Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-15
3aiIg appeaI.
ESCAPE FROM A MEXICAN QUICK,
SAND


A few days afterWsrd. another aadvanture,
bsfell ne, and began to think that I was
destined 70 beeems hero among the "moun-
tain men,"
A small party Of traders-mvself among Ii.
numbsT-had pushed forward ahead of the
caravan Our object was 10 arrive at santa
Fe day or two fbefJre the wagons, in order
to have everything arranged with The governor
fOr their entrance into that capital. We took
The route BY the Cimmsron.
Oar road fer hundred miles or 50. Law
through barren deserf, without game, and al
most without water TIE buffalo had alreodv
disappeared, and deer we're equally scarce.
We had to content ourselves on the dried meat
which we bad brought from the settle
ements. We were ia the deserts OF the .qr-
iesiHia. Now and then We could see a stray
antelope bounding away befors us, but keep
ing Tar ont Of range. They toe seemed to Be
unusually shy.
On the thTd dav after leaving the caravan.
as We were riding near the Cimmaron,
thongnt saw pronged horn disappearing
behind swell 10 the prairie. NV cornpanions
were seeptieal, and would none Of them 20
with me; so, wheeling out Of the trail, start
% alone. One OF the men-for Code was be-
nnd-kept chsrge Of my dog, ss I did not
choose 10 take him with ne, lest be might
alarm the antelOPes. Ny horse was fresh and
willing and whether successful or not I knew
mat could easily overtske the party By camp
ing time.
I struck directly toward the sDot where I
nad seen the object tt sppested to be only
heii niis or 30 from the trail. It proved
more distant-a common Illusion in the crys-
tal atmosphere Of these upland regions
euriouslY formed ridge-a canieau des
PraiTies, on a small Ecsle-.raveTsed the Elain
ron east to west. tbicket Of csctns cover
ea part Of its summit. Toward this thiekst /
directed myself.
] diEmounted at the bottom of The slope.
and leading my horse gently up among the
eactipiauts, tied bin to one OF the branches
then crept cautiously through the thorny
leaves toward the point where I fanci.d had
seen The game. To ny JOY, not one antelope,
but brace Of those beautiful animals was
grazing beyond; but, alas too far OF for the
carry Of ny rife. They were three hundred
yards distant, upon a smooth grassy slope
There vas not even a sage bush to cover ne
should attempt to approach them. What was
to be done?
! lay for several minutes, thinking over the
different tricks known in the hunters craft for
taking the antelope. Should initiate their
ealf Should hoist my handkerchief, aud
Try % lure then mp? saw thst they were too
shyi fot at short intervals they threw up their
graceful heads, and looked inquiringly around
then remembered the red blanket on nv
saddle; ] could display this upon the cactus
bushes-perhaps it would attract them.
had no alternative, and was turning to 20
back Tor the blanket, when all at once ny eve
rested upon clsy-colored line running across
ths prairie, beyond where the animals were
feeding. Ii was q break in the surface Of the
plain, buffalo road, or the channel OF an
arroyo, IN either case the very cover wanted,
for the animals were not hundred yards from
IT, and were getting still nearer to it as they
fed.
Creeping hack out Of the thieket, ran along [
ne side Of The slope toward psint where /
- 49, IS - a.
pIalrle level Here to ny surprise ] found |
myself on the banks Of broad arroyo, whose
water, clear and shallow, ran slowly over I
bed Of sand and gypsum.
The banks were low, not over three feet
abOVe the surface OF the water, except where |
the ridge impigDed upon the stream. Here |
there was high blur, and hurrying around /
its base, I entered the channel, and commenced |
wadIng upward.
As had anticipated, I soon came to bend, 1
where The stream, after running parallel 70 the I
ridge, swept round and canoned through it At 1
this place ! stopped, and looked anXiously over 4
the bank. The anteiopes bad approached I
within less than rife range Of the arroyo, but !
they were yet Far above nv position. They 1
were stll quietly feeding, and unconscious Of 1
danger
Il was a difficult task proceeding in this /
way. The bed Of the creek was soft aud YIELD /
iuE, and ] was compelled 10 tread slowly and /
was ehsersd in ny eXertions By the prospect /
Of fresh vsnison for my supper
After weary drag Of several hundred yards, |
] came opposite 70 smsll ciump Of w0rm- 4
wood bushes, growing out Of the bank. 81 |
may be nigh enough" thought !; "these will |
serve Tor eoFer.D
raised myself gradually, until [ could see 4
through the leaves was in the right spot.
