Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-01-25
A Strange imprisonment.
a rHRrLrINd ADVENTURE IN COLORADO.

Ami she shall have perfect rest
Strange Imprisonment.
Thrilling ADVENTURE IN COLORADO.
During the spring of 1s45 our party vi
encamped on the headspring of San Juan,
region as desolate in its waste of rocky hill
and mountains as it was fruitful in furs
the object Of our expedition-and the MOI
dangerous savages, who held full sway
the early time OF which / write. A paradIs
for trappers it was beyond a doubt. Ther
We're four of US from the settlements of tn
Colorado. bold, strong athletic. not on
below six feet, full formed and muscular
4 rude hut of logs was used as our head
quarters and depository for the furs, which
from our success and industry, had becom
large and valuable collection. Within
the hut were the rude accommodation
which Cur isolation from the settlement
made scarce from necessity. Blanket
swung from each Of the four corners servei
for beds, while in the centre of the room
was a roughly constructed hearth. Abou
tLis hearth and against the walls were pileC
aud hung the fruits of our winters labor
There was much of real pleasure in th,
wild rollicking style of life that fascinatei
the trapper, and the suferings and priva
tions which he endures only lend a charm
to the rowing nature. The season was
drawing TO its close the snow was beginning
TO disappear in the valleys, and multitudes Of
rivulets were lashing themselves into foam.
ing furies as they hastened down to Join the
swelling river.
Early cEe morning | unslung my rifle,
prepared a small luncheon and started for
the mountainous region to the northward
of the camp in quest of game to supply the
larder. Hoping TO cross the valley before
the warmth of the rising sun should convert
it into an impossible slough, l FASTENED
forward TO reach the higher mountains.
reached them just as the sun began to food
the valley with all its golden warmth and
beauty. Pausing on lofty crest, viewed
one Of the grandest scenes that inimitable
nature has ever placed before my wondering
eyes.
To the south lay the valley, stretching in
its serpen;ine course until it disappeared in
some low lying hills (; to the north were the
mountains piled one above another till their
snow-capped tops lost themselves within sp-
preaching clouds. Ibis is only faint idea
of the wonderful beauty VIII ich held me for
a moment l had seen this view many times
before bat esch time new beauties were ad-
-ded, and with a warm spring sun rejecting
from the frosty tops, it WAS indescribably
beautiful.
Reaching a narrow defile that led to a sec
tion most irequented by large game, pushed
rapidly onward. The sun mounted higher in
the heaveLs and the beautifu! frost work, as
lovely when the first rays of sunlight made it
look like glittering diamonds, began to melt
into tiny streamlets
BY noon the place where ! most expected
to find plehtious supply of game was reach
ed but to my surprise, there was not the
least visible sign OF any. The most careful
survey disclosed nothing but tracks several
days old To return empty handed TO my
companions was by no means pleasant idea.
1t did not take me long TO decide to push on
to the northeast and risk the possibility of q
nights detention in the mountains. Mile
after mile | climbed over the rough, precip-
itous route. How far l had wandered from
the camp was not easy to determine but as
the afternoon WAS drawing to a Close and
the sun disapl cared behind the lofty peaks
abo ut me, o sense OF extreme fatigue pervaded
my frame.
l was completely at a loss to explain the
total disappearance of all signs OF animal
life, where before, there had always been
such an abundance, and the only reasonable
conclusion for me TO form was that some
wandering band of Navsjos had preceded
me.
had advanced but couple OF miles fur
tber into this wilderness of mountains, when
the oncomming darkness and signs OF an ap-
preaching storm bade me seek some shelter
for the night. Halfway up steep decliyity
| discovered a cluster of trees, which. prom
ised partial shelter and supply of brush
wood for fire. A few moments brought me
to this haven The trees were scrubby and
afforded little or no protection but thankful
F,r 81 ,F k,t snail / IN
work earnestly to rake together dry sticks and
leaves for fire by which to roast some bear
steak which had prepared for my lunch.
With some difficulty the wood lighted, and
after sputtering for some time, burst into
comfortable blaze. couple OF spits were
soon ready, and the meat, the only article
which possessed, was blistering away before
the fire.
Stepping few yards aside to a heap of
dead brush, to get fresh supply of fuel, to
TO my great surpise and JOY, | discovered a
large cavity in the rocks. | eagerly tore
away the brush and vines about the entrance
and made my way into the new quarters. 1t
proved to be rough apartment extending
about fiiten feet into the side of the mountain
and widening from the entrance to the back
wall. 1t was comparatively dry, and deslr-
able shelter from the approaching storm.
the cavity. where | speedily removed my
supper.
When the feeble light of the fire illumined
the dingy place, ] was not SO particularly
at ease as my first impressions led me to
hope would be. The indications were
quite 100 evident for me to be mistaken |
bad usurped the abode of a grizzly bear. l
Was not then so fearful Of meeting this ter
ribe monster ~ | am now, and was not at
all inclined to give 1t up to bruin it was SO
much more comfortable, compared to the
open air, protected from the storm which was
now beating against the mountain side with
increasing fuzzy.
"Ah" was my inward ejaculation, this storm
will certainly drive bruin back to his home
and precipiiate meeting with me.
ielt confident Of meeting the brute with
an advantage to myself. With my rife | was
q sure shot added to this were two strong
shooting navy reyolvers and reliable hunt
ing-knife There was no idea of sleep for
me while things were in this condition so
| made brisk fire near the entrance. and
with large rock at my back, | awaited
patiently, in a sitting posture, with my
rife freshly primed and cooked for instant
use at my side for the appearance of my enc
my.
The rain was now pouring in torrents
upon the snow, already softened by the sp-
preaching spring. and with the melting snow
poured down the mountain at a fearful rate.
NV attention was shortly directed to the top
of the entrance, which / had first noticed
with only a casual glance, but on examining
it more closely, found it to be a large Hat
stone.
OF coulse there was nothing alarming in
this. and vixen the water began to trickle
through the rocks, making it necessary for
me to remov. the fire farther within the
shelter OF the cavern, my alarm was not ex-
cited in the least.
One-two long. long hours passed by still
remained watching for the coming oil the
dreadful creature still was the torrent oil
water pouring about the entrance. Hark
what is that grating sound lnstlnctlyely
/ raised ny rifle to my shoulder and waited.
Moment succeeded moment but still no
appearance from the vague darkness beyond.
Again 1t sounded, sharper and more clearly
defined than before What could it be A
half-formed fear filled me- Was everything
right In a moment more the suspense was
broken an enemy more dangerous than
the bear had already faced me- The water
had worn away the sandy soil between the
rocks. causing the large stone at the entrance
TO fall, completely choking up the way. |
was prisoner
A full sense of my position filed me with
the widest alarm. Nainly Iput my shoulder
to the huge rock and essayed to push it from
its Judgement for it only seemed the frmer
and worked the harder.
Turn my thoughts whichever way might
the awful sickeniug idea of starving slowly
continually haunted me. The fire was
blazing brightly, and the dim shadows danced
fantastic figures on the wall the ram beat
down with uuabated. iury, and distant flash
oflightning revealed few small crevices about
tie entrance the low growing of the bear,
that had now returned, and the scratching OF
its sharp claws against the rock that shut
him out es completely as [ was shut in, all
combined to make nay reyeries of the most
unpleasant nature.
s.It will be two DAYS thought l when