The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-11-24
From the Chicago Ledger
A STRANGE IMPRISONMENT,

During the spring of 1915, our party
was encamped on the handspring of the
San Juan, region as desolatc in it
waste of rocky hills and mountains as i
was fruitful in furs-the object of oul
expedition and the more dancerou:
savages, who held full sway at the early
time of which / write. A paradise fol
trappers it was beyond donbt.
There were four of us from the settle
ments of the Colorado, bold strong
athletic, not one below six feet, full
formed, and muscular A rude hut OF
logs was used as our headquarters and
depository for the furs, which, from our
success and industry, had become large
and valuable collection. Within the hut
were the rude Accommodations which oul
isolation from the settlements made
scarce from necessity. Blankets swung
from each of the four corners served for
beds, while In the centre of the room was
Il roHghlv-constructed hearth. About
ahis hearth and against the walls were
piled ana hung the fruits of our winter
labor
There was much of real pleasure in the
wild, rollicking style of life that fascin-
attes the trapper, and the suferings and
priyations which he endures only lend q
charm to the rowing nature.
The season was drawing to its close
the snow was beginning to disappear in
the valleys, and muttudes of riyulets
syere lashing themselves into foamine
furies as they FASTENED down to Join the
swelling river
Early one morning unslung my rifle
prepared small luncheon and started
for the mountainous region to the north
ward of the camp in quest of game tC
supply the larder. Hoping to cross the
valley before the warmth of the rising
sun should convert it into an impossible
slough, | FASTENED forward to reach the
higher mountains. | reached them JUS
as the sun began to flood the valley witt
all of its golden warmth and beauty
Pauslng on lofty crest, / viewed one OF
the grandest scenes that inimitablt
Nature has placed before my wondering
eyes. 10 the south lay the valley
stretching in its serpentine course until il
disappeared in some low-lying hills; tc
the north were the mountains piled one
above another till their snow capped tops
lost themselves within approaching
clouds. This is only faint idea of the
wonderful beauty which held me for a
moment. had seen this view many times
before; but each time new beauties were
added, and with a warm spring sun
rejecting from the frosty tops, it was
indescribably beautiful
Reaching a narrow detile that led to a
section most frequented by large game, |
pushed rapidly onward. The sun mount
ed higher in the heavens, and the beau
tiful frost-work, so lovely when the first
rays of sunlight made it look like glitter
ing diamonds, began to melt into tiny
streamlets.
By noon the place where | most ex-
pected to find a plenteous supply of game
was reached but, to my surprise. there
was not the least visible sign of any.
The most careful survey disclosed moth
ing but tracks several DAYS old To re-
turn empty handed to my companions
was by no means pleasant idea. 1t did
not take me long to decide to push to-
Ward the northeast, and risk the posi-
bility of a nights detention in the
mountains. Mile after mile | clambered
over the rough, precipitous route. How
far | had wandered from the camp was
not easy to determine; but as the after
noon was drawing to an early close and
the sun disappeared behind the lofty
peaks about me, a sense of extreme IA
tigue pervaded my frame
was completely at a loss to explain
the total disappearance of all signs of
animal life, where, before, there had al
ways been an abundance, and the only
reasonable conclusion for me TO form was
that some wandering band of Navaios
had preceded me.
| had advanced but a couple of miles
farther into this wilderness of mountains,
when the oncoming darkness, and signs
OF an approaching storm, babe me seek
some shelter for the night Half way up
q steep declivity, | discovered a cluster
OF trees, which promised a partial shell
ter, and supply of brush wood for a
hire. y few moments brought me to this
haven. The trees were scrubby, and af-
lorded little or no protection; but, thank
tul for the benefit of that small favor. |
went to work earnestly to rake together
dry sticks and leaves for a fire by which
to roast some of the bear steak which
had prepared for my lunch With some
difficulty the wood ignited, ard after
suffering for some time, burst into q
comfortable blaze. \ couple of spits
We're soon ready, and the meat. the only
article | possessed, was blisterine away
before the fire.
stepping few yards aside to a bean
of dead brush, to get a fresh supply Of
iuel, 10 my great surprise and iov, | dis
covered 4 large cavity in the rocks. I
eagerly tore away the brush and vines
about the entrance and made nv wav
into the new quarters. 1t proved to be
rough apartment extending ahout ff-
teen feet into the side of the mountain.
and widening from the entrance to the
back wall. it was comparatively dry.
and desirable shelter from the APP
preaching storm. A large pile of brush
was easily passed into the cavity, where
] speedily removed my supper When
the feeble light of the fire illumined the
dingy place, was not 50 particularly at
ease rs my first impressions led me To
hope | would be. The indications were
quite too evident for me to be mistaken.
! had tsty7led tie abode OF q qFj=e{y bear :
] was not then so fearful of meeting this
terrible monster rs am now, and ! was
not at AL inclined 10 give il up to hruin /;
IL was 80 much more comfortable, com
pared to the open air, unprotected from
the storm which was now beating against
the mountain side with increasing fury.