The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-04-05
4 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
THRILLING ADVENTURE IN COLORADO.

I'hIcaEO Ledger
During the spring Of 1915 our party was
encamped on the headspIiug of San Jdan. A
region as dcSolaje in its waste of rocky hills
aud mountains as it was fruitful in furs-
the OBJECT OF our expedition, and the more
dangerous savaGeS who held fun sway at
tie early time OF which | write A pala-
disc Tor tIapperS it was beyond a doubt.
lherc were four of us from the settlement
OF Colorado, bold, strong, athletic. not une
below six feet, full fol med and muscular.
y rude hut of logs was used as our head
quarters and depository for the furs. which,
from our success aud Industry, ha1 become
a large aud valuable collection. Within
The hut were the accommodations which
Our isolation from She settlements made
scarce from necessity. Blankets swung
from each OF the four corners served for
beds, while in the centre uf the room was =
roughly constructed hearth. About this
hearth and against the walls were hung the
fruits Of our winters labor. There was
much OF zeal pleasure 10 the Wild IoliCkiug
style of life that Iasciuates tLctrapper aud
the suiierings and plivatJuus which he en-
duleS only leud a Charm to the rowing ma
ture. Tie season was drawing to its close
the snow was beginning 10 disappear in the
valleys, and mUljitudes Of rivulets were
Ia,GIng themselves into fuamiua fuIies as
they FASTENED down TO JOIN the swelling
river.
Early one morning I uusluug my rifle.
preDaI ed a small luncheon and started for
the mountainous region to the northwald
oE tie camp IL quest OF game to supply the
iarder. Hoping TO cross the valley before
'he waImth of the rising sun could convert
it into an impossible slough, | hastened
forward to reach the high mountains. I
reached theW Just as the Sun began tu flood
the valley with all its guI zen warmth and
beauty. PaUSing on lofty crest | viewed
one of the gIaUdcst scenes that iuimitabIe
natme has placed before my wondering
eyes.
70 he south lay the valley. .stretchiue-i-s
seTpen:ine course until It disappeared in
some low lying hills To the mort u we're he
mountains piled one above auo her. till
heir snow capped tips lost themselves
will iu approaching clouds. This Is only
faint idea uf the wonderful beauty which
held me for a moment. | had seen this
view many times before; bat each time new
beauties Hc'e added, aud, with q warm
spring sun ycilgctiug from Ihe frosty tops
IL WAS iudescubably beautiful
Reaching q narrow dCliie that led TO a
section most htqUeutCd by large game, l
pushed rapidly onward. TIE sun mounted
igEeI in the heavens, and :he beautiful
frost work, So lovely when the first rays of
sunlight made 1t look like giifEeIiug 1ia-
mOudS, began TO melt in tiny StUeamletS.
to find a plenIc0us supply Of game was
reached bat to my surprise there was not
the least visible sign OF amy. The most
careful survey disclosed nothing but tracks
several days old. oIe uln empty handed
to my companions was by 10 means a
pleasant idea. 1t did not take me long to
decide to push to the northwest and risk
the possibility of NIGHTS detention in the
mountains. Mile after mile | climbed over
the rough, pIeciPitUus route. How far |
had wandered from the camp was not easy
% determine but as the afternoon was
drawing to a close, and the sun disa ppeared
behind the lofty peaks bout me. sense Of
extreme fatigue pcrvaded my frame.
| was completely al loss to explain the
total disappearance Of all signs of animal
life, where before there had always been
an abundance and the only reasonable
conclusion for me To foim was that sone
wandering band of Navajces had preceded
me.
/ had advanced bat a couple Of miles
further into the wilderness Of mountains, /
when the ono ming darkness an0 signs of
an approaching stoIm made me seek some /
shelter fur the night. Half way up the
declivity / discovered cluster Ut trees
pTOmi- ed partial shelter and a supply OF /
brushwood FOR a fire. few moments I
brought me to This haven. The trees were 4
Scrubby and afforded lI;tle or no protection; (
but thankful for the benefit of that small I
favor, | went To work earnestly 20 rake to 4
gether dry sticks and leaves for fire by /
which to roast some Of the rare steak which (
| had pre- pared for my lunch.
With some difficulty, the wood lighted, /
and after sputteriug for some time burst /
into comfortable blaze. \ couple Of pits 1
were soon ready, and the meat. the ouly /
article l possessed, was blistering away /
before the fire.
Stepping a few yards aside TO heap Of /
dead brush. 10 get fresh supply Of fuel, /
To my great surprise aud Joy discovered I
large cavity in the rocks ! eagerly tore /
away The bru AID vines abuat the en- /
trance and ma le my W into the new /
o. itcrs. IL proved to De a rough apart |
mem, extending about tfteen feet into the 1
side IF the mountain, and widening from |
the entrance TO the hack wall It was /
C mpara'ively dry aud very desirable |