Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1873-01-25
ROCKY MOUNTAINS-NO. 10
PERSONAL ADVENTURE.

our Ompany was divided into several par
ties to make spring hunt; each party
choosing its own particular hunting ground.
Our party, headed by Fontonelle and con-
sisting Of twenty two men, determined to
try our luck in Gray's Hole, broken val
ley adjoining Pierres' Hole on the south,
and separated by hills of no great eleva-
tion from the plains of Snake River. This
valley was remarkable from the circum-
stance, that every stream, however small,
was confined TO cannOns of cut roci, vary
ing from twenty to thirty feet high, and as
it was only here and there, that ravines
could be found where horseman could
ascend and descend these cliffs, and there
were many hiding places for Indians, it
was always regarded as o very unsafe
locality to trap in, for trapper once
hemmed in between the walls, had little or
no chance to escape. Beaver houses was
numerous; no Indians made their appear
ance, and our hunt was quite successful.
In the middle Of May, when our hunt
was about half over, Fontonelle came to
me one day, and proposed that should
take one or two men and hunt up the Fla.
Head Indians. One hunt, said he, is quite
Heads to meet us ut the coming reRdez-
vous, We should be able TO get from them
considerable increase to our present store
of furs, however, he continued, the Gros
Ventre's of the Prairie, who have, for the
last three years, been associated with the
Arappahoes, on the head waters OF the
Arkansas River, and south fork of the
Platte aro now returning to their old
friends and old haunts; the Peagans on
the head waters of the Missouri, and We
are here directly in the route, it is more
than mobable that q collision between us
will take place, and for this reason 1t Will
not do 20 weaken our small force by send
ing off party sufficient for self defence.
You must, therefore, endeavor to accom-
plish this purpose by night travelling and
extreme caution. On the following morn
ing, having chosen an lrroquois and
Flat Head to accompany me, and hnding
them willing to attempt the enterprise, we
made our little necessary arrangements,
and set ont, after bidding adieu to our
comrades who did us the honor to declare
that we should be seen ne more alive Di-
recting our course across the hills, we soon
came in view of the great plains OF Snake
River, and at the distance of sixty or
seventy miles, in the distant mountains
across the piaih couiu 10 see" oo'"'
hle,' TO when We direc'eu our ni"r' anu
which would lead US oVer'o oa''ion i'''e',
The plain OF Snake River mas covered
with wild sage, the only vegetable to be
seen, except the cactus plant which was
abundant and of every vasiety. At noon,
we reached 'he great RIVER anu nav '.ns
forced our horses 10 SWIM over W. "ue
raft OF loose driit "oou "Pon wni," 's I
placed our clothing and arms' anu "n'l
pushing hall swimming We rea'neu 'ne
opposite shore. Here hnuing some snor''
curly grass that is veryS heuiric'ousi We
halted a couple OF hours 10 ie' our norses
Craze, ate some OF small STOCK OF ur,eu
buffalo meat, and again prooecuea, W.
now entered the region OF 'he na'urai
forts that l have described IN iorner
article, the wild sage anu CACTUS, ~e'e
still the only vegetation. Inc coUhfy Nas
arid and wateriess, anu irequen.y
covered with huge black oas.ltc pouluers
similar to that, that constitutes 'he na.u
raj forts. The famous Dutes couiu pe seeu
far to the southward and the ietohs tna'
we had left behind us seemed 10 increase
in height as we receded from 'neu'' h'er !"
hard days ride, we hai'eu st ousN, maus
no fire, ate some OF our uri.u meat shu
slept in one of the natural lors. h.er
hobblipg on: our horses, we suneieu so"o
for water, which we hau MOI seen sines We
left the river. Our reposc was uhuls'u'peu'
The next morning AT day.ngh', We Asa,n
set out proceeding as rsP'uy =. % ~.
ture OF the country wOuIu Auni,, ,n ..o
direction OF tho dehle. lowar's eIenans, =,
we began 70 see grea' nun9els 9sl y. nn o
along the base OF the ye1 o.s'ln. mum
tains these animals Wsre IN go N;Sou. So
motion, running IN al, ui,e0'.ons, nIs,;.s =.
ly pursued oy q iaIge ooay '. ~ Ia,a ~
however continued our 'ourse ~ ~
the evening we discosereu ~ my. S"sin ~ theu
men approaching US .,o irO'n sa sle t .ro !, ,hag
came within mar mne, anu '"J w;,h;n III 49, ,ma
haiIed, ,ne olner apP'o.on; n,;nad ~ rs for ssv. o
hundred yaruS, anu 80, ~ .',.n,;on ,hs,
erai minutes wy. t;s an;ons
gahopped on reJo.ns ms assia 20 wars
Ihey an uisaPpea,s;u onr ~ oourss - ohIioua.
aoont 70 ehser, ,.,' ui.s ~ .I, w. | .,rsom iho,