Fred H. Kiser, an accomplished mountaineer and promoter, was one of the most successful and widely known landscape and commercial photographers in the American West during the first two decades of the early 20th century. His work is credited with popularizing Crater Lake National Park and the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and establishing Glacier National Park in Montana. He and his brother Oscar also operated the Lewis and Clark Official Photographic Co. at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Or. The collection includes photographs taken by the brothers, as well as by Clarence L. Winter, Fred's partner who later operated Winter Photo Company.
Morning Oregonian December 26, 1905 pg 8
BODY OF OSCAR KISER IS FOUND
Discovered floating in the River by George Probel in His Boat.
MYSTERY IS EXPLAINED
Young Man Fell Overboard and Was Drowned in the Willamette Is the Theory of the Sheriff and the Coroner.
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Oscar H. Kiser, who has been missing since November 6, was cleared up yesterday morning by the discovery of his body in the Willamette River close by the C.E. Ladd boathouse about a mile beyond Riverview Cemetery.
The mysterious circumstances under which the young man disappeared and the advancement of several theories of the influences leading thereto have nearly all been dispelled by the finding of the body. The investigation of the Coroner and Sheriff upon the discovery of the remains leaves no question that the young man was accidentally drowned.
Found Floating In the River.
The body was found floating in the river shortly before noon, by George Probel who was out in a pleasure boat, and the discovery was immediately reported to Coroner Finley, who took charge of the remains, which were badly decomposed. A close investigation of the body by the Coroner revealed no marks that would warrant the foul-play theory. The young man's watch had stopped at 6:30 o'clock which is believed to have been at that time in the morning, and, as he was unable to swim a stroke, the probabilities are that he fell into the river upon rising in the morning of December 6, and was drowned. His body became entangled with a submerged boat cable which explains the length of time it remained in the water.
Arrests Are Made.
On the strength of the theory of the parents of Kiser, who believed that their son had met with foul play, the Sheriff arrested Herbert Hayes and Jack Moldillo, two young men who are said to have been enemies of the dead man, and instructions were also wired the officials of Eugene to apprehend Garrett, the man who occupied quarters at the boathouse with Kiser.
When seen about the arrests last evening, the Sheriff stated that he had instructed the Eugene officials to release Garrett, and that he would release Hayes and Moldillo this morning, unless unforeseen circumstances should arise that would warrant their being held.
Kiser was last seen on the night of November 5, when Austin Whidden met him at the boathouse at about 5:30 o'clock in the evening, and since that time noting had been heard from the missing man until the finding of his badly decomposed body yesterday.
All manner of theories as to his disappearance had been advanced by relatives and friends. Some claimed that he had been shanghaied on some vessel bound for foreign lands, and on the strength of this the local authorities notified all the American Consuls to be on the lookout for the young man. Another story was to the fact that he had eloped with a certain young woman who is said to have been seen in his company at the boathouse on frequent occasions.
Arrangements for Funeral.
The relatives of the dead man were assembled at the table preparatory to partaking of their Christmas dinner when notified by Coroner Finley that body had been found. The funeral of the young man will be held at an early hour tomorrow morning from the undertaking parlors of Coroner Finley, and the interment will take place at Lone Fir Cemetery. The services at the grave will be private.
Dr. Cauthorn made an examination of Kiser's body last evening. He found not a trace of an external injury, and declares that he could not have died of any exterior injury.
Morning Oregonian November 8, 1905 pg 9
NO TRACE OF O.H. KISER
Detectives Fail to Find a Clew of the Young Man.
Although several Deputy Sheriffs and a private detective are working on the case, the whereabouts of Oscar H. Kiser, the missing caretaker of Charles E. Ladd's boats, has not yet been ascertained. No new developments in the investigation of his disappearance occurred yesterday, except that the conviction became firmer that Kiser had fled from the city. The officials and all interested have abandoned the accident or foul play theory, and are now trying to find out just where the young man went to.
Morning Oregonian November 7, 1905 pg 9
FLIGHT THE THEORY
Young Kiser Believed to Have Left Town
MYSTERY NOT UNRAVELED
It Is Thought That He Disappeared Voluntarily and That Here Has Been No Foul Play Whatever.
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Oscar H. Kiser has been cleared to the extent that, instead of having met his death, he has probably fled from the city.
As announced in yesterday's Oregonian, the last seen of him was on Saturday night, when he left Supple's boatyard, accompanied by a then unknown companion. The latter has now been identified as A.C. Whidden, who left Kiser at the Ladd boathouse upon their arrival there.
