The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1855-12-13
F,om the Calilorna Pioneer Maeazin,
A Stccpic Chase on the Prairic~.

4 Stccpic Chase ON the Pratrtcs.
The first June, 1919. Six years ago
How stranger than fiction it seems that on thi,
sixth anniversary of that evcntiu day, after
traversing all the vicissitudcs ofcxperencc, al
ter boxing the compass OF lies stormy scaand
shaking hands with every extremity OF fortune
| should be seated in this quiet little >aactum
the hum OF that mighty city, which was then
the goal of our h0pcs.around me the wild free
dom OF the limitable prarics exchanged for
the confines of dingy Office my snorting
charger discarded for this old arm chair tho
badge of the pioneer laid aside for more
peaceful but mightier weapon,t this gray goose
quill"
Yes Six long years of stern experience, OF
lonely wanderngs, cvcr-changing, never'ceas-
ing toll and turmoil have changed the boy into
cipated student into the stern, fixed purpose.
utilitarian views of the slave of business. But
have all their stormy vicissitudcs and wild en-
citements, blottcd from the mind the fearful
memories Of that terrific scene, long ago, when
the tyro OF the wilderness first looked on death
All, no, On this sixth anniversary of that
memorable day, the thronging memories Of
that fearful hour crowd thick upon me. 1h
first sudden moment Of wild alarm that ter
rible war.hoop, bursting from fifty savage
throats the reckless desperation, the thrilling
excitement, that wild chase ofoight miles with
fifty painted demons sailing after me on their
wild mustangs the appalling fear, ~ the
sweat gathered on the Hanks of my flying gray,
aud the foam flew from his hcaving n"'trils ,lest
his strength and bottom should fail me ~ my
dire extremity and above NIL, the cNuiing
thrill ofgratitudc and rapture when the white
wag0n.tops Of my comrades hove ~ SIGHT as
we Few over the summit Of the last hill that
divided us from safety, and the wild howl "l
the bnilled horde burst on my startled cars
all come back nothing * forgotten, and That
uns,pakable rcvulsion Of feeling when my
frightened stccd rushed into camp and, his du'
" done, his powers exhausted, dropped almost
litelcss TO earth, as rccled from the saddle ami
fcrvently thanked that gracious providence
who had looked down upon aud protected me
in my fearful need
II was ON this day, six year ago fighll
five Of us. weary wanderers over the trachloS
prairics. were day lncr day and month a,''r
month. toling onward to this distant hnd o'
gold. who,, LOFTY sierr.,- and summer plains have
since gathered To- their eternal embraces 80 many
members Of that gallant, youthful band J.,
was SUNDAY in the wildcruss the Wagons, All
.'corrallc,l'' on the banks Of the "liitlc Hluc,
the tolwon mulns scattered around. Ioylully
cropping The virgin grass, undrr The watchiul
vigilance uG the guard. some 81 ia" parry
were bathing in the clear stream, some cooking
mendinc clothes, washing, lounging or smoking
and all cnloyng 10 tho full glorious Hii.hIh!
day Of rest and indolcncc, when some "Nil e
Mus possessed me with sudden d@lro To h'
the first Of the PARTY 10 siay the i"ngrNP''"i
buffalo. an animal We had no, yet encountered
hut which now legau to b. thr constant thcns
Of conversation and cOuiectnrr- Sc'Halo o. th'
boys were hunting turkey, in the margin "i the
timbcr which skirt,d the river, s" that when
sa,llled M nv stccd, and With rifle al my saddle
bow. started out to the nOrthward, thu NV Wh"
observed ms departure. exchanged 'ly winhs al
my prolmbIe disappointment, but never dream
fi ot the thrilling fdvci.,urc that was - rash
Iy rushing into. Although We knew tha, "'
were about the confines oi the Pawmc Terrific
rs-s. and had indeed becu warned hy convoy
of traprers. whom We had mct lIn' tow day
pr,.vinus returning lr,np their distant wlntrung
ground IN the mountains. that thar WiT iar'h
were out. Sei conf.l,n, in cur uumtsrs. ami In
entire inability of cor uupractiad eye 10 d.
tect ans traces Of them We hal attributes ~"
wen meant warning of thc old m"Hnia'l'7r-
rather to a spirit ii Dcws-mgngcrug ihln any
thing el.e. AMI rather d,SpIssd tiTose Wild lie,
,oains of the prari,-. Of whom wc had heard
so much Int had a. vet f,ilfd to ss,c.
Par awav over ,hr bsautifdly undulaiins
AMI vrrnal h.som cf the tracklcs prairie ro'H
gently along. on The qss rare ior any ihieai''
Of tlre object of my Asircs bat th"ngh %
gprly -canls, the horizon as pro'7t'hsi, i''
ft.xs - fNtgal q WfM rrt tAf