The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-06
MISSING MEN
F0UNDCHAINED
IN M0U NTAINS
Victims Tell How They We're
Lured to Place by Fake
Telephone Call
IN SERIOUS CONDITION
Prisoners Moved to New LO.
cation Each Night by
Hooded Captors
IN SERIOUS CONDITION

Chattanooga, Tenn, July 6.-P-
DR.. W. d. Mason, veterinary sur
geon, and Lawrence Bowman. who
have been the object of a 10 days
search following their disappearance
on Signal mountain the night Of
June %, were found handcutfed and
chained to tree yesterday by jim
Thomas, mountaineer.
Both men were alive but in serious
condition due to their long exposure
and insufficient nourishment. They
we're brought to the city in an ambu-
lance.
Captured by Hooded Men
Mason and Bowman after being
somewhat revived. stated that they
had been set upon the night of their
disappearance by five hooded men.
and chained to a tree. Each night
they were blindfoldcd and removed
to another place, they stated.
The two men were found on spot
that was previously searched by
posse. 1t is believed that they were
moved each night to section Of the
mountain that had been searched
previously.
While very thirsty, Bowman was
able to talk. according to Thomas,
but Mason did not speak. Bowman
said that it had been four days since
Mason had eaten, having become an
cry at being held captive and having
refused to eat and drink on one oc-
casion. The captors, Bowman. stat
ed, then refused to either feed him
or give him water.
Finding of the men occurred when
Thomas went to the mountain seek
ing hogs that had escaped from his
hillside farm. He was amazed. he
stated when he saw Bowman. his face
covered with heavy growth of
beard, thinking he was an apparition.
Ambulances Are Summoned
Thomas went to nearby farm
house and summoned ambulances. He
then returned to the men.
Bowman told me that the bandits
usually kept guard over them some
distance away" Thomas continued.
"Dr. Mason's wrists" Thomas said,
"were badly cut by the handcuff,
which I severed with a saw and file.
The handouts were fastened to a
chain, which was wrapped around
tree. Mason was chained the tight
est, it being possible for Bowman to
raise himself up on his hands and
knees"
When news of the discovery of the
men was received in the city, Chief
Deputy Nick Bush, who has headed
the search for the men. sped to the
mountain. where he conducted an in
vestigation into the affair and sought
to ferrit out the identity of the cap
tors of the men.
Crowds besieged the Jail and hos
pitfalls as news of the finding of the
men spread throughout the city.
Fail to Recognize CaptOrs
County officers were at loss to
account for the kidnapping of the
two men, or why they were held cap
tive by the hooded clan. The cap
tives, themselves. could give no rea-
son for their being taken. They re-
cognized none of the men and dur
ing their captivity no hint was drop
ped as to why they were being held.
Mason and Bowman were lured to
Signal mountain on the night of June
% by fake telephone message.
Nothing was heard of the two men
until the next morning. when Ma
sons car was discovered on a lonely
road atop the mountain. Bloodstains
showed on parts Of the machine.
Sheriff Tom Selman Immediately
organized a posse and began to comb
the mountains for the men. No clue
developed and officers believed that
the pair had been killed and their
bodies hidden.
Two Families in Bitter Feud
A bitter fued that has existed be-
tween the Bowman and Godsey fac
tions over alleged liquor making
transactions came to climax sew
eral months ago when Benton God:
sey killed Ike Bowman and wounded
Homer Bowman, brother Of Lawrence
Bowman. Since that time Lawrence
Bowman has been aiding prohibition
agents in ferreting out stills said to
have been operated by the Godsey
clan. Il
What connection DR.. Mason had
with the feud is not known, although
he was friendly with the Bowman
faction.