Reflections from the Saratoga Sun

25 years ago

January 14, 1998

The Encampment man was an experienced snowmachiner.

Staff Report

Sunday was a sad day in thePlatte Valley.  An Encampment man was killed that afternoon in an avalanche while snowmobiling.  

Benjamin F. Romios, 21 was caught in an avalanche at about 2:15 p.m.   While snowmobiling with four other individuals in the Battle lake area, according to the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. Romios’ snowmachine was stuck on a hillside near Battle Lake when an avalanche, about150-yards wide by one-half miles long, engulfed him and his machine.  

One of the individuals Romios was snowmobiling with returned to Encampment and called for assistance while the other three began digging and probing in the snow for Romios.  Sheriff’s deputies and members of the Saratoga and Encampment Search & Rescue units arrived on the scene along with about 30 to 35 other residents of the Platte Valley and began searching using probes and shovels.

At about 5:20 p.m., Romios was located under about two feet of snow. Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was started by emergency medical technicians on the scene and Romios was transported by ambulance to Corbett Medical Clinic where he was later pronounced dead.

Romios was a member of the Encampment Search & Rescue unit and an experienced snowmachiner.  He was employed at Shively Hardware.

50 years ago

January 11, 1973

BRAVE MEN DIED

During the summer of 1972,  Mrs. Marian Jacobs and her son Francis from Carbondale, Colo., stopped at the Grand Encampment Museum. In her purse Mrs. Jacobs carried six letters and a telegram that she was willing to share with the museum and hopefully she thought the museum might have information in the files that would shed more light on the story.

In 1889, Mrs. Jacob’s brother- in-law, W.D. Jacobs, came to the Battle Lake country partly because the settlement of the family estate at Basalt, Colo., had not pleased him and partly because he too was caught up in the dream of hidden treasures. Will Jacobs with Henry Harrison were prospecting in the Houston Park Country for the Copper Belt Mining Co. of which Ed Haggarty was president. A letter from Ed Haggarty followed a telegram dated Nov. 4th, 1899.  The letter follows:

 Battle, Wyo.  Nov 14th, 1899

Mr. Oliver G. Jacobs, Basalt, Col.

Dear Sir:

Some ten days ago, I wired you relative to your brother Will and asking if you had any news of him.

From Oct. 4 to 16th we had a very severe storm in the mountains and Will and a man named Harrison have not been heard of since.  From a report of an outfit “abandoned”near where they were I am very much afraid that they have been lost and perished from exposure.  I am making an effort to find some trace of Will or his body.  Should I learn or find anything, I will immediately advise you.

Yours very truly

Ed Haggarty

The next letter addressed to Mrs. Jacobs’ husband was written at Battle on June 24, 1900 by H. R Young, an attorney. The letter follows: 

Dear Sir:

The body of Henry Harrison was found yesterday.  It was found about 1 1/2 miles south within 100 feet of where the horse and dog were found. The body was in such shape that it was buried where found. Will’s body will no doubt soon be found,  Now, I will write as soon as it is.  

Yours truly, 

A.H. Young

On June, 25, 1900, D. B. Crockett wrote a letter on SENATE SALOON stationary. The letter follows:

Battle lake, Wyoming June 25, 1900

E. E. Jacobs 

Friend and brother:

I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that your brother was found yesterday by F. E. Craig.  He was found 600 yards north of the lone horse at the foot of the hill.  Harrison was found Saturday about 75 yards from the dog and about the same distance from the horse by Gus Raddatz. Will has not been buried yet. He is so badly decomposed there no one would touch him but depend on it, Ed and I will see that someone will. Haggarty is here. He rode in 30 feet of Harrison Saturday morning.  You will hear from me in a few days more.

Yours Truly.  D. B Crockett 

Bits of burned cloth were found near  the body showing that Will Jacobs had no doubt tried to kindle a fire with cloth from his shirt. One day later Davey Crockett wrote a second letter to C. E. Jacobs:           

Houston Cabin June 26, 1900

C. E. Jacobs

Dear Sir:

I told you in my last letter that I would see that your brother was looked after and I did. We buried him the best that we could. We wrapped him in canvass and buried him where he was found.  There was only $7.85 in money on him, a few little books, his pipe and tobacco and a  pair of spectacles not his thick ones.  He had on a full suit of black corduroy clothes, overalls, canvass leggings and two hats one over the other, shoes and overshoes and a blue wool shirt.  I suppose he must have broke the trail up the hill to protect Henry for he was the first to fall.  When they turned back, it is supposed that they tailed the horse down the hill and he got caught between the trees and Henry could go no farther. The knife of Harrison’s was found some time ago within two feet of the dog.  

 There were seven of us at the grave. You and I have been within 50 feet of Will more than once and the day we found the tent we walked almost over Harrison. It is over now and I am glad of it. It was a bad job. There would be no one to go through Will’s pockets until I came from Battle and a fellow by the name of Reid helped.  We had to cut everything to stand it.  I am glad you were not here. Mr. R. H. Young was here. Mr. F. E. Craig has been staying here with me for several days. He is the man who found Will. We extend our sympathy to you and family.

Yours truly, D. B. Crockett

P.S. Will did have the valves in his pocket. I sent you a rough sketch of the country so you can make no mistake.