While no definite clew has as yet been found, every indication points to a flight on the part of young Kiser. The facts seem to be there: While sustaining a good character, Kiser was something of a Don Juan. Coincident with this disappearance, a launch belonging to John Millan and kept directly across the river from Riverside, was missed, and was found last night down the river at Linnton. Not the slightest indication of accident or foul play has been found, and the Mr. Gossett, chum of the missing man, is being held by the Sheriff for information.
The river in the vicinity of Riverside was dragged yesterday, without result. This, with other facts in the case, leads to the conviction that the theory of death must give way to the one of flight.
Gossett comes into play in this connection, and it is now believed that he can tell a geat deal more than he has so far stated. In fact, Gossett, with his contradictory statements, is the key to the mystery. While giving no information, he has made several misstatements and told contradictory stores regarding the movements of Kiser in the past few weeks. The worst feature in this connection is that instead of taking Kiser's grip containing the revolver, which he claimed to have found in the launch, to the boathouse, he took it across the river to Gratton's at Milwaukie. Why he did this, or his reason for it, has not yet bee made clear. Gossett will be put through the sweatbox today, and the mystery of Kiser's disappearance is expected to be solved. At present, it is the belief in some quarters that Kiser, either to escape from or with a woman, took the launch missed on Saturday night, went down to Linnton and there boarded the night Northern Pacific train. In any event, yesterday's investigation went far to prove that the young man is simply missing, and not dead.
-------------------------
Morning Oregonian December 26, 1905 pg 8
BODY OF OSCAR KISER IS FOUND
Discovered floating in the River by George Probel in His Boat.
MYSTERY IS EXPLAINED
Young Man Fell Overboard and Was Drowned in the Willamette Is the Theory of the Sheriff and the Coroner.
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Oscar H. Kiser, who has been missing since November 6, was cleared up yesterday morning by the discovery of his body in the Willamette River close by the C.E. Ladd boathouse about a mile beyond Riverview Cemetery.
The mysterious circumstances under which the young man disappeared and the advancement of several theories of the influences leading thereto have nearly all been dispelled by the finding of the body. The investigation of the Coroner and Sheriff upon the discovery of the remains leaves no question that the young man was accidentally drowned.
Found Floating In the River.
The body was found floating in the river shortly before noon, by George Probel who was out in a pleasure boat, and the discovery was immediately reported to Coroner Finley, who took charge of the remains, which were badly decomposed. A close investigation of the body by the Coroner revealed no marks that would warrant the foul-play theory. The young man's watch had stopped at 6:30 o'clock which is believed to have been at that time in the morning, and, as he was unable to swim a stroke, the probabilities are that he fell into the river upon rising in the morning of December 6, and was drowned. His body became entangled with a submerged boat cable which explains the length of time it remained in the water.
Arrests Are Made.
On the strength of the theory of the parents of Kiser, who believed that their son had met with foul play, the Sheriff arrested Herbert Hayes and Jack Moldillo, two young men who are said to have been enemies of the dead man, and instructions were also wired the officials of Eugene to apprehend Garrett, the man who occupied quarters at the boathouse with Kiser.
When seen about the arrests last evening, the Sheriff stated that he had instructed the Eugene officials to release Garrett, and that he would release Hayes and Moldillo this morning, unless unforeseen circumstances should arise that would warrant their being held.
Kiser was last seen on the night of November 5, when Austin Whidden met him at the boathouse at about 5:30 o'clock in the evening, and since that time noting had been heard from the missing man until the finding of his badly decomposed body yesterday.
All manner of theories as to his disappearance had been advanced by relatives and friends. Some claimed that he had been shanghaied on some vessel bound for foreign lands, and on the strength of this the local authorities notified all the American Consuls to be on the lookout for the young man. Another story was to the fact that he had eloped with a certain young woman who is said to have been seen in his company at the boathouse on frequent occasions.
Arrangements for Funeral.
The relatives of the dead man were assembled at the table preparatory to partaking of their Christmas dinner when notified by Coroner Finley that body had been found. The funeral of the young man will be held at an early hour tomorrow morning from the undertaking parlors of Coroner Finley, and the interment will take place at Lone Fir Cemetery. The services at the grave will be private.
Dr. Cauthorn made an examination of Kiser's body last evening. He found not a trace of an external injury, and declares that he could not have died of any exterior injury.
Morning Oregonian November 8, 1905 pg 9
NO TRACE OF O.H. KISER
Detectives Fail to Find a Clew of the Young Man.
