The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-03-18
Passage Across the Andes.

As soon as we crossed the pass, which is only
seventy yards long, the captain told me that it
was very bad place for baggage mules; that
four hundred had been lost there, and that we
should also very probably lose one. He said
that he would get down to the water at place
about hundred yards of, and wait there with
his lasso to catch what might fall into the cur
rent, and he requested me to lead on his mule.
However, | was resolved to see the tumble, il
there was to be one; so the captain took away
his mule and my own, and while / stood on a
projecting rock at the cpd of the pass, he scram-
bled down on foot. till at last he got to the lev
ell of the water
The drove of mules now came in sight. one
following another. A few were carrying no
burdens, but the rest were either mounted or
heavily laden; and, as they wound along the
crooked path, the difference of color in the ami
mails, the different colors and shapes of the bag
gage which they were carrying, with the pctur-
esque dress of the poems. who were vociferating
the wild song by which they drive on the mules
and the dangerous path they had to cross, form
ed altogether very interesting scene.
AS soon as the leading mule came to the
commencement of the pass he stopped, evident
ly unwilling to proceeds; and of course all the
rest stopped also He was the finest mule we
had, and, on that account. had twice as much
to carry as any of the others His load had
never been relieved, and it consisted of four
portmanteaus, two of which belonged to me,
and which contained not only heavy bag of
dollars, but also papers which were of such con-
sequence that could hardly have continued
my journey without them.
The poems now redoubled their cries. and
leaning over the sides of their mules and pick
ing up stone, they threw them at the leading
mule, that now commenced his journey over
the path With his nose to the ground, literal.
ly smelling his way, he walked gently on, after
changing the position of his feet. if he found
that the ground would not bear him, until he
came to the bad part of the pass, where he again
stopped. Then | certainly began to look with
great anxiety at my portmanteaus but the
poems again threw stones at him and he contin.
ued his path, and reached me in safety. Seve
raj others followed. .
AT last, young mule, carrying portman-
teau, with two large sacks of provisions, and
many other things, in passing the bad point
struck his load against the rock, which knocked
his two hind legs over the precipcc, aud loose
stones Immediately began to roll from under
them. However, his fore legs were still upon
the narrow path. lie had no room to put bis
head there but he placed his nose on the path to
his left, and appeared to hold on by his mouth.
His perilous fate was soon decided by a loose
mule which came after him. and knocking his
comrades nose off the path, destroyed the bal
ance, and, heels over head the poor creature
instantly commenced fall which was really
qu,tc!terrlc. With all his baggage firmly lash
cd to him, he rolled down the steep slope, until
he came to the part which was perpendicular
and then, seeming to bound off, and turning
around in the air, fell into the deep torrent on
his back, and instantly disappeared
thought, of course, that he was killed. but
he rose, appearing wild and scared, and imme-
diately endeavorcd to stem the torrent which
was foaming about him. For moment he sue
ceeded, but the eddy suddenly caught the great
load on his back, and turned him completely
over. Down went his head, with all his bag
gage, and he was carried down the stream. AS
suddenly, however he came up again; but he
was now weak, and went down the stream, turn
cd around and around by the eddy, until, pass
ing the corner of the rock, | lost sight of him.
| saw, however, the poems, with their lassoes
in their hands, run down the side of the torrent
for some little distance; but they soon stopped,
and, after looking towards the poor mule for
some seconds, their earnest attitude gradually
relaxed aud when they walked towards me, l
saw at distance solitary mule walking to-
wards us. We instantly perceived that he was
the same whose fall we had just witnessed, and
in a few moments he came up to us TO join his
comrades.