The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-10-19
GheqlrteIG2euee1.
LOST ON THE YELLOWSTONE.
THIRTY.SEVEN DAYS OF
PERIL.
A True story OF ThriIIine Interest.


dcrs of the Upper Yellowstone, in the
May and June numbers Of your maya
zine. Having myself been one OF the
party who participated in many Of the
pleasures, and suffered all the perils Of
that expedition, l cUn only bear testi'
mony to the fidelity Of the narrative, but
probably add some facts of experience
which will not detract from the general
interest 1t has excited.
A desire to visit this remarkable region
oiwhch, during several years residence
in Montana, | mad often heard the most
marvellous accounts, led me to unite in
the expedition OF August last The gen
eral character of the stupendous scenery
Of the Rocky Mountains prepared my
mind for giving credit to all the strange
stories told OF the Yellowstone, and | Ielt
quite as certain of the existence OF the
physical phenomena OF that country, on
the morning that our company started
from Helena, US when afterwards be.
held It. engaged in the enterprise with
enthusiasm, feeling that all the hardships
and exposures Of months horseback
through M UNEMPLOYED region would be
more than compensated by the grandeur
and novelty OF the natural objects with
which il was crowded, 4Oi course, the
idea being lost in it, without any OF the
ordinary means Of subsistence, and OF
wanderings for days and weeks, in II
lamshing condition, alone, in an unlre.
Quentcd wilderness, formed no part Of my
contemplation. had dwelt too long
amid the mountains not 10 know that such
athought had 1t occurred, would have
been Instantly rejected as improbable ;
nevertheless, man proposes and God
dsposcs,' truism which found new
and ample illustration in my wanderings
through the Upper Yellowstone region,
My friend Langiord has so well dc.
scri6ed the scenery and physical cccen.
triCities Of the country, that should feel
that any attempt to amplily 1t would DO to
"Glld refined gold and paint tho lIly."
My narrative, therefore, must be strictly
personal. .-,,an....,...,t
On the day that I found myself separa.
ted from the company, and for several
days previous, our course had been i'm.
peded by the dense growth Of the pine
forest, and occasionally large tracts of
fallen timber, frequently rendering our
progress almost impossible. Whenever
we came to one oil these immense wind.
falls, each man engaged In tho pursuit of
passage through it, and II was while
thus employed, and with the idea that |
had found one, that strayed oat Of sight
and hearing Of my comrades, We had
lolIsomcsOme day. 1t was quite late in
thcancrnoOn As separations like this
had frequently occurred, 1t gave me no
alarm, and | rode on, fully confident Of
soon rriOning the company, or Of finding
their camp came up with the pack.
horse, which Mr.. Langiord afterwards re.
covered and tried to drive him along,
but failing to do 50, ind my eye5Ight be.
Ing detective, ! spurred forward, intend.
Ing to return with assistance from tho
party This incident tended to accelerate
my speed. rode on in the direction
which supposed had been taken, until
darkness overlook me in the dense forest
This was disagrceable enough, but caused
me no alarm Ind no doubt Of being
with the party the next morning, Sc.
lcCed spot Tor comfortable repOse, pick
etcl my horse, built q fire, and went 10
sleep
The next morning | rose at early dawn,
addlcl and mounted my horse, and took
my course in the supposed direction Of
the camp. Our ride OF the previous dny
had been up u peninsula jutting into the
lake, for the shore which started, with
the expectation of finding my friends
campci on the beach. The forest was
quite dark, and the trees so thick, that II
was only by n slow process that could
get through them ut all. In searching for
the trail became somewhat confused.
The falling foliage Of the pines had Oblit.
Grated every trace Of travel was obliged
frequently TO dismOunt, and examine the
ground Tor the laintest indications. Com.
Ing to an opening, from which could see
several vistas, | dismOuntCd for tho pur.
pose OF selecting one leading In the direC.
ton had chosen, and leaving my horse
unhitChel, and as had always been my
custom, walked few rods into the forest.
While surveying the ground my horse
took fright, and | turned around In time
to sec him disappearing at full speed
among the trees. That was the last that
ever saw Of him. It WINS not yet quito
dark. My blankets, gun, pistols, fishing
tackle, understanding, except the
clothing on my person, couple Of knives,
and small opera.glaSs were attached to
the saddle.
did not yet realize the possibility Of a
permanent separation from the company.
Instead Of following up the pursuit Of
their camp | engaged In Nh effort to re.
cover my horse. Half n days search
convinced me Of It's impracticabilty. l
wrote and posted in an open space several
notices. which, If my friends should
chance to see, would inform them Of my
condition and the route had taken, and
then struck out into the forest in the sup.
POSED direction Of their camp AS the
day wore on without discovery, alarm
took the place Of anxiety at the prospect
olanother night alone in the wilderness,
and this time without food or fire But
eyenthis dismal foreboding was Cheered
by the hope that | should soon rejoln my
companions, who would laugh at my ad.
venture, and incorporate 1t as n thrilling
episode into the journal of our trip. The
bright side Of a misfortune, as l found by
experience, even under the worst possible
circumstances, always presents some
features Of encouragement. When be.
gan to realize that my condition was one
Olactual peril, banished from my mind
all fear Of nm uniavorable result. Seating
myself on a log, recalled every loot Of
the way | had travelled since the sep.
ataton from my friends, and tile
most probable opinion | could form
Of their whereabouts was, that
they had, by course but little different
iFom mine, passed by the spot where |
had posted the notices, learned Of my dis.
%aler, and were waiting for me TO fejoin
lnem there, or searching for me In that vi.
slnlly, Alright must be spent amid the
PROSTATE trunks before my fGnrn could
NC ACCOMPLISHED Al M iInie during my