American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1908-12-19
SAD REPORT
PROVED TRUE
Walter Pardee Frozen Todeath
Near Baker City.
Urged to Stop at Mountain Cabin But
Went On, Wandered From Trail
and Perished Near Camp
Body Taken East.


of Walter Pardee, printed as an un-
confirmed rumor, has proven to be true.
Walter Immich, who came here with
Pardee eighteen months ago, left for
Baker City Sunday after the body, and
Tuesday morning passed through here
for, Meriden, Conn, Pardee's home.
The following account of the finding of
Pardee's body, with all that is known
of the sad affair, is taken from the Ba-
ker City Democrat of Sunday last:
The body of Walter Pardee was re-
ceived in this city yesterday and taken
to the undertaking parlors of Farley &
Co.
1t will be several days before the
body can be embalmed for it cannot be
treated until it thaws out.
On meeting Mr.. ]. w. Dobbins, with
whom Mr. Pardee was living in the
mining camp, he gave the Democrat
a full description of the unfortunate ca
tastrophe as follows:
'.On Monday afternoon | had an ap-
pointment with Mr.. Welch of Haines to
bring to the camp supply of provisions.
Walter was anxious to get mail to his
mother as he had promised her he would
write every two weeks and that now he
was few days late, he was afraid that
she would become anxious.
Knowing that Mr.. Welch was coming
on Monday from Haines, he sat up lat
Sunday night writing to his mother.
On Monday he was anxious to meet
Mr.. Welch. He went to the foot of the
hill and awaited all afternoon for his
arrival.
ssMuch to our Disappointment he did
not come. Upon our return to the camp,
Walter felt somewhat depressed and
said that eff Mr.. Welch did not come
the next day he was determined to go
to Bourne on Wednesday to mail this
letter to his mother" To which re-
piled THAT we would wait and see
how the weather was, and if it was a
bright and fair day he might go. | had
never allowed him to get out of sight OF
the camp if the weather was anywise
threatning. AS Mr.. Welch did not
come on Tuesday we made every prepa-
ration for Walter to go to Bourne the
following morning. On this sad and
eventful day arose at O'Clock in the
morning and prepared an early break
fastt hat he might get as early start as
possible.
81 talked with him good deal the
night before of the contemplated trip
and cautioned him particularly num-
ber of times not to try and make the
trip in one day. | advised him to stay
in Bourne over night and take two days
for the trip, as l knew it was hard
trip for an experieced mountain climber
to make in one day The distance from
camp to Bourne is six miles and noun
tain 3, 800 feet high, covered with two
feet of snow to cross.
81 also told him that Mr.. Denny
Leary, miner, who had been working
for me some time before would proba-
bly, come back with him as | had engag-
!. ed him to work for me during the win
ter.
''Walter, being possessed to large
degree with an indominatable spirit OF
pluck and energy, and, perhaps over
confident in himself, to make it in one
day, and as stated to Mr.. Leary that he
wanted to show me that he was a good
deal more of man than he felt that
had given him credit for being. lie
was determined to come through at all
hazards. They accordingly stated from
Bourn, as am informed, about o, clock
and after three hours hard climbing
reached what is known as the Esmeral-
da Mining Cabin which is about three
and half miles from my camp, on the
opposite side of the summit at an eleva-
tion of $500 feet below my property.
1t was at this place that Mr.. Leary, be-
ing an old miner and mountaineer, de-
eided that it was best to stop for the
night as he himself was pretty well
worn out and thought that Walter was
the same.
He tried by every means to induce
Walter to stop there with him, but
Walter was determined to come on that
night and persevered on.
1T was only the next morning,
Thursday, at 1890, when Mr.. Leary
reached my camp that | knew Walter
was lost. The first thing he said to me
on reaching camp was: sis the kio
hereY" Upon my replying that he was