Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-10-29
"A Race icr Life

/ Va i'il'istN 'tii't ttItIN "NIN
caught by Il terrible snow storm
while taking up their traps on the
head of the Big Horn River, in the
/ Rocky Mountains. The storm lasted
for several days, nor was there any
hope of escape until the snow should
be compact enough to bear their
weight upon snow-shoes.
/ The voyagerS were yet striplin@s,
scarcelyarriyedof Of age. Hitherto their
father had accompanied them upon
their expeditions, but now he was at
home at his rancho on the great Over
land route.
The tepce or lodge Of the brothers,
consisted of a couple of buffalo robes
stretched l., front Of an overhanging
rock that overlooked the river. Here
were slowed their furs, neatly tied up
i'll small bales, made up principally
of the skins Of mink, offers, and
beavers, with Il few pclts Of the silver
fox. Over these were laid robes which
served them for bed. A little fire
was rcplcnishcd from time to time by
the dry branches Of pine and cedar,
of which they lad fortunately an
ample supply. Thus Nicholas and
Jules were enabled to pass the day
pleasantly, Notwithstanding the rag
ing of the clements without.
Up the canyon through which the
river flowed, the wind sucked and
roarcd terribly. The icy face of the
stream was soon cleared Of snow,
which drifled into the lateral CANYONS
gorglug them completely.
i In order to pass away the time, the
young men busted themselves in max
inc skates from the horns Of IN elk.
The art Of skating they learned while
boys, on the broad bosom of the st.
: Lawrence.
Their meat running short, Nicholas
concluded to have a run on his skates
up the river, with the hope Of killing
an elk, which were numerous on the
pine-covcrcd slopes Of the mountains.
Rifle in hand, Nicholas started in
high spirits, gliding by rocky cape
and trownin@ promontory, made by
the sharp bends and curves of the
river. Where the accliyitics were
gentle, forests of the yellow pine,
cedar, and juniper lifted up their dark
green heads, now burdcned with a
weight of snow. The quick gaze Of
Nicholas searched in every shelter
for the mighty antler Of the elk, or
the blue coat Of the black tailed deer,
the best Of all ycniSon
/ 1t was not long ere Nicholas spicd
a herd OF the latter, of which he had
the good luck to kill two. The sad
Hes Of these he secured together,
strapped them around his shoulders,
and started on his return home, dis
tance about four miles.
+ Nicholas skatod lcisurely along,
humming Il light French air, when
suddenly his ears were struck by an
unc ,rthly cry, which Inc at once rccog-
nized as the roar Of the mountain
lion, and he could distinguish, also,
that the cries proceeded from more
than one. He qnicl,encd his pace,
his skates rang hard against the solid
ice. The cr1es became clearer, and
and he instinctWcly felt that he was
pursued by the lions.
Fear lent Nicholas wings. He
dropped II saddle, hoping, thereby, to
satisfy the hunger OF the lions. He
found presently, however, that they
made no halt. 1t was the young man
they ragged after, and naught but his
blood would appease them. lie now
east aside his remaining saddle and
his rifle, and leaned forward on his
skates with all the power he possess.
ed. Nevertheless the beasts gained
rapidly on him / !c could hear their
mighty bounds. At times he fancicd
/ he could feel their hot breath. He
gazedover,,h his shoulder,and thatglance
/ revealed the lions, their mouths wide
open, and their blood red tongues
hanging over their Jaws, while their
cries were as frequent as the baying
Of n bloodhound. He was now com
PEELED to double on his course, the
weight and impetus Of the lions
carrying them beyond him. Happily
Nicholas preserved his presence Of
mind, and by his skill aS a skater,
combined with wonderful activity,
he cludcd the efforts made by the
lions to seize him, and drew slowly
toward home.
Presently Nicholas saw the smoke,
curling from under the rocky shelf,
and as he shot past his ears were
greeted by the welcome crack Of n
rifle, and one Of the lions tumbicd
over dead almost at his feet. The
voya9er again turned toward the
: rock. Jules had reloaded His I'M
crring aim stretched tnc remaining
lion on the ice, and Nicholas was
saved. 1t was some months, how
ever, before he fully recovered from
the superhuman efforts made by him
/ in his race for life.
The next summer he served rs II
ruIde. and it was while fishing in this
same river that he related to the
writer his thrilling adventure.