The Forrest City times., 1904-06-03
WILLIE TASCOTT"
 DIES ONCE MORE
This Time He Passes Away in
 Klondike Cabin.
STORY BELIEVED TO BE TRUE
Philip Robertson, n Strictly Reliable Man, Prospector and Miner, Re- ceiyed the Dying Nnn's Confess
 sion and Tells the story.


 Chicago, June IA special to the News from Victoria, B C., says.
 If the voluntary declaration of a dying man is to be believed, finis has been written to the historic Shell trag- edy ot b years ago. and Tascott, the long sought murderer, self-identifed, has paid the penalty of his crime with penitence. and now fills an unmarked grave in the heart of the Alaskan will derness, whither he had fled for the effaeement of his individuality.
 Philip Robertson, a strictly reliable man, prospector and miner. received the dying mans confession, and tells u @ story simply and dramatically. Robertson left the Klondike capital, he says, late last fall in a small boat bound for the new placer grounds at Fairbanks. He reached a point near Dahl river, in a particularly desolate and forbidding region. when the for | lorn waling of dog surprised his ears. He found the dog, a lalf-starved l shepherd, in evident distress. Follow ing this animal, Robertson was brought to seemingly deserted cabin some 400 yards above the riyeI concealed in a clump of spruce.
 'I ventured to the door of the shack and knocked" says Robertson, and there was feeble come in All was darkness inside, and there was no sign of fire. caught sight of bit of candle on the table, which l lighted, and then advanced to where man iay.
 With a feeble effort he turned and stared at me for full minute. then he said: Are you an officer?
 "The question amazed me bit.
 No said T am a miner. and if there is is.anything I can do for you want to do it.
 ''1 soon had fire going, and again approached the bed The mans hair was white as snow, his face had liquid color In it that looked like death, and he had the most terrified and hope less expression l have ever seen on a human being.
 Partner, he said, finally rolling over on his side, and little more than whispering, I'm leaving world that I did not appreciate. I'm going to -, where I belong
 He lapsed into silence, and what I thought was a sleep came over him. Two hours passed. and he suddenly wakened with a shriek and then sank back in bed
 1T Am Tascott."
 "In a few minutes he gave another wild scream and strengthened up in bed. Then in a voice you would think only came from a good, strong man. he said: See here, boys, my name is TasCott. I'm Tascott. Do you under stand? I'm Tascott that they've been hunting like a wolf for years, I can't run any more. I'm getting paid for what I did. I know I'm dying, and know where I'll go. Tell the boys when they come back that I am Tas- colt. and you can tell the world. too, for the world has hunted me long time
 About three In the morning I heard a noise like man rxpelling all the air from his lungs I rushed over to the bed and felt the mans pulse and heart. He was dead
 The next day his partners got back. and told them what happened. They were the strangest fellows I've ever met in the north. They didn't say who they were They didn't even thank me for staying with their dead They didn't even ask men to join them at their meal. but they buried the man. and rolling up their things in a blanket packet they started across country in the direction of Koyukuk
 Before going. one of them came to me abruptly. See here he said, you've seen and heard what you've heard You cant make anything by talking about it. He's dead, and that's all there ia 10 it.
 Before I could ask him anything he had struck the trail. and that was the last I saw of him. I have never | told about shis until now, but that dead l man asked me to make his story pub 1 lie. and so do 50. I solemnly believe l that he was tortured to death by thinking of his own life, and the belief that he was always the object of pur- suit and as surely believe that he told the truth in saying he was Tas- colt It's my opinion that his part ners knew 1t, too"
 W. D. HoweiIs Honored.