Although several Deputy Sheriffs and a private detective are working on the case, the whereabouts of Oscar H. Kiser, the missing caretaker of Charles E. Ladd's boats, has not yet been ascertained. No new developments in the investigation of his disappearance occurred yesterday, except that the conviction became firmer that Kiser had fled from the city. The officials and all interested have abandoned the accident or foul play theory, and are now trying to find out just where the young man went to.
Morning Oregonian November 7, 1905 pg 9
FLIGHT THE THEORY
Young Kiser Believed to Have Left Town
MYSTERY NOT UNRAVELED
It Is Thought That He Disappeared Voluntarily and That Here Has Been No Foul Play Whatever.
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Oscar H. Kiser has been cleared to the extent that, instead of having met his death, he has probably fled from the city.
As announced in yesterday's Oregonian, the last seen of him was on Saturday night, when he left Supple's boatyard, accompanied by a then unknown companion. The latter has now been identified as A.C. Whidden, who left Kiser at the Ladd boathouse upon their arrival there.
While no definite clew has as yet been found, every indication points to a flight on the part of young Kiser. The facts seem to be there: While sustaining a good character, Kiser was something of a Don Juan. Coincident with this disappearance, a launch belonging to John Millan and kept directly across the river from Riverside, was missed, and was found last night down the river at Linnton. Not the slightest indication of accident or foul play has been found, and the Mr. Gossett, chum of the missing man, is being held by the Sheriff for information.
The river in the vicinity of Riverside was dragged yesterday, without result. This, with other facts in the case, leads to the conviction that the theory of death must give way to the one of flight.
Gossett comes into play in this connection, and it is now believed that he can tell a geat deal more than he has so far stated. In fact, Gossett, with his contradictory statements, is the key to the mystery. While giving no information, he has made several misstatements and told contradictory stores regarding the movements of Kiser in the past few weeks. The worst feature in this connection is that instead of taking Kiser's grip containing the revolver, which he claimed to have found in the launch, to the boathouse, he took it across the river to Gratton's at Milwaukie. Why he did this, or his reason for it, has not yet bee made clear. Gossett will be put through the sweatbox today, and the mystery of Kiser's disappearance is expected to be solved. At present, it is the belief in some quarters that Kiser, either to escape from or with a woman, took the launch missed on Saturday night, went down to Linnton and there boarded the night Northern Pacific train. In any event, yesterday's investigation went far to prove that the young man is simply missing, and not dead.
-------------------------
Fred H. Kiser, an accomplished mountaineer and promoter, was one of the most successful and widely known landscape and commercial photographers in the American West during the first two decades of the early 20th century. His work is credited with popularizing Crater Lake National Park and the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and establishing Glacier National Park in Montana. He and his brother Oscar also operated the Lewis and Clark Official Photographic Co. at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Or. The collection includes photographs taken by the brothers, as well as by Clarence L. Winter, Fred's partner who later operated Winter Photo Company.
Morning Oregonian December 26, 1905 pg 8
BODY OF OSCAR KISER IS FOUND
Discovered floating in the River by George Probel in His Boat.
MYSTERY IS EXPLAINED
Young Man Fell Overboard and Was Drowned in the Willamette Is the Theory of the Sheriff and the Coroner.
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Oscar H. Kiser, who has been missing since November 6, was cleared up yesterday morning by the discovery of his body in the Willamette River close by the C.E. Ladd boathouse about a mile beyond Riverview Cemetery.
The mysterious circumstances under which the young man disappeared and the advancement of several theories of the influences leading thereto have nearly all been dispelled by the finding of the body. The investigation of the Coroner and Sheriff upon the discovery of the remains leaves no question that the young man was accidentally drowned.
Found Floating In the River.
The body was found floating in the river shortly before noon, by George Probel who was out in a pleasure boat, and the discovery was immediately reported to Coroner Finley, who took charge of the remains, which were badly decomposed. A close investigation of the body by the Coroner revealed no marks that would warrant the foul-play theory. The young man's watch had stopped at 6:30 o'clock which is believed to have been at that time in the morning, and, as he was unable to swim a stroke, the probabilities are that he fell into the river upon rising in the morning of December 6, and was drowned. His body became entangled with a submerged boat cable which explains the length of time it remained in the water.
Arrests Are Made.
On the strength of the theory of the parents of Kiser, who believed that their son had met with foul play, the Sheriff arrested Herbert Hayes and Jack Moldillo, two young men who are said to have been enemies of the dead man, and instructions were also wired the officials of Eugene to apprehend Garrett, the man who occupied quarters at the boathouse with Kiser.
When seen about the arrests last evening, the Sheriff stated that he had instructed the Eugene officials to release Garrett, and that he would release Hayes and Moldillo this morning, unless unforeseen circumstances should arise that would warrant their being held.
