The Washington times., 1921-03-21
MRS. FLORENCE H. LEEDS.
'ST|LLMAN ESTATE
HEAVILY GUARDED
Custodians Ward Off Reporters
and Photographers at Mil
Iionaire's Summer Home.

MANIGANICE. Quebec. Thy courier
70 Grandes Piles). March 2l.-A
strict guard has been established at
the estate OF Mrs. "Fin" Potter Still
man. This word was brought back to-
day by photographers returning by
way of the St. Maurice river to Gran
des Piles.
The purpose OF the estate custo-
dians, It was explaineds is 10 ward
off reporters and picture-takers. The
Stiilman guard was posted as early
as last November. the returning men
said. They added that IL was only
one Of the many details OF the pro-
gram OF secrecy that burst like a
bubble recently when James A. Still
mans divorce action was revealed in
New York.
,, The chief care -taker OF the resi-
dence, "the White House" OF Mrs. Still
man near Grande Anse, and OF her
log hunting lodge a few miles west
ward, is Hercules Desilets. He is a
woodsman, forty years old and lives
at the Grande Anse residence with
his wife. two daughters and son.
' rwo of Mrs Stillman's bloodeu Ken
lucky horses, two graft horses and a
donkey compose the live stock there.
HAS FLEET OF BOATS.
A motor boat and six canoes, in
cluding a very small boat used by the
children of the banker. make up the
fleet.
Owing to the vigilance OF Desilets,
the exploring comeramen were un-
able to view the house at close range.
The correspondent is writing this
during a dash by sleigh up the st.
Maurice river. A driving snowstorm
has set in and is retarding the horses.
Owing to weak patches in the ice, due
largely to the presence of rapids.
several difficult portages through the
forests have been required.
At certain desolate spots along the
route, black crosses are erected. These
denote the places near where the de-
vout residents of the North woods
have lost some relatives by drowning.
Such black cross stands upright in the
| glazed snow not far from Grandes
Piles. On either OF the arms OF the
cross Is a small cross. II is In TINS
manner that a Madame Pelletier hon
| ors the memory of her father, mother
and Madame Pelleuer's infant daugh-
ter. All three were drowned near
there thirty years ago when their
canoe upset.
| Mrs. Stillman often boarded Win
Madame Pelletier at Grandes Piles.
GOSSIP FLOURIsHING.
' Fred Beauvais, the half-breed guide
and alleged correspondent, also re-
sided there when in the employ of the
StiIlnans, according to madame. The
Halter is very proud of two things.
she confided at dinner last night. One
| is that she is n firm friend OF Mrs.
Stillman and the other is that her
raspberry jam is famous all along the
| st. Maurice.
At Rapides Maniganice is a farm
house on the eastern shore. Here is
the home OF Madame Gregoire Ciguers.
She was one of those who went -
New York. 1t is said here. to testify
in connection with the Stillman case.
Madame Ciguere is descendant OF
one of woIfe's Highlanders. who were
disbanded in Quebec.
The advent OF the press men into
the North woods seems to have ended
a long vigil of the residents here. II
seems that every one has had thor
ough training in the gossip surround
| ing the case Their comment may be
summed up in the blanket statement;
"Oh. yes. we know. Why didn't you
come here two years ago."