Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-02-15
IN A BEARS Den.
| Thrilling Adventure in Colorado.

Thrilling Adventure in Colorado.
During the spring of 1S45 our party
xas cncampcd ON the headspring
of San Juan, u region as dcsolate III its
waste Of rocky hills and mountains as il
vas fruitful III furs-the object of our
expedition, and the moro dangerous
.avages, who held full sway at the early
eimc Of which write. A paradise for
.yappcrs it was beyond doubt. There
we're four of us from the settlements Of
;ho Colorado, bold, strong, athletic, not
one below six feet full formed and mus
rular. 4 rude hut of logs was used rs
our headquarters and depository for the
.urs, which, from our success and indus
sry, had become Il large and valuable
collection Within the hut were the
rude accommodation which our iSo-
,ation from settlements made scarce
rom necessity. Blankets swung from
each of the corners served for beds,
while in the centre of the room was II
coughly.constructcd hearth. About
this hearth and against the walls were
piled and hung tho fruits Of our winters
abor. Thelc is much Of real pleasure
in the wild, rollicking style of life that
ascinates the trapper, and the suffer
ngs and privation he endurCs only lend
charm to the rowing nature. TIE
season was drawing to its close; the
snow was beginning to disappear in the
valleys, and multitudes of rlvuets were
aShing themselves into foaming furies
Is they hastened down to JOIN the swell
ing river.
Early ono morning unslung my
riile, prepared small luncheon, and
started for the mountainous region to
Inc northward of the camp in quest of
game to supply the larder. Hoping to
rross the valley before the warmth Of
.he rising sun should convert it into an
mpassable slough, | hastcned forward
10 reach tho higher mountains |
coached them Just as the sun began to
Hood the valley with all Of its golden
warmth and beauty. Pausingon Il lofty
crest, ! viewed one of the grandest
scenes that inimitable Nature has
placed before my wondering eyes.
To the south lay the valley, stretching
II its serpentine course until it disap-
ocared in some low-lying hills; to tho
aorth were the mountains, piled one
abovc another, till the snow-cappod
#ips lost themselves within approaching
;louds. This is only faint idea Of the
wonderful beauty which held me for u
moment. ! had seen this view many
.imcs before, and each time new beau
eies were added, and with warm
spring sun rejecting from the frosty
OPS it was indcscribahly beautiful.
Reaching narrow delilc that led to
! section most frequonted by large
game, pushed rapidly onward. The
.un mounted higher in the heavens, and
thG beautiful frost-work, SO lovely when
she first rays Of sunlight made ii look
ike glittering diamonds, began to melt
INTO tiny streamlct-.
BY noon the place whero ! most ox-
pected to find a plenteous supply Of
game was reached but, to my surprise,
here was not the least visible sign of
any. The most careful surveys dis
slosed nothing but tracks several days
I'D. 70 return cmpty-handed to my
companions was by no means q pleas
ant idea. 1t did not take me long to
decide to push to the north east, and
tisk the possibility Of nights deten-
aion iii the mountains. Mile after
nile climbed over the rough, preci-
pitous route. How far | wandered
rom the camp was not easy to deter
nine, but as the afternoon was drawing
D a close, and the sun disappeared be-
aind tine lofty peaks about me, Il sense
ef extreme fatigue pervaded my frame.
was completely at Il loss to explain
he total disappearance Of all signs Of
animal life, whore before there had al-
saws been al abundance, and the only
.easonahle conclusion for me to form
8as that some wandering band of Naya-
.oes had preceded me.
| had advanced but couple of miles
urthcr into this wilderness of noun
.ains, when All oncoming darkness and
signs Of IN approaching storm hade
ne seek some shelter for the night
Half way up the steep declirity dts
covered i cluster Of trees, which prom
sed partial shelter and y supply of
prushwCod for a fire 4 few moments
brought me to this haven. The trees
we're scrubhv, and afforded little Or no
,rotoetion; hl.t, thankfnlfor the henetit