The Horror in the Brush

Mr. Roe, the chief of a surveying party working for Scarry & Co. at West Seattle, has a camp on the beach about a mile west of the mill. At 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, while cruising around in the timber about eight or ten rods from the camp, he discovered a new yellow trunk. It was evident that an effort had been made to hide it, as it was partially sheltered by the overhanging boughs of the trees and was covered with a slab, a plank, and a big chunk of rotten wood. Mr. Roe, imagining he had stumbled across some hidden treasure, threw off the plank and slab and gave a violent wrench at the lid. He was almost overpowered by the sickening stench that was emitted, and hastened back to camp to inform the other members of the party. The men were somewhat incredulous but followed Roe and were soon at the scene. The stench was so horrible that they could not approach within several feet of the trunk. They secured a long pole and began to investigate the contents. They first pulled out a tablecloth, covered with dark, colored stains, which the men believed were blood. Next came a sheer lawn dress, with ruffled edges, also discolored with stains. Several other articles of feminine wearing apparel were brought out. They were all of good material and all bore heavy dark stains. The men hesitated after removing the clothing, for there was then exposed to light a thin blue blanket, which, judging from the outlines, evidently enshrouded a human form. Finally, the pole was twisted around one corner of the blanket and it was raised a little. A dainty foot of delicate and evidently feminine mould was exposed to view. They dropped the blanket in horror and did not lift it at the head to verify their conjecture. They were too terrified and left the scene. Later in the afternoon, they came to Seattle and informed Captain Manning of the police force. The body was nude and had evidently been jammed into the trunk by force. The limbs were doubled up, and the head was pressed forward onto the breast.