boys wal found at
Zgzag. where there was six feet Of
snow and the other was foald two
mllse farther II Is supposed that In
the effort to reach a place called
Pats at the summit OF the noun
tains they became exhausted and laid
down in the snow to die
Persons familiar with the county in
Astoria say that II is five or s!x miles
from the tollgate to the summit, where
one Of the boys was found, and some
are inclined TO look Gpon the state
ment made by the physician at Tilla-
nook that they were frozen TO death
as a mistake. II lis not Believed that
the weather was cold enough 20 have
frozen any one on that date Dr, Tut
tie Of this city, who is familiar with
that country, thinks that some other
means must have aided n producing
the death Of the boys. He thinks 1t
possible that they may have had whls-
Ky with them. or that they may have
eaten something poisonous. He says
that In such weather as was prevail
Ing at the time no one would have
frozen to death under ordinary circum-
stances From last accounts 1t APP
pears that no inquest was held by the
coroner Of Tilamook county. This, 1t
claimed here, should have been done
Mr. Ridehaigh. OF this city. who Is
probably better acquainted with the
trail across the mountains at that
point than any other person In Asto-
ria, gives plausible theory Of the
boys having come to their death natur-
ally. He says that at this season Of
the year where there is no snow the
mud is Of almost unknown depth and
that travellers are competed to walk
in the trail: that 1t Is the most diff
cult journey one could undertake; that
he would not attempt to make the
journey on foot under any conditions,
and that II Is quite reasonable that
the boys in undertaking the journey
became utterly exhausted and sank
down, and In this condition were fin
ished by the chill mountain air which
becomes very cold at that altitude
during the night and early morning.
He says that the elevation rises
very abruptly from the tollgate TO
the summit and that 1t is one of the
most exhausting trips imaginable.
This trial has a reputation, as well
as the entire coast range at this point,
according to the history as brought out
by the reminiscenses of old timers
generally yesterday. On the summit Of
the mountains on this trail an old
tree with a deep knotch cut in it
stands as monument to the Grim
Reaper. Years ago an unfortunate at
tempted to cross these mountains on
foot, and becoming exhausted sat
down by this tree never to rise again.
Later the stage driver found his body
and brought 1t in, A few years later
tho stage coach turned over on the
sideling trail and two men lost their
lives. Another sad story is recalled in
the death Of surveying party in this
range a few years ago. There was
much speculation at the time as to the
cause of the death The theories ran
all the way from freezing and exhaus-
ton to poisoning from eating canned
goods, but the latter was adopted as
the correct theory after the physicians
had held an autopsy, But the whole
party Of five or six lost their lives
All in all, the section of country has
proven quite a death trap both to the
experienced and inexperienced, and no
wonder that the boys were cautioned
against making the trip.
The father of the boy arrived yes
terday morning and arranged for the
funeral of his son. which will take
place from Pohps undertaking parlors
today at o'clock. The services will
be conducted by Rev. w. S. Short and
the interment win be at Greenwood
cemetery. Two brothers Of the de-
ceased, one from Portland and the
other from the Lewis and Clark. were