Kiser was last seen on the night of November 5, when Austin Whidden met him at the boathouse at about 5:30 o'clock in the evening, and since that time noting had been heard from the missing man until the finding of his badly decomposed body yesterday.
All manner of theories as to his disappearance had been advanced by relatives and friends. Some claimed that he had been shanghaied on some vessel bound for foreign lands, and on the strength of this the local authorities notified all the American Consuls to be on the lookout for the young man. Another story was to the fact that he had eloped with a certain young woman who is said to have been seen in his company at the boathouse on frequent occasions.
Arrangements for Funeral.
The relatives of the dead man were assembled at the table preparatory to partaking of their Christmas dinner when notified by Coroner Finley that body had been found. The funeral of the young man will be held at an early hour tomorrow morning from the undertaking parlors of Coroner Finley, and the interment will take place at Lone Fir Cemetery. The services at the grave will be private.
Dr. Cauthorn made an examination of Kiser's body last evening. He found not a trace of an external injury, and declares that he could not have died of any exterior injury.
Morning Oregonian November 8, 1905 pg 9
NO TRACE OF O.H. KISER
Detectives Fail to Find a Clew of the Young Man.
Although several Deputy Sheriffs and a private detective are working on the case, the whereabouts of Oscar H. Kiser, the missing caretaker of Charles E. Ladd's boats, has not yet been ascertained. No new developments in the investigation of his disappearance occurred yesterday, except that the conviction became firmer that Kiser had fled from the city. The officials and all interested have abandoned the accident or foul play theory, and are now trying to find out just where the young man went to.
Morning Oregonian November 7, 1905 pg 9
FLIGHT THE THEORY
Young Kiser Believed to Have Left Town
MYSTERY NOT UNRAVELED
It Is Thought That He Disappeared Voluntarily and That Here Has Been No Foul Play Whatever.
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Oscar H. Kiser has been cleared to the extent that, instead of having met his death, he has probably fled from the city.
As announced in yesterday's Oregonian, the last seen of him was on Saturday night, when he left Supple's boatyard, accompanied by a then unknown companion. The latter has now been identified as A.C. Whidden, who left Kiser at the Ladd boathouse upon their arrival there.
While no definite clew has as yet been found, every indication points to a flight on the part of young Kiser. The facts seem to be there: While sustaining a good character, Kiser was something of a Don Juan. Coincident with this disappearance, a launch belonging to John Millan and kept directly across the river from Riverside, was missed, and was found last night down the river at Linnton. Not the slightest indication of accident or foul play has been found, and the Mr. Gossett, chum of the missing man, is being held by the Sheriff for information.
The river in the vicinity of Riverside was dragged yesterday, without result. This, with other facts in the case, leads to the conviction that the theory of death must give way to the one of flight.
Gossett comes into play in this connection, and it is now believed that he can tell a geat deal more than he has so far stated. In fact, Gossett, with his contradictory statements, is the key to the mystery. While giving no information, he has made several misstatements and told contradictory stores regarding the movements of Kiser in the past few weeks. The worst feature in this connection is that instead of taking Kiser's grip containing the revolver, which he claimed to have found in the launch, to the boathouse, he took it across the river to Gratton's at Milwaukie. Why he did this, or his reason for it, has not yet bee made clear. Gossett will be put through the sweatbox today, and the mystery of Kiser's disappearance is expected to be solved. At present, it is the belief in some quarters that Kiser, either to escape from or with a woman, took the launch missed on Saturday night, went down to Linnton and there boarded the night Northern Pacific train. In any event, yesterday's investigation went far to prove that the young man is simply missing, and not dead.
-------------------------
Morning Oregonian December 26, 1905 pg 8
BODY OF OSCAR KISER IS FOUND
Discovered floating in the River by George Probel in His Boat.
MYSTERY IS EXPLAINED
Young Man Fell Overboard and Was Drowned in the Willamette Is the Theory of the Sheriff and the Coroner.
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Oscar H. Kiser, who has been missing since November 6, was cleared up yesterday morning by the discovery of his body in the Willamette River close by the C.E. Ladd boathouse about a mile beyond Riverview Cemetery.
The mysterious circumstances under which the young man disappeared and the advancement of several theories of the influences leading thereto have nearly all been dispelled by the finding of the body. The investigation of the Coroner and Sheriff upon the discovery of the remains leaves no question that the young man was accidentally drowned.
Found Floating In the River.
