Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1919-11-13
ONLY "a YEARS OLD

Adamson, who was "a wears old, was
in charge of a party of twelve survey
ors, who came to Grangeville theslatter
part of October to survey the route OF
the South Fork road. They established
camp at the bearing ranch, beyond
Mount Idaho, from which, as "A base
the survey of the South Fork was being
made. AdamsOn was in the employ of
the bureau of public roads, u. S. de-
partment of agriculture, with offices at
MissOula, Mont. He came to Grange
vile on October 20 from Orofino, to
join the surveyors, who arrived a few
days previously.
On Thursday morning of last week,
Adamson, in company with another man
left the camp at o'clock, in or
der to make reconnaissance. He plan
ned on walking from the camp to Cas-
tie Creek ranger station, where he in
intended to spend the night, and return
to camp on Friday. His companion pro
ceeded with him TO a point two miles
up the river from the camp, where he
stopped to cut stakes, to be used by
the surveyors in marking the route of
the proposed highway. "I' III not be
back until tomorrow Adamson told
men before leaving camp. He remarked
owing to the distance to Castle Creek
station, and ruggedness of the country,
he probably would not return until late
Friday.
START SEARCH FOR CHIEF
No alarm was felt for Adamson s
safety, until Friday night, when he
failed to return to camp. Suspecting
that disaster had befallen Adamson,
party, comprising Sam Cook, transit
man; Ralph Graves, levelman, and Earl
Cash, rodman, set out from camp Sat
urday morning in search of the chief.
They believed he had fallen over log
or rock and had fractured bone of
one of his legs. They searched all Sat
urday morning, covering the entire dis
lance from the camp to the Castle
Creek ranger station, but no trace of
Adamson could be found, except for
occasional tracks iii sand on the bank
of the river. The tracks for a time
were visible, and again they were lost.
The tracks were not to be found fur
Their up the river than a place called
Bunchgrass. After returning from the
ranger station where AdamsoE intended
spending Thursday night, and where it
was evident he had not stopped, the
party halted at Bunchgrass, where more
thorough search was instituted. Lying
besides fallen log, fifteen feet from a
small creek which empties into the
South Fork, Adamson s body was found,
with a bullet hole in his abdomen, and
another in his head. A single action
Colts Frontier A revolver, in which
were five empty shells, was at his side.
Two empty shells were on the ground.
Tucked under the log, was blueprint,
on the back of which Adamson had
written the note to his mother.
HOW GUN WENT OFF
Presumption is that Adamson stopped
to drink from the creek, and as he
stopped, the revolver fell from the hol- !
ster on his belt, struck a rock, and was
discharged. The bullet shattered the
buckle on his belt, and penetrated his
abdomen. A part of the metal buckle |
also entered the man Is body.
Knowing he would not live; Adamson |
is believed to have fired five shots, as |
call for help. Firing in rapid succession |
of five shots is, in the woods, regarded /
as a signal of distress. The shots were
heard by Sam Cook, a member of the |
party which found Adamson 8 body, but !