The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-09-29

latest ianceo Of the great Brigham.
Detectives and post-riders were sent
out in every direction from the city,
and the "Council Of Ten" backed up
by the local police force, instituted a
most thorough and vigilant search
throughout every part of the town.
Our own tent did not escape their
scrutiny, for rumor and conjecture
had been busy. as Tratton and Miss
Alderman had been seen several
times together during the past three
or four days. But as all but myself
had been profoundly ignorant Of this
circumstance till now, they could only
express their astonishment at the
clcvorncss of their companion.
AS for myself, I:was in fever of
excitement during the remaining
two days Of our stay in the city, lest
my fugitive friends should be overta:
ken, or some accident occur to them
in their perilous flight to the noun
tains.
But the two days passed, and the
fugitives were not overtaken-at
least no news to effect had yet reach
cd the city; but there were flying ru-
mors that they had been seen fleeing
northward by several persons, and
the flat-boatman who transported
passengers and freight across the
river (Bear River) remember to
have seen them at the time Of their
crossing in his barge. He particular.
| ly remembered them on account Of
the remarkable beauty of both. lie
had never seen so handsome couple
before, nor two finer looking horses
but after this all trace Of them was
lost nor could any further cew be
obtained as TO the precise direction
they had taken.
Two days after their departure we
broke camp in Salt Lake and started
for Bear River. We met several par
ties returning who had been out in
pursuit Of the fugitives but all gave
the same answer to our inquiry, that
no trace Of them had been found be-
yond the river. Various were the
conicclures We now formed regarding
them. Zcbulon Jiuks gave it as his
opinion that they had pushed on to
the mountains, and were now lying
in wait for our arrival. Some thought
they might have ovcrtalicn and join
ed party who had left Salt Lake a
day or two before our arrival, while
others imagined they might have
been captured by Diygers, or Destroy
cd by wild beasts. But the great
problem was solved four days after in
most curious and providcntial man.
ncr.
We had campcd for the night
among the foothills Of the Utah, Sc
lecting Il small ravinc or valley which
presented an unusual show Of vcgc-
tation. and hampering ont anima Is so
that they might not wonder far from
the cncampmcnt during the night.
We had not as yet taken the prccau-
ton to station guard over property,
not apprchcnding any danger from
the hostile Diggers at so short q dis
tancc from the Marion country. But
in this tancied dream Of present secu-
rity we were destined to be mistaken
for 4 little past midnight we were
awakened by demonstrations of unu-
suaI excitement and terror on the
part OF the animals. The dog arous-
ed the camp by bis loud and vociler-
ous barking, while, the horses and
two Of the mules hudd!cd around the
tent as if to ask protection from some
| impending danger. The other three
mules were missing.
We looked for them in every dircc
ton but they were no where to be
found. We naturally came to the
conclusion after this that we had re,
ccivcd a noctural visit from the Dig
gers; and the discovery the next NOR
ning.of trail leading up TO the noun
tain corrobcrated our fears. We left
two of the party in charge Of the
camp, while the remaining four star
ted up the mountain in pursuit of the
cowardly black rascals who IVES put
ting us to all this unnecessary troub.
lc. The trail was very plain most Of
the way, and we made rapid pro-
Srcss. !
From previous accounts we had
read, VIC knew that these barbarious
and degraded creaturcs-the most lS-
norant and dcbased, tho nearest ap'
proach to the animal of any of the
aboriginal tribes on the continent
inhabited the rocllcy dcns and cav
crns of the mountains, disput ting the
right of occupancy with the grizzly
bear or the guant wolf: We knew
that by pcrscvering we should u'tl-
mately track to some of thcirnumcr-
GUS haunts, and that ordinarily one
wcll-armcd white man was ablc to
cope with Il dozen Of them. If we
Succeeded in ovcrhauling them, i few
we'll directed rifle shots would put
them to flight and leave us once more
in possession Of our property. For
three hours we tollcd on upward.
climbing height above height till ii
seemed that we must have already
reached the highest apex OF the
mountain. but still there was high
cr height. Suddenly we observed the
dog throw up his head and snuff the
air. There WAS something in the
,,.;rI - ,vrs n)uin
"What l.; it. Hawk Eyc?' said the
guile. DO you smell the red,skincd.
hyrnas. boy?'
The dog gave low. admonitory
.ycIp. but still kept shifting tn" air
Presently ZcbuIon himself, he was a
few steps in advance Of the rest, sud,
dcnlv slopncd, and. like the doc Scrn,.