The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-01-15

seen so hanCsOme couple toBetHeI poiVIVil
nor two iuer-looking horses but after this
all trace of them was lost, nor could any
further clew be obtained as to the precise di-
rection they had taken
Two days after their departure we broke
camp in Salt Lake and started for Bear River.
We met several parties returning who had
been out in pursuit of the fugitiyes but all
gave the same answer to our inquiry, that
mo trace Of them had been found beyond the
river Various where the coniectures we
now formed regarding them Zebulon Jinks
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 oyertakeu and joined a party
who had left Salt Lake day or two before
our arrival, while others imagined they
might have been captured by Diggers, or
destroyed by wild beasts. But the great
problem was solved four days after in a
most curious and proyidential manner.
We had campcd for the night among the
foothills of the Utah, selecting a small rayine
or valley, which presented an unusual show of
yegention, and hampering our animals so
that they might not wander far from the en-
campmeut during the night We had not
as yet taken the precaution to station a.
guard over property, not apprehending any
danger from the hostile Diggers at so short
distance from the Mormon country. Bat
in this fancied dream of present security we
were destined to be mistaken, for a little
past midnight we were awakened by demon
strations of unusual excitement and terror
on the part of the animals The dog aroused
the camp by his loud and yociierous barking,
while the horses and two of the mules hud-
died around the tent as if to ask protection
from some impending danger. The other
three mules were missing.
We looked for them in every direction,
but they were no where to be found. We
naturally came to the conclusion after this
that we had received a nocturnal visit from
the Diggers; and the discovery the next
morning of a trail leading up the mountain
fully corroborated our fears. We left two Of
the party in charge of the camp, while the
) remaining four started up the mountain in
pursuit of the cowardly black rascals who
, were putting us to all this unnecessary
ltrouble. The trail was very plain most of
the way, and we made rapid progress.
/ From previous accounts we had read, we
, knew that these barbarous and degraded
? Icreatures-the most ignorant and debased,
the nearest approach to the animal Of any
of the aboriginal tribes on the continent
Inhabited the rocky dens and caverns of the
8 mountains, disputng the right of occupancy
} with the grizzly bear Or the gaunt wolf. We
knew that by perseyering we should ultimate
Ily track them to some Of their numerous
Ihaunts, and that ordinarily one well-armed
white man was able to cope with dozen of
them. If we succeeded in overhauling them
z a few well directed rifle shots would put
them to flight, and leave us once more in
possession of our property. For three hours
we toiled on and upward, climbing height
5 above height, till it seemed that we must
e have already reached the highest apex of the
T mountain, but still there was higher hight
: Suddenly we observed the dog throw up hi:
r head and sniff the air There was some
+, thing in the wind it was plain.
"What is it, Hawk Eye?" said the
r guide. 'Do you smell the red-skinned
hyenas, boy?
t The dog gave low, admonitory yelp, but
,. still kept shifting the air. Presently Zebulor
e himself, whe was few steps in advance of
it the rest, suddenly stopped, and, like the dog
i seemed TO be shifting the air At length, al
d if satisfied, he exclaimed
1t Roasting meat, by gingo! and litt
burnt at that. The pesky yarmints ain
Is fur off. Hawk Eye, keep quiet Now ie
e Ius all move cautious"
N There was still another elevation to ascen,
ID in advance of US, of perhaps two or thre
hundred feet, and we commenced climbing
d as mute as so many mummics. The odor o
lie the burning meat grew stronger and stronge
a as we ascended, till we reached a level, whic
n seemed to be the crowning point of tn
III mountain.
lie We advanced cautiously short distance
vi lodging in and out among the rocks, till W
re came to a circular edge surrounding dee
)t basin or hollow in the mountain.
I'd Here the confused ciamor Of humauyoice
TX became audible, and peerng out through
rs Jagged opening among the rocks, liyel
and a,novel spectacle met the eye,
lg In the center of the basin-like valley,
d, large crowd of diminutive savages, mel
cd women and children, were dancing around
40 full-grOwn OK in process of barbecue. Thel
Id was evidently soon to be a season of feas
e, ing among these black, reptile-eating lit
/ sayages. Our missing mules were quiet
Of grazing at little distance, while Traffic
SO and Miss Alderman, securely bound, WEI
at seated under the shadow of an overhangin
rock.
ok We ranged ourselves along the cliff
IN such manner as TO obtain safe shot {
n. them, and at a signal from the guide "
r. covered four of the largest and most in
H. portant-looking sayages among the crow
in and fred upon them. Three of them droppG
he like stones, and the fourth ran screechin
al and limping away towards vast leds
nd of rocks at the upper end Of the vale,