The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-03

Chicago, May 31.-A special to The
News from Victoria, B. c.,
IF the voluntary declaration of a
dying nan is to be believed. fms has
been written to the historic Smell trag-
edy of fifteen years ago, and Tascott,
the long sought murderer, s~elf-identi-
fed, has paid h penalty Of his crime
with penitence and now fills an un-
marked grave in the heart of Alas
kan wilderness, whittier he had fled
for the effacement Of his individual
ity.
Phillip Robertson, a strictly relia-
BILE man., ~prospector and miner, re-
ceived the dying mans confession, and
tells the story simply n dramatical-
ly. Robertson left the Klondike CAPT
tai, he says, late last 1all in a small
boat bound for the new Placer
grounds at Fairbanks. He reached a
point near Dahl river in a partic-
ularly desolate and forbidding region
when the foriorn wailing of a dog sur
prised his ears. He found the dog, a
half starved shepperd, seemingly in
much distress. Following this animal
Robertson vas brought to a seemingly
deserted cabin some four hundred
yards above the river, concealed in a
clump of spruce.
Il ventured to the door of the sack
and Knocked" says Robertson, and
there was a feeble come in All was
inside and there was no sign
Of a fire. I caught sight of a bit Of
candle, which 1 lighted and then ad-
vanced to where a man lay.
with a feeble effort he turned and
stared at me for a full minute. The
mans hair was white as snow, his
face had a color in it hat looked like
death and he had the most terrified
and hopeless expression I " ever
seen on a human being.
"'Partner,' he said, finally, rolling
over on his side and little more than
whispering: L I'm leaving a world
that 1 lie not appreciate. I'm going
to where I belong - He
lapSed into silence again and what 1
thought was a sleep came over him.
Two hours passed and he suddenly
Weakened with a Shrek and then sank
back in bed.
I'm a few minutes he gave another
wild scream and Strengthened up in
bed. Then in a voice you would think
came from a good. strong man, he said:
"tSee here boys, my name is TaScott.
I'm TascOtt. DO You understand?
I'm Tascott that they nave been hunt
ing like a wolf for years. 1 cannot
run any more. I'm getting paid Tor
what 1 did. 1 know I'm dying and I
know where I'll go. Tell the boys
when they come Jack hat I am Tas-
colt and you can tell the world too,
for the world has hunted me for a long
time
About three in the morning 1 heard
a noise like a man expelling air FOR
his lungs. / rushed over to the bed
and felt the mans pulse and heart.
He was dead.
The man was buried by his COM
rades.
Amos J. Smell, wealthy holder of
much property on the west sic of
Chicago was murdered at his, home in
Washington Boulevard or the night
of February Sth, 1888, n robbery was
declared to be the motive, although
it then was and is still is believed that
the burglary was concocted. However,
after many arrests. the police hit upon
the Willie Tascott clew. Tascott a
been an elevator boy at the Palmer
house. 1t was REPRESENTED that he had
been employed by day and committed
robberies at night.
Heavy rewards-one for $4,000 which
was subsequently raised to $4,000
were offered for Tascott, and for W
or three years Tascott was turning
NY@-%h