Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-03-18
AN ADVENTURE IN CALLFoRXA.
BY a. Il. Il.

Clarence King, in MS book entitled
Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevadas.n
relates a thrilling adventure in which his
horse, Kaweah, played prominent part.
yfhen about 10 leave the village of VisalIa,
one hundred and twenty miles from
Nariposa. his destination, the author drew
from the express office small bag Of gold,
taking it with him. During this transact
ton he had noticed two Mexican noun
taineers standing in the doorway chatting,
and apparently unOUservant Of him. Be-
fore starting, however, ne was annoyed 10
hear them inquire and receive Information
of the hotel keeper as 10 whittier he was
goinc, His route lay over an open plain
barren, almost verdureless. Having ridden
all day, az nightfall he stopped 10 rest at q
ferry. where he perceived two horsemen
crossing the stream, some distance below,
then disappearing among The cottonwood
trees upon tue bank. The following day
he rose before dawn and continued on his
Journey. He had not gone far when he was
put upon his guard by the restiveness Of his
steed, a fine, powerful, swift, and remarka-
bIy intelligent animal. CHANGING in the
direction in which his horses gaze was
turned, he saw upon the river bank and
among a clump of trees. campfire and
two men hurriedIy saddling their horses.
They were the same he had observed cross
ing the stream the afternoon before, and,
it flashed upon him finally, the two he had
noticed at Visalia. He at once saw that
their purpose was to waylay him. The
road lay by their camp, then, turning a
sharp angle, led ont again upon the open
plains. He threw his horse into sharp
trot, glanced at his girth, AZ his pistol, and
settled himself in his saddle. one of the
Mexicans, finding that they could not sad
die quickly enough 10 attack him mounted,
grabbed a shotgun and sprang 70 head him
off. The traveller turned kaweah further
10 the left. tossed him little more rein,
which he understood, and sprang into a
GALLON. The other robber came Up with
The horses which lie had meantime saddled,
both mounted, and yelling and plunging
ia the SPURS, began the chase. Before lay
the black, Obeclless plain, me nearest
station fifteen mites away. Keweah and
his uietol were the lTayleT's only defence.
~. 1cing over his shoulder, he saw that
tbs cnsSiare's were crowding their sLeeds
IN me fullest a ,eed, and u DOW occurred 70
IN him that they bad eoniedeTa'es conceai-
ed in some ditch ar ~ HsnCe, VIC. ~
,,Ie7 vas 10 crown nm through az tbe
f1Iiast sT,esd and thea. give up the chase to
,,,,,, - "a, o,,6 nod rets horses. de deter
mined 10 save Kaweah T. the utmost, DOiu'
inc him firmly and rese5v4.'g the pufs loi
The last emergency. sill tn tallIy ~. .-es'
over the plains. Ioqbole rom = ~
own description ui,t
80 The hot sun had al isen. saw Slln
anxiety that the treIneno Gus speed negal,
20 tell painfully on KaWeal \. roam Lhgeu
with blood, fell from mis- mo- ulb aHu we" e..
70 lied IN streems from mis- ~ho4e COuy
apd lNow and then he drew a q eap-le';ylug
breath ~ As we DOL udeu uoM
a roll Of the plain, clywd Of d, ~ spfa5,g
from a rayi,le directly in front o. ~ = GU e
tcyo black objects lifted themselv, : ~ ny
saud. I,dreR my pistol, cooked il, |h ~,
,Taweah 10 the left plugging by anL cie a;
ING them by about six feet; thrill OF 'eie :.
oI.me AZ J saw the loDg white hofl "
rnati.h cattle CLEAN above the dust .,
The Spaniards were now 'F""ninr GOV =
On him ~ q fearful rare lh" tl''Ni' '' ZIG.