(Photo by Alan Ritter, reproduced with permission)

J E R O M E P O L I T Z E R Cable Address "Politzer" Mills Building San Francisco July 20, 1938 Yosemite National Park, Yosemite California RE: ESTATE OF CONRAD AND ANNA RETENBACHER Dear Sir: May I ask you to be good enough and advise me whether your Park Records show the burial in a meadow in the High Sierras of the bodies of the above named persons, who were lost while on a hike in September, 1934, and are presumed to have fallen from a cliff. In connection with some litigation in Michigan, involving the Estate of the above name, I have been requested to furnish death certificates, but as none were issued in this instance, I would appreciate a note from you to the effect that they were in fact actually buried at Yosemite. Thanking you very much for this courtesy, I am, Faithfully yours, (signed) JP/T

U July 25, 1938 Recreation Sierra Mr. Jerome Politzer Mills Building San Francisco, California Dear Mr. Politzer: Your letter of July 20th, in connection with the death of Conrad and Anna Rettenbacher, has been referred to me by Mr. Wosky of Yosemite National Park. I am attaching hereto, a brief resume of the entire case from which you will note that authority was obtained from the Madera County Coroner to bury the bodies in a little meadow at the foot of Mt. Banner. I am sure that you will have no difficulty in obtaining the necessary certificate from him. You should address Coroner R. S. Jay, Madera, California. We will be very glad to furnish any other information which you may require. Yours very truly, M. A. Benedict Forest Supervisor By R. H. Blood attached. Administrative Assistant

LINK: Lonely Grave in the Sierra ("part one")