This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: sherryk180 Surnames: O'Neil, McLeod Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.oregon.counties.umatilla/918/mb.ashx Message Board Post: PART ONE: Grant was a town between Rufus and Biggs in Sherman County, OR. This from an 1889 unidentified newspaper: "ANOTHER MYSTERY. Word was received at this office last Tuesday morning of the mysterious death of the twelve-year-old son of Barney O'Neil of Grant. The boy was found on Monday about 12 o'clock lying at the foot of the high precipice just back of town in a mangled condition, the bones of his body and limbs being more or less all broken. From the position of the body it is surmised that he either fell, or was thrown, over the cliff, a distance of about 150 feet, and thereby met his death. The facts of the case as we have gathered them are as follows: The boy was missed from his home on Sunday evening and as he failed to return a search was begun. No trace was found, however, until he was discovered on Monday as above stated. When found he was entirely naked. Search was then made for his clothes which were found lying near a small lake just on top of the mountain. Tracks ! of two parties were discovered leading from the lake to the cliff - only a short distance - and investigation went to show that the tracks of only one party was found to lead back to where the clothes were lying. It is thought that the boy had a companion, but just who it was cannot yet be ascertained. The tracks leading back to the clothes were those of a boy or a young man, which goes to show plainly that it was not a case of suicide or accident. The question is, was it murder? And who was the perpetrator of the crime? Investigations are being made whereby some light may be thrown upon the way in which he met his death. At present, it is all a mystery." PART TWO The Times-Mountaineer, The Dalles, Oregon, Tuesday, November 5, 1889: "A Sad Death. A Boy Twelve Years Old Falls Over a Bluff Two Hundred Feet High and is Found Dead in a Nude Condition. The little town of Grant was thrown into a terrible state of excitement yesterday over the loss of a boy, who had been missed since the proceeding afternoon. John Henry O'Neil, aged about 12 years, a resident of Umatilla, and son to Mr. Barney O'Neil, had been visiting at Grant for some days past. Last Sunday afternoon he left in company with some other boys, and on the arrival of the west-bound passenger train, which was three hours late, a message came to Mr. Neil McLeod to send the boy home on the first train. Mr. McLeod began to search for the boy, and continued it until 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when he was found dead under a bluff about two hundred feet high in a nude condition. One arm and leg was broken and there were bruises about the head. His clothes were found near a lake, above the bluff, and it is supposed he was bathing and in playing aroun! d fell over the declivity. His parents came from Umatilla on the afternoon train yesterday, and the first view they had of their darling boy was when his mangled remains were brought to the depot. There is considerable mystery around the death of this boy which perhaps will never be explained. It is very strange that on such a cool day as Sunday he should have bathed in the cold water, and that in his nude condition he should have wandered to the edge of the precipice. If it had been light he could have seen and avoided the danger, and it is inexplicable that he did not clothe himself after nightfall. Johnnie was a good boy, and had the reputation of being very obedient to his parents. What induced him to bathe at that particular time, and apparently alone, cannot be explained. The little town was perfectly horror-stricken when he was found, and it is the most tragical event that has ever happened in the history of Grant. Mr. McLeod came to the city on a freight yesterday e! vening and procured a casket, and the remains will be taken to East Po rtland for interment. The entire community sympathize with the grief-stricken parents in their sad affliction." Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.