The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-07-19
JOE ANO JOHN ACkERMAN
ARE LATEST VICTIMS
Mystery Has BaffIed Authorities
Tor 50 YcdrS...A PestiIenCe or
a Human Agency?
lBy Associated Press.l J


Mount Vernon, H., July 19.--An.
other fatal chapter was written to-
day in the grewsome history that
has for the last fifty years been
centered about the mysteries of
Death Farm within short dis
tance of this city.
Joe Ackerman died this afternoon
on Death Farm" his mysterious
end following that of his brother
John by only tWenty-four hours.
The known death list, resulting from
the mystifying malady-or agency
that exists only on this farm now
totals ten persons.
Immediately following the second
brothers death the two Alderman
sisters, who hale been living on the
farm ever since the Palm family
was wiped out, fled from the place
In terror, vowing never TO set foot
upon the fatal land again.
Death Farm" now stands de-
serted a blotch OF horror upon the
broad and fertile acres Of the sur
rounding country.
Death Swift and Terrible.
Joe Ackermans sudden end bore
The same strange symptoms ~haa
marked the progress OF the malady
among men and animals during the
asst fifty years--cramps fever, pa
alysls, then death swift and terri
lie,
Death Farm" always has seemed
5orthy of the name ii only lately
as attained. and yet there is only
ne mark that distinguishes its vir-
lency. This Is fog, red hued
nd heavy odored, that rises above
ne surface OF the land at sunrise
nd sunset.
Standing at the edge OF the now
'mous farm the writer had pointed
ut TO him the rise and disappear
nee Of the thin wisp Of reddish air
LAT slowly gathered itself from the
round. Tiny bits of yauor at first
'emed to float from the green and
liet surface OF the half cultivated
sld. Slowly these Wisps grew
.nser and gradually seemed to
end one into the the other until
Tally cloud OF gray interstreaked
th faint markings Of dull red.
ok definite form For several
nutes the cloud seemed to hang
en- the field. then 1t rose and dis
peared ia the unper air. This is
e only visible manner in which
le thing that does Its fatal worh
Death Farm holds out a.
rniug Of it4 ominous presence.
}ac1 INTO the dim and iear'y his
~ Of This quiet little community
the more grewsome tradition
the plaques beginning So far
tx does the story have its origin
4 only the given somberness OF
tale can nov be recalled Most
the residents here regard 1t as a
Cd, the only certain thing being
now known fact the finder OF
tn for two generations has rested
N the forty acres OF land that
lDose Death Farm
gedy Of FIFTY Years.
was about fifty years ago. the
ast inhabitants tell. that the first
te family moved upon the farm
began to cultivate the soil The
les Of those folk have been lost
he passing OF the years, although
uory seems 10 recall Shoe
Ter in this connection. If i'm
lation is the basis for the story,
J Inc original teller understood
art, for a young woman. this
emakers daughter. is closely
en- ia the tale OF tragedies.
le was wooed by young IN
whose tribe. now forgotten.
was clinging TO the land on the
IS of Haskaskia river, on an east
.eh of which the farm is situat-
True to the elements of drama
make mp the tale, the suit OF
young brave was halted hy
maker
nd an indian. you know. the
. finishes never forgets
be Indian went aboutH shoe
ers farm by night. the tradition
ests. and scattered over tha
seeds Of a poisonous plant. The
q ale and became afflicted with
same mysterious malady that
/. iifJf years later. is stil as
II with evil Through the con.
mated meats and milk derived
these poisonfed beasts the
maker family went to their
=, Que By one. aud the Indian
was avenged. Thus does tra-
4 link itself with the theory