Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-23


business that can be safely done upon a
small basis, provided the basis is sound"
Thrilling Adyenture---A True Story.
THERE is a deep gorge just north OF
| Geyser Peak known as DEVILS Canon.
The Hogs Back Range is its southern
| boundary, and high mountain separat-
ing Big Sulphur Creek from the canon
forms its northern wall. The stream
which runs through the gorge tumbles
over a rocky bed of boulders hurled in
wild disorder from the adjacent noun
tains. Little Sulphur Creek comes in
from the southeast, sweeps around the
| foot of Geyser Mountain, forming half
circle, and is Joined by the water from
DEVILS Canon. In the fork of the two
streams rises Geyser Peak, 3,470 feet
above the sea level, bold landmark,
familiar to all residents of this and
Russian River Valley. The old Foss trail
to the Geyser Spring wound round its
crest, from which thousands of travellers
from all parts of the world have looked
down into the gloomy depths of DEVILS
Canon, the scene of the adventure we are
about to relate.
Years ago, when Santa Rosa was a
scattering hamlet, when only here and
there a fence DISTRACTED travel in any
direction over the broad, untitled plains,
well-known pioneer citizen, still a
resident of this township, started 20
visit sheep ranch on Big Sulphur
Creek, lust beyond the section first de-
! scrlbed. He was dressed in the half
Spanish, half-American style peculiar
to the ranchero of that day. His horse
was 1.-the, muscular, and high-spirited,
eaparisOned after the California style
"a headstall of hair ornamented with
colored tassels, a bride with heavily
plated Spanish bit and fastenings. About
the horn of the saddle was coiled raw
hide RATA. Leaving the site of the pres
ert town of Healdsburg, the rider took
an obscure trail leading northeasterly in
the direction of his sheep camp, which he
| expected to reach before shutdown. The
| trail led over spur after spur jutting out
| from the main range of the Mayacamus
Mountains. Before the traveller realized
| the fact the lofty hills above and around
him were clothed in the purple hues of a
| midsummer sunset. When winding
around the narrow trail of the eastern
| face Of Geyser Peak, the sun sank be-
| meath the horizon. The canon beneath
him looked dark and ninviting-wedge-
shape, like valley turned edgewise in
the hills. Between him and his destina-
ton DEVILS Canon and the ridge divid-
| ing it from Big Sulphur Creek still inter
vened. He commenced the descent on a
trail not followed without care even by the
broad light of the sun. Urging his horse
he was soon amid grove of lofty pines,
whose crests first below the level of the
vision soon after formed a dark bulWark
behind him. He reached and crossed
safely the rocky bed of the stream, and
commenced to ascend the opposite side,
which was precipitous and bare. 1t
was now quite dark. He trusted solely
to the instinct of his horse, which strug-
gled up the steep ascent, sure-foOted and
strong of wind. His dog, a constant COM
paniOn, kept close beside him. After
some time he reached a place which
afforded sufficient standingroOm to rest
his .jaded horse. Surprising he was near
the summit, he forced the horse, which
manifested a strong disposition to 60 in a
contrary direction, along way which
seemed to the rider smoother and more
direct. Passing over the level space he
perceived they had commenced to descend,
and supposed that he had crossed the
summit of the ridge, wher. he felt that his
horse was slipping; its fore feet were ex-
tended and launches down. Faster and
faster they went! Realizing the danger
as they came beneath the branches of a
stunted oak, the rider sprang from the
saddle, holding in his hand the RATA, to
which he chung with the instinct OF
despair; one end was about the horses
neck, and the blight caught round the oak
on the opposite side of which the rider
had fallen. Hand over hand, by the stout
raw-hlde, he climbed up the steep ascent
| and grasped the tree. The RATA, relieved
of its heavy strain, ratified around 1t;
| there was a humping sound as the
horse endeavOred to hold his footing, a
crash and breaking of brush, wild,
| half-human shrek, an instant of ap-
| palling stiffness, and then a crushing
| thud! Terrified at his narrow escape,
| the traveller remained he knows not how
| long, clinging to the friendly oak, cold
beads of sweat rolling down his forehead,
He CROPPED his way up the hill, clinging
| to the underground cutting, as occasion
required, a foothold with his knife,
reaching the summit in safety. The
| light OF a waning moon, which rose
above the horizon, enabled him to find
| his way down the mountain to Big Sui
| phur Creek, which he followed up to his
sheep camp, located near the place where
the Cloverdale and Geyser Springs toll
house now stands. Next morning he re-
turned to the scene of his frightful ad-
venture, and found where he had left the
trail and turned in the direction of the
precipice. Below the stunted but firmly
rooted oak track was broken through
the chapparal Descending the base of
the precipice he found, wedged in the
Jaws of the Devils Canon, the body of
his gallant steed, crushed to Jelly! The
dog had found and apparently remained
| beside the dead horse through the night.
With mingled expression of pity and
pleasure it crouched and fawned about
the feet of It's master.-S0nOrG (CGI9 Dem
0crGt.
RHODE ISLAND girls are not wanting in
Barkis. they're willin'." 1t was only
recently that a lady walking one evening