Nevada national., 1860-06-02
An Incident in silver Pro.p.e,i,..
MAIy sTREEr. GRAss VALLEY.

lowing - Incident In Silver Prospecting.
which may convey to our readers some idea
ofibe pleasures Of n life amid the Serras in
winter. The parties were all citizens OF this
place. having left here sbont one month
since:
Oar company consisted OF four gentle
men from 'Grass Valley. We had been 10
Virginia City and returned TO Antelope
Mining District for the purpose of prospect
ing ground located a few days previously.
The Indians bad caused a panic among all
the people in that vicinity which compelled
US TO seek another locality. We selected
the mountains bordering upon Dog Valley.
and two days travel brought Us among high
rugged peaks of quartz and granite rocks-a
some trouble to reach. Here, buried in the
deep forests, where the step Of man had sell
dom il ever trod, and the face OF an Indian
even IL rarely seen, we pitched our camp.
The peculiar surroundings where we had To-
Gated. rendered it highly important that
those wandering far from our camp shsuld
pay some attention TO its peculiar features,
to again recognize il and insure safe re-
turn. The weather was very clustering, the
wind blowing almost constantly, and with
such violence as 20 render our situation any
thing but pleasant. Every evening we en-
joyed the pleasure OF snow storm that COW
cred the ground about two inches, which
caused great trouble for our animals 10 get
grass. These frequent snow storms drove
the cattle down into Dog Valley for shelter,
where the grass was less covered with snow.
One evening. as the sun wa. about setting.
Messrs. ii. and G. had, as usual, started to
bring the animals uearer camp, before re-
firing for the night. After a time Mr.. G..
returned TO camp for his gun, stating that
the animals had wandered of, and that they
must take wider range to hunt them up.
Mr. W. volunteered to accompany Mr.. G..
After wandering some distance they found
their trails, and also the trail OF Mr. II. who
bad found the animals and was driving them
toward camp at this time We were visited
by our usual evening gust, snow storm.
The snow was driven furiously In our faces,
SO as almost blind us and make 1t impossi-
ble to distinguish the land marks that here
tofore had guided US 10 the camp. Mr. G.
was au experienced woodman Mr.. W. had
the experience of 4 metropolitan and rather
self-willed and determined. Unfortunately,
for Mr.. W, be resOlvad TO take one course to
reach camp and Mr.. G.. another. In about
fifteen minutes from this time Mr.. G.. reached
camp, and informed Lis companions that IL
hr. W. did not get into camp in q few mo-
ments they must make q noise. such as firing
guns and calling to attract his attention.
They did SO, but all expedients failed and
Nr. w. did not return that nj ght. Whatever
may have been his hopes and fears it is not
for us to say we can but affirm to one fact:
We passed sleepless night. supposug that
one OF our number had been hopelessIy lost,
for we had but little hope that he would
survive the storm but we continued during
the night to make the most hideous noises ia
hopes that it might reach his ear, but without
avail. The night waned on until we were
obliged to abandon him to his fate, but not
ourselves 10 sleep-sleep would bot come to
relieve our troubled minds. At the earliest
indications day light. we started in differ
ent directions to find bis body. II possible.
The storm had entirely removed all traces
Of trail, and what added to our anguish,
we were visited by another storm in tho
morning of greater violence than that of the
night before this eficctuallY removed all
hope OF finding any traces of him from his
trail and tired. fatigued and sick at heart We
each slowly returned to our now disconsolate
camp. That which was before the scene OF
joy and merriment, now became one of hope
less despair
After picketing out the animals, our at.
teBtion was attracted to the lower end OF the
valley, and seeing the approach OF person
whose figure could with difficulty be dis
tinguished through the trees, but as he ap-
preached nearer and nearer, words cannot
express our JOY as we recognized the person
of Mr.. W. our lost companion. We were
loud in our congratulations at bis preserva-
tion. lie informed us that he attributed his
safety to the interposition Of God and few
matches he found by mere accident in his
pocket.
1t was only matter OF astonishment that
he survived. 1t appears that he became
lost and bewildered, and being en-
tirely uncovered, with nothing 10 protect
himself from the attack OF Indians or ami.
mails tina. might be prowling through the
woods. He suffered much in mind in eonse-
quence. The worst feature was bis great
inexperience OF mountain life, and of what