The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-21

men and lasting two weeks brought
nothing further to light.
Not wishing to be alone on the noun
tain, the surviving brother engaged
the services of a miner named Taylor,
and for q year there was no cause for
further excitement. At the end OF that
time the miner came to town one DAY
to spread the news that Joseph, the
last of the three brothers, had also
mysteriously disappeared. When he
left the house one morning he Went.
north over the same path the others
had taken
After waiting for about thirty-six
hours Taylor began a search and con-
t1nued it for two days, and then fear
ing that he might be charged with the
mans murder he came to MERGERS
berg to lay the case before the sheriff.
People again turned out by SKIES and
dozens and scores to explore the wild
mountain.
NV father was elected captain of a
party, and I went along with them
At last five other parties were strung
along on the crest of the mountain Tor
a distance of twenty-five miles, While
vet other parties searched the foot
hills and ravines and the level coun-
trs.
OF course, there were theories by
the score, but the one held by our
party was that the three brothers had
discovered some valuable mineral de-
posit-perhaps gold or dfamonds-and
the fact having in some manner come
to the ears of a desperate gang hiding
in a cave. the three disappearances
meant no less than three murders.
do not know whether any of the other
parties held to this particular theory,
but it was understood that our search
was to be entirely directed to loca-
tions where the bodies of the muir
dered men might have been secreted.
At the end of three weeks, we being
provided with tents and a plentiful
supply of provisions, our little party
had covered an area of three miles by
ten. That is every foot of ground
from north to south, running over the
mountain and down to the foothills
on either side had been so closely
searched that not woodchuck's hole
had escaDed us.
The last days search brought us to
the spot where Joseph had dug his
fire clay. About forty rods south Of
the clay pit was fine spring. 1t was
to the east of what might be called
the main trail running along the crest
of the mountain. Between the spring
and the trail was fringe of bushes
thirty feet wide and one wanting
water had to push through this fringe
In the searches made for the miss
ing brothers that spring had been Wis
tied thousands of times. Only ten
years ago it was discovered to be a
wonderful cure-all, and a sanitarium
has been built there for the benefit Of
] ,
was to begin their search north of the
clay pit I did notAgo out with them,
the cook wishing my assistance in pre-
pairing dinner.
It was about 10 o'clock that 1 started
out for a ramble by myself. and I had
got within twenty rods of the spring
and was intending to turn aside and get
drink when l caught sight of a bear
coming towards me. 1t was a hot day,
and 1 think he must have been fired on
Dy hunters or pursued by dogs, as he
seemed to be very tired
AS soon as 1 got sight of him I
| leaped behind a bowlder to my left
and was sure he had not observed me.
He had probably visited the spring be-
| fore, for as he came opposite it he
swerved to the right to reach it. The
| plainly follow his movements.
When he had gore about twenty
feet he uttered a "whoof" of surprise
and dropped out Of sight 1 thought
he had sunk down from exhaustion,
| and I waited a long quarter of an hour
before moving forward. I advanced
step by step, expecting to see him rise
/ up every minute, and at length I got
close enough to discover the mouth
of a shaft or pit. 1t had been covered
with vines and leaves, and even after
it the spot looked almost safe for one
to cross.
Getting down on hands and knees
and creeping to the edge of the pit,
could hear Bruin whining and shuf-
fling far below, and such an odor rose
up that was speedily forced to re-
tire.
1 hurried along to the north, calling
to the searching parties as I ran, and