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The handwriting was obviously from a heavy hand The postmark on the card was dated Paris, December 1, 1911

"It was followed in a week by a second card," Adeline said as she handed it to Seagram It depicted Sacra Coeur but was postmarked Le Havre

DearAd, We're headin for the arctic This will be e for soht Good food, good ship You knoho

"You're certain it's Jake's handwriting?" Seagram asked "Absolutely I have other papers and old letters of Jake's You can compare them if you wish"

"That won't be necessary, Ad" She smiled when she heard her nickname "Was there any further communication?"

She nodded "The third and last Jake must have stocked up on picture postcards of Paris This one shows the Sainte-Chapelle, but it was mailed from Aberdeen, Scotland, on April 4, 1912"

DearAd, This is a frightful place The cold is fearsoet this to you, you will be taken care of God Bless Jake

Along the side, another hand had written in:

Dear Mrs Hobart We lost Jake in a storave him a Christian readin We're sorry VH

Seagram took out the list of the crew's names that Donner had read him over the phone

"VH must have been Vernon Hall," he said

"Yes, Vern and Jake were good friends"

"What happened after that? Who swore you to secrecy?"

"About two months later, I think it was early in June, a Colonel Patman or Patmore-I can't remember which came to the house in Boulder and told me it was imperative that I never reveal any contact froel mine affair"

"Did he give any reason?"