The body was found floating in the river shortly before noon, by George Probel who was out in a pleasure boat, and the discovery was immediately reported to Coroner Finley, who took charge of the remains, which were badly decomposed. A close investigation of the body by the Coroner revealed no marks that would warrant the foul-play theory. The young man's watch had stopped at 6:30 o'clock which is believed to have been at that time in the morning, and, as he was unable to swim a stroke, the probabilities are that he fell into the river upon rising in the morning of December 6, and was drowned. His body became entangled with a submerged boat cable which explains the length of time it remained in the water.
Arrests Are Made.
On the strength of the theory of the parents of Kiser, who believed that their son had met with foul play, the Sheriff arrested Herbert Hayes and Jack Moldillo, two young men who are said to have been enemies of the dead man, and instructions were also wired the officials of Eugene to apprehend Garrett, the man who occupied quarters at the boathouse with Kiser.
When seen about the arrests last evening, the Sheriff stated that he had instructed the Eugene officials to release Garrett, and that he would release Hayes and Moldillo this morning, unless unforeseen circumstances should arise that would warrant their being held.
Kiser was last seen on the night of November 5, when Austin Whidden met him at the boathouse at about 5:30 o'clock in the evening, and since that time noting had been heard from the missing man until the finding of his badly decomposed body yesterday.
All manner of theories as to his disappearance had been advanced by relatives and friends. Some claimed that he had been shanghaied on some vessel bound for foreign lands, and on the strength of this the local authorities notified all the American Consuls to be on the lookout for the young man. Another story was to the fact that he had eloped with a certain young woman who is said to have been seen in his company at the boathouse on frequent occasions.
Arrangements for Funeral.
The relatives of the dead man were assembled at the table preparatory to partaking of their Christmas dinner when notified by Coroner Finley that body had been found. The funeral of the young man will be held at an early hour tomorrow morning from the undertaking parlors of Coroner Finley, and the interment will take place at Lone Fir Cemetery. The services at the grave will be private.
Dr. Cauthorn made an examination of Kiser's body last evening. He found not a trace of an external injury, and declares that he could not have died of any exterior injury.
Morning Oregonian November 8, 1905 pg 9
NO TRACE OF O.H. KISER
Detectives Fail to Find a Clew of the Young Man.
Although several Deputy Sheriffs and a private detective are working on the case, the whereabouts of Oscar H. Kiser, the missing caretaker of Charles E. Ladd's boats, has not yet been ascertained. No new developments in the investigation of his disappearance occurred yesterday, except that the conviction became firmer that Kiser had fled from the city. The officials and all interested have abandoned the accident or foul play theory, and are now trying to find out just where the young man went to.
Morning Oregonian November 7, 1905 pg 9
FLIGHT THE THEORY
Young Kiser Believed to Have Left Town
MYSTERY NOT UNRAVELED
It Is Thought That He Disappeared Voluntarily and That Here Has Been No Foul Play Whatever.
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Oscar H. Kiser has been cleared to the extent that, instead of having met his death, he has probably fled from the city.
As announced in yesterday's Oregonian, the last seen of him was on Saturday night, when he left Supple's boatyard, accompanied by a then unknown companion. The latter has now been identified as A.C. Whidden, who left Kiser at the Ladd boathouse upon their arrival there.
While no definite clew has as yet been found, every indication points to a flight on the part of young Kiser. The facts seem to be there: While sustaining a good character, Kiser was something of a Don Juan. Coincident with this disappearance, a launch belonging to John Millan and kept directly across the river from Riverside, was missed, and was found last night down the river at Linnton. Not the slightest indication of accident or foul play has been found, and the Mr. Gossett, chum of the missing man, is being held by the Sheriff for information.
The river in the vicinity of Riverside was dragged yesterday, without result. This, with other facts in the case, leads to the conviction that the theory of death must give way to the one of flight.
Gossett comes into play in this connection, and it is now believed that he can tell a geat deal more than he has so far stated. In fact, Gossett, with his contradictory statements, is the key to the mystery. While giving no information, he has made several misstatements and told contradictory stores regarding the movements of Kiser in the past few weeks. The worst feature in this connection is that instead of taking Kiser's grip containing the revolver, which he claimed to have found in the launch, to the boathouse, he took it across the river to Gratton's at Milwaukie. Why he did this, or his reason for it, has not yet bee made clear. Gossett will be put through the sweatbox today, and the mystery of Kiser's disappearance is expected to be solved. At present, it is the belief in some quarters that Kiser, either to escape from or with a woman, took the launch missed on Saturday night, went down to Linnton and there boarded the night Northern Pacific train. In any event, yesterday's investigation went far to prove that the young man is simply missing, and not dead.
-------------------------
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