The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-01-16
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
GHOsT OR GRIZZLY
What L saw Crossing the 'Reekys.'

What saw Crossing the 'Roekys.
| was en- route to California being |
one of party crossing the plains, for
pleasure rather than profit. As is usual
we accompanied band of emigrants,
who intended colonization on the shores
Of the Pacific. Well mounted, L had
ridden ahead Of the train-a companion,
horsed as handsomely as myself, being
along with me. Our object was to study
Nature where man was not near, but
chiefly to enjoy the chase. We hoped
to meet 'bighorn' or bear, before the
caravan should come up and scare them.
We had entered among the spurs of
the Rocky Mountains, and were riding
through one of their defiles, when in
stead of Gather sort Of game, we saw
slowly crawling before US vehicle on
four wheels-a wagon. 1t was one Of the
smallest and craziest kind, with tat
tered calico 'tilt'-eyery timber giving
tongue, as it was jostled along the stony
path.
On riding--up to it We found that it
contained only a woman; who, with
child at the breast, was seated around
the paraphernalia Of what appeared tho
plsnishing of kitchen.
A man, who might be her husband
but did not look as if he was-sat on
crosspiece in front. and drove the two
seraggy steeds who were laboriously pull
ling the vehicle along.
As neither she, nor he, took particular
notice of US, we merely bowed to them in
passing, and spurred on ahead not
without wondering at the singular ate
lags with it's equally singular contents
an old, rickety, worn wagon crossing to
California alone, with but map, woman
and child Certainly enough to excite
our surprise, and court conjecture.
we were still specializing upon it,
when lateral ravine. that looked prom
Using for bear or bighorn. caused US to
deviate from the regular trail; which we
fancied we might again get upon by a
circular route. Our horses were fresh,
and could stand the extra travel.
Turning into the side gorge, we COM
menced ascending. We rode silently. in
hopes of getting shot. The wild
sheep sometimes come into these gorges |
to browse, or drink from the streamlet
that usually trickles. along their beds
While bounding up the steep sides
snap shot may be had at these animals !
to advantage.
But our chief motive for leaving the |
trail was, that we knew two men from |
our own train-the regular guide and |
another-had ridden ahead to choose |
the place for the next nights camp. As |
they would be before us all the way, we
need not hope to encounter any game |
upon the regularly track: and
for this reason We lett it.
Having assembled for a considerable |
distance, without seeing anything bigger |
than jaybird among the bushes, we
came out on a projected spur. From |
this we had view of the defile through !!
which the trail passes. But We saw also |
that steep cliff barred our further pro- |
gress forward; and that we would have !
to go back down the gorge in order to |
get once more upon the regular route Of |
travel
A good deal ,hagrined by she double |
disappointment, we were about turning |
horses heads downward, when noise |
reached us that seemed to come up out |
of the dcfile. We pressed forward a |
pace or two ; aud, craning our necks |
looked over the edge of the cliff. Sure
enough there was something. below to
account for the noise-a group evidently !
belonging to the wagon We had passed
The centr Il figure was man OF the /
purest Pike County type, short'wa;st-
cd, tight-sleeyed, homespun coat, delapi-
dated wooden hat, and coarse heavy
boots, with the trowsers tucked into
them. He was riding q horse that in |
roughness of appearance quite cores
bonded to his own. The man was tall.
long bearded, with pipe stuck between
his teeth. Several feet in front protru-
ded barrel of long rusty rife while
attached to the saddle behind and layir
across the horses hips, were a frying
pan, q coffee-pot, and several other de- |
nestle implements and utensils. A cur /
dog, trotting by the horses side, formed /
. second figure in the group. But there
were four others; and it was these
chiefly claimed onr attention, causing Us
10 stare with a.tonishsd eyes. The four |
were all childrcn-the Oldest could not |
hive been much over six-yesrs old. Two |
o. them-ihe youngest pair-were with !
the man on horseback; oEe held on his |
lap, the other seated on the Group, and |
c,asping on to his waist. The remaining |
pair, boy and girl, had hold of the |
horce's tail. as if endeavoring to drag |
the animal backward. 1t vas tableau
OF such a comical character-the more /
so in being seen in such q remote place
that my companion ani myself were
upon the point of breaking out an burst
of laughter We were only restrained
BIZ the extreme righteousness of the
thing; which for some moments held US
in mute surprise.
Before We had recovered from it .
movement on the part of the mon caused
VI Cd continue Glelt; for it was ons that