brought ny rife 10 level, sighted for The I
heart of the buck, aud fired. The animal I
leap5d from the ground, and fell back iifeess. /
Twas about to rush forward and secure ny
prize, when I observed the dee-instead OF /
running Of az I had ezpected-gs up 10 the 4
body Of Der fallen partner, and press her tap /
ering nose 10 bis body. She was not more ]
than twenty yards from Ds, and plainly saw /
that ser look was one Of inquiry and bewilder- /
ment All at once she seemed to comprehend 4
the fatal truth, and throwing back Der head, /
commenced tering the most piteous cries, 1
at The same time running in circles around the /
body.
stood waTsring between two minds. Ny /
first impulse had been 10 reload and kill To- |
doe; but her plaintive voice entered nv heaEt, |
disaru'ing ne Of an hostile intentions. Had ] /
dreamed Of witnessing this painful spectacle,
should not have left the trail. But the mis- 1
chief was now done 81 have worse than |
killed her.s thought ]: ait viii be better to /
-ispstch her at onee.o
A-tusted By these principles OF common,
but to Der fatal, humanity. ] rested the butt OF
nv rife, and reloaded. With a faltering hand
again lsTeled the piece, and fired.
Nv nerves were steady enough to DO the
rsrf- When the smoke fioated aside, could
see the little creature bleeding upon the grass;
her head resting against The body Of her mur-
deTed mate
shouldered nv rife, and was about 10 move
Toward, when, 20 ny establishment, found
that was caught by the feet was held
firmly, as II ny legs bad been screwed in 3
vice
made an effort to extricate myself
another, more violent, and equally unsueeess-
fuI-and With a third, ] lost my balance, and
feIl back upon the wafer
HsH sufoested, regsinsd ny upright posi-
ton: but on.y 10 find that gaa held as fast
a. ever
Again I struggled to free ny limbs. Ieosld
either move them backward nor forward
o the right nor the left, and became sensible
hat was gradually going down. Then ne
earful truth flashed upon mel i5as sfHstng
= a guicstaad.
feeling Of horror same over ne re-
iswsd uy efforts wis. he easrgy Of dssPsrs-
ion. leaned 10 on eide, t1en 10 the oiheT5
lr,ost vrrencbing ny knees from their sock
ia Nv feet remained fast as ever. could
q % move them an inch
TIE soft clingv sand already overtopped my
orse-skin boots, wedging them around my
rkIes. 90 that was unable to draw them on;
N1sE could feel that I was stili sinking, slow
i, sls-t surely. as though some subterrsneous
Ar1onster we're Ieisurely dragging ne down
nj. very thought caused ne fresh thrill q
f5r-or and called aloud for help To
whom fjsere was % one within milss OF
80 "a trg thing. Yes The neigh Of nv Z
horse snswaed ne from he bill, moefi-
5o.,.l-I sErsined Po-
0siPaI bl6t forward ss far ssErs lied engers,
2e.-- .-.,-i5 1srnit. -lp the sand ! could
bi--on 49, 49, t.ss5rface, and the little h6AsW (
-o.-b .saks nllsd up almost as soon y
2atey - t5rmed. "
4 thought occurred to ne. Ny rife might D
supp,rt me, placed horizontally. I looked 4
around Tor it. It was not to be seen. Il had |
FUNK beneath toe sand
Could / throw ny body fat, and prevent /
myself from sinking deeper? Ne. The wa
ter was two feet In depth. I should drown at
nee
This last hope left me as soon ss formed. I 4
1uld think q no plan to save myself could
axe no further effort. A strange stupOT
lied upon m. Ny very thoughts became
NrsYzsd. ] knew that I vas going mad.
moment l0as mad.
AttsE an interval, my senses returned.
% an effort to rouse ny mind from its par
is, IN order that I might meet death
q now believed to be csrtain-ss man
IL
stood erect Ny eyes had sunk TO the
ls isvsl, and rested upon the still bleed
1etIms Of ny cruelty. Ny heart smote
ods
% BUNDLED and psnitsnt thoughts, I
--ny face to heaven, almost irsadiDg
some sign Of omnipotent anger wouid
I upon ne from above. But no. The
Fss shining ss bright as ever, and the
canopy Of The world was without cloud.
,szed upward, and prayed With an earnest
know only 70 the hearts Of men in posi-
OF peril ike mine.
" continued to look up, an object at
I'd ny attention. Against the sky dis
ished The outlines Of large Ssrk bird.
" u TO be the obscene bird Of the plains
uzzard yulture. Whence had il come Z
knoWs Far bscyOlhi the reach ( ha-
eye II had seeI or scented, the sIaigb-
1n'sloiesl ssnd, on broad silent wig,
now aeseeadiaig to the fssti Of desfl.
esentiy another, and anoaer. and many
rs, mottisd the blue field d tbe heavens,
ing and wheeling silentB esrtbward. /
p ne foremost swooped DOM upon the
= sne .l-e' gazing around fkIa bomsnt,