The Hillsborough recorder., 1878-12-18
A VERY CLOSE SHAVE.

Los Angeles, Cal, with the Intention oil
proceeding TO Saiie Fe. New Mexien.s &
While waiting there for ;he arrival of
iiiesenii- weekly stage from San Fraiiciscs,,
Ihapl,enesl tofallin wi,i,an old friend and
army surgeon, alsn de.irous OF going East.
In conversation. Que day, he jocularly pro-
posed that We esllould purchase aii outfit.
, and start eros. The country by tile 35th
parallel route. instead ~ taking the stage
VIA Fuit 7Yihna Hntl 'ruck soli. - III Il i
| The love ~ adsentufe was 10 strong TINT
q. olce accepted The docior's proposition.
and ID less than u week We had set Out on
our journey, provided with horses, u guide
nan,ed Tom Flanders, al 'alajo' tl,ack
.lai,) of five mules, ami thee 'arriens'
nluleieers. ~ 84 sYlt@ 4esel gs. -sss79 y-~.g.
Among the numerous siirri.,g incidents
that We experienced pn the "trip / propose
10 relate an adventure That occurred
while passing ll,rougl, a heavily timbercd
pnriion Of The country, hear tire bs-e ol
the san Franci-co Mountains. in Ceutral
Afizona 1esaaa 9g5i'f - sssT.
All day olir route had been ihrongh this
grand old fnrest, such an one AN can be
found only upon the Pacific slope. Not-
wi:IiIanding II lad resisted the storms
and aus ~ered the whispering bieezes III
ce.ituries, il sliil stood In vii its pristine
majesty, uiiiisiurbe,i by the iilroa,is of
civilizations. s' aai alu a5sfgss wisgs, ya
Tom was In the advnnce. followed by
the Mexicans, withihe pack mules, while
ile d.'ctor aud myself brought up,in The
rear, ,.-g -. 49,.
| Az we rode aiong. halaiicing our rifles
| before us on the l,onidiels ofuur sa,tIIe-,
and enjoying the delightfully."- cool shade,
.he ,i.a:tur remarked ss..s,.
This Is the Ileasanlest ,ays''s ride we've
had yet. Nos'in TO roasi, no hot sand To
wade through, or blin,l lS; ilo sharp-cnr,i>
erred rocks TO Climb over hut instead. VIC
have cm,l. delicious shade TO ride be-
meath. pheasant bIevzrs io ian Us, and The
swrr.t music Of birds 90 charm our SENSES,
] shall mark this days journey with u
white STONE Ia my calendar 9" "''' ~' ''~
I'll wait iii We get Ii camp before I use
my white stone. replied 1. 'we,ie no, out
oftlie woO.is yel.' Bae a@sfg.. MS. s-g.,.s \
's0ut of the wD,ls, Iejoined the doctor.
'S-ll, who wants 10 he: For MY part,
wish we might always helm the woods.
IT, delightful. Why, already feel two
,eaIs younger Ep this days ride. What
n place that must he fir game! if Toms
caravan, there, ,ii,In'i st:elch Ehaif-a-nri!e
ahead aud scare everything, wemight get
n siiot ~ something. lf er a.ss.ar 90:
'Si@aking II game, dortor,, makes mr
think; we haven't had a shot at u deer
since We left the coast. mean To have
hunt at our next camp. even five are ool!.
ge,l 10 lie over u day on purpose. Hold ON
q minute. 1 believe the sirth " lny sad
DE needs iighiei'ing.' saidI. eastF,. II
aa'Sou don't waui iue 10 stop and see you
tighten II. do you?' queried tie ,loctur.
'l'iI ride ol,, aud yuu can ovrrIase nIe;;'
with which remark lie refined his horse
Is.s: me just as l,lislnountrti. IL looS nr,
perhaps. i've or six minutes 10 property !
adjust NY saddle. and wben lIsli finished
found myself. slunr. with no human
creature. except myself, IT, sight. , "a
~ remembered reilarking the death like
silence af the forest; furt tile stiffness was
80 profound Il lalily oppressed me. II
nlounled u,y horse a. quick as pussibir,
Hs5E4 NJ
aud started; but lie exhibited ~ great a
,iisincilnatfon to proceed. ihaI Iconriu,led
thai something inn~t siiIl lie srui,g about
the saddle. aud ugain lismounted turx.
anime It, s.xz z.s.. .-t E..--
failed 10 discover any cause fT the
animals strange behavior, although !,
was satisfied the saddle was all right, aud
:hro~lng my large Mexican blanket care-
lr-rlp over my len sIiOuidcf, prepared to
rr,noumi. Ak''@s ~ rHeHf - iate,ss
had jnst plac,sl my fant in che siirrup |
aud gathered tile relns with tlir pomucl |
oT Tire radals ia my iefi hand, when my |
was attracted ly tile rusIling q.
Ivavrs, accompanied by the sudden sway
ing of large limb above aud behind me.
lscfpte had time To ascertain tile casuse.
my horse gave Tremendous leap, which
made NE lose nrysl,vId of the saddle. and
tie next nlomyri lr,ei,rd = violent
blow ulyu tile hack II my head aud LEFT
which brought NE to the gr,,un,i
in less time il,an Ihsye takeBIo tell 10,
and found myself isihe sm,asce u an
Ip,,pense punia. Or American lion. gnf III
Thai just pfesehesufs mind enough to
fully comprehend my perilous situati"n,
in,l 10 Instantly draw my sheath knifs
and l,luage Il inio Ills bo,Iy.
I then sn,lvavarr,i 10 partially raise NY.
.slfApinAhe rliuw, silss the creature
.usze,l my sllpulier between his tcrth,
lhe lhick, heavy folds 10 The blanket.
Thicl, fortunately remained where | Ilai
>, ,csfeisssly thrown i. vfisctnAlIy plryen.
ed hi- fsngs :fum penetrating tl,rpdgl, Il
INTO the fle-h, although tie vice Ike grip
4 his Strong Jaws seemed 20 completely
,rush the bonvs in my arm. ~ !
Alprecia,iug the sdvanlags given Is |.