Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-10-23
From the Denver Tribune, Oct 8
A Heroic Mother
OVER MOUNTAINS AND THROUGH SNOW
STORMS TO VISIT A SICK SON.


OVER MOUNTAINS AND THROUGH SNOW
STORMS TO VISIT A SICK SON.
The readers of the Tribune will re-
member that messenger was dispatch.
ed by Professor Hayden from his divi-
sion of geological survey, which was
making Investigations at the foot of Elk
Mountains, Informing Major Stevenson,
ia the city, of the serious illness of the
son of Hon. j. z. G. Shanks, member of
Congress from Indiana, and directing
him to come Immediately and devise
means for getting the sick man out of
this almost inaccessible locality. Major
Stevenson started at once, and arrived in
Fairplay in two days, where he awaited
the arrival of Gen. and Mrs. Shanks
who had been telegrapbed for by Prof
Hayden.
They arrived at Granite few DAYS
after aud Immediately the party started
on horseback for the Elk Noun tains.
Transportation was very limited, and
Mrs. Shanks, with heroic determination
decided to visit her son with the party
Although warned of the dangers and
difficulties attending such a journey
she still persisted in going. According.
ly she was furnished with small Indian
pony, which she rode astride; having
no stirrups, rude straps were improviseo
, in which she placed her feet. In thi,
> manner MIS-. Shanks accompanied the
. party, telling them to take their owr
: gait and she would surely follow, which
}, she actually accomplished.
: The route was over two ranges o
mountains, and through country re
i. garded by Prof. Hayden as Inaccessible,
i to all except mountaineers and the mos
}, intrepid explorers. Deep gorges wer'
: crossed; high, rough, rocky ridges climb
, ed immense tracts of fallen timbe
+ trsversed, and, besides all this, frequen
!, and severe snow storms were encounter
u ed. Yet the party, in three days from
, their departure from Granite, arrived a
f. the camp. Here, in an alkaline local.
u ty, in rude hut, which had been hastil
q, built by the division, young Shanks wa
d found barely alive. His condition wa
. somewhat improved from the day befor,
: but still be was far from being out G
D, danger, yet recognized with JOY his fati
Of er and mother and Major Stevenson.
., The following day he was moved hal
!. a mile for the purpose of obtainin
r, purer water and fresh camp. Her
0, several Gays were spent in constructor
OF an apparatus which would be adapte
~ to the delicate condition Of the patier
/ and the rough nature Of the countr
g. which he must traverse. The apparatr
Is consisted of two long poles, about thirt
OF feet in length, with two braces ia
: enough apart 10 admit the body of ii
3 sick man in horizontal position b
g, tween the braces cords we're wove
n, Over the frame willows were bent, upc
!, which canvass was placed to protect Il
"A sufferer from storms. To the larger en-
of of these poles a mule was attache
being provided with a rude harnes
H. The smaller ends of the poles being liz
30 Der, were left to drag upon the groun
IL This was carriage similar to the OIL
rs, constructed by Arkansas Bill, and
III, which he transported Jesse Bell to Fo
n Bridger, after his hear fight, which W
~ described some time ago in the Tribune
n This continuance was found to meet {
TX emergencies, and even surpassed the e
al pectations of the entire party. The 81,
~ man made but few complaints of bell
81 Jared by this method of transportatio
d. The early part Of the return trip "
ne, over sage brush and across large stream
ry, and other impediments spoken of aboy
yet five miles were made the first da
ne fifteen miles the second, and the latt
gu part of the journey twenty FIVE and tn
ty miles per day. The party reach
oy Twin Lakes in safety, the condition
ID the young man being much improve
on the 29,h of September last, and t
TO rapidly recovering young man with I
on friends will probably arrive in DENY
Ut tomorrow. The members of the Ha
ioe den party have become much attach
to the young man, on account Of his
dustry, energy and amiable charact,
re and it is with great pleasure to them,
ire we'll as to the anxious parents, that
to, Yves safely brought from the wilderness
the
ex- A HoRRID BEDFELLow.-A few ey
Ia, nings ago a counie of oentlanan Er;,