The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-27
A Mysterious
Disappearance
iUo Men and Two
Wagons Lost on
the Plains
BY ETHEL HOLMES
BY ETHEL HOLMES

/ ohe VI the many men who uba,
sold mad been discovered in California
started out to gather in Tho nracior.,
metal was Elmer Winston. But Win.
SION went out under different condi-
Tons from most of the cold saalors
MS partner IN business. George Hun
Ter mad gone before him, purchased n
piece OF property on which there was
evidence Of gold, had returned. and tbe
TWO having got together mining ma.
chlhery and other articles necessary IN
their purpose. started from Council
BUNS with two wagons to make the
TRIP over the plains and the mountains
to California
Tue Golden state was IN those DAYS
very remote. 1t was long Journey
either 10y land or SEA. AMI there were
dangers which induced both Winston
ana Hunter To leave papers with their
families t. designate the location of
me property they were going 10 de-
Nelop Not that There was any GER
lainty of IFS being Naluablr-iutppd
very few of the claims proved Ia be so
but common prudence dictated this
course.
The partners, having crossed the Mis-
souri,. followed the Platte river They
had traNersed about half the distance
to the mountains when they met
train of empty wagons returning from
Denver, by which they sent letters TO
their families. stating that they were
both well ana all was proceeding sat
sfaetorily with them.
These letters contained the last in
formation that was received from
them. Ii was assumed that they
would have opportunity at least once
in week or two to send back com
munication to their homes, and when
month had passed and no word had
come from them it was feared that
something had happened.
The main danger was from Indians.
and those interested In them began to
dread lest they should hear of the two
men having come to grief in this way.
But no such news was ever received,
nor was there any report of mishap to
them of any other kind. When sufli
cient time had elapsed for them To
reach the Golden State and send let
tiers home by sea and still no news
came from them their families and
friends and neighbors made a pool for
the purpose of sending some one to
learn the truth concerning them.
Edward Jenkins. nephew of Hunt
er's, was selected to make the search.
Going TO Council Bluffs he attached
himself TO wagon train about 10 20
over the same route as the partners
and made inquiries along the way TO
the point whore they We're last Seen
This was at settlement, or. rather n
station on the bank of the north fork
Of the Platte river, At this place Jcn
klns was informed that on or about
the date that Winston and Hunter
should have been in that location II
couple of men, with two wagons had
left the station one morning 10 20
westward. Several days later some In
dams had come ia aud reported having
met them The two wagons We're Il
quarter of a mile apart Night was
coming on.
This was the last information Jen-
klns was able to secure of the two
men. He went over the route they
were supposed to have taken hut be-
yond the spot whore the Indians had
seen them no trace Of them whatever
could he found II was rs IL they had
been spirited away from the earth
Jenkins made inquiries If there had
been hostile Indians IN the ncishbor-
hood nj the time of the disappearance.
but was told that none such were re-
ported. Besides. If the travellers had
been killed 10y Indians not only the
wagons and machinery, but their bod
les. would have been found. The red
skins would have no use for anything
except the horses and stores Of provi.
sionS
Jenkins could not be certain of the
exact ground the partners hdu IVil'
over. though hc knew the route. There
were no actual roads. or WHEREVER
there was "a road it was a mere track.
and there were number Of them lead
ing in the same direction.
Having gained evidence to show that
those be sought had not been Killed 10y
Indians. that they had not sickcned
and died on the journey. that they had
not been destroyed by storm or Hood,
Jenkins returned TO the east and re
ported the result Of his labors. Had
he told that the two men were dead II
would have ended the matter As II
was suspense took possession Of their
families and curiosity Of their friends.
Mrs. Winston and Mrs. Hunter after
consultation with advisers decided 10
do nothing more In the matter. They
had no deeds to the property. no means
for its development and no one to in
trust with the matter. Besides they
had had quite enough Of gold seeking
in the disappearance Of their husbands
horn ~ Winston