National Park Service rangers are investigating acts of vandalism at the historic Kane Cemetery in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, where residents of the ghost towns of Kane and Iona once rested peacefully.Although Kane was submerged by Big Horn Lake after the Yellowtail Dam was built, the cemetery itself, on higher ground, remains above water. It has been vandalized on at least two separate occasions, according to a news release from the service.

Between Halloween and Nov. 4, 13 grave sites were vandalized. Then, another nine sites were hit the afternoon of Nov. 13, said Bighorn Canyon Ranger Christy Fleming.

“The damage ranged from pushing over headstones to using spray paint on monuments to breaking several monuments into pieces,” Fleming said.

The park service would appreciate any help the public can offer in the investigation. Perhaps someone, such as pheasant hunters who have been frequenting the area of late, or someone else heard something.

“Obviously, someone knows who did this,” said Bighorn Ranger Pete Sawtell.

Kane, established in 1912, off Wyo. 37, north of U.S. 14-A, was a shipping point for the railroad, Fleming said.

In 1965, when Yellowtail Reservoir was built, the Bureau of Reclamation either bought the land or condemned it, Fleming said.

“The earliest documented interment, as indicated on the grave headstones, is that of Elmer E. Hoffman, who was buried in 1903.

The most recent is that of Helen Fleury Hood, buried in 2000,” said Fleming.

There are 73 identifiable graves, Fleming added.

Fleming said she and her Park Service colleagues are angry. It's not just vandalism, but an emotional crime as well, disturbing the graves of loved ones, she said.

“It's very upsetting,” Fleming said.

The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activity they may have seen or heard about to rangers Pete Sawtell or Jessica Korhut at 307-548-5421 or Fleming at 307-548-5406.