Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-14
A STRANGE RESCUE.

three miners, named Mccoy, McCarty
and Mcdonald ian odd mixture of MacsI.
lett the small mining town of White Oaks
Navada, and started on prospecting tour
among the mountains.
1t was not the most favorable season of
the year, Tor 1t was late enough to expect
heavy falls of snow; but the miners were
somewhat excited over an account BROUGHT
them by friendly Indian, of silver in
dlcatlons in the mountains. In fact. he
proved the Senuineness of his representa-
tons by showing some of the genuine
metal itself. Jim, as the red-skln was
called, was known to be sober and trust
worthy; and, as he offered to guide his
friends to the spot, the offer was gladly
accepted.
They started with a single beu,ro or
donkey, that was laden down with MIN
ing tools, powder and provisions, until
little more than the long ears were visi-
bic. The men were accustomed to walk
ing, and they went afoot.
On the thlrd day, when they were close
upon their destination, singular acct
dent befell jim, the guide. He raised
his rifle to shoot deer, when, just as he
pulled the trigger, the foot of the Indian
slipped, and he rolled down a precipice
fully fifty feet high. By the time his
friends could reach him and lift him up,
lie was dead.
This sad occurrence threw a gloom over
the miners, and Mccoy, with the not
natural superstition OF the people, regard
ed 1t as an i'll omen, and advocated a re-
turn as soon as they could bury the re-
mains OF their late comarade.
Mccoy, however was overruled by the
others, who thought 1T would be throwing
away al opportunity which might never
present itselfagain, as other miners would
be apt to discover and claim the lead.
Mccoy called their attention to the alarm
ing appearances of the weather. 1t had
been chilly and raw from the hour thew
started; the sky was overcast, and there
was every promise of a coming storm.
But the other two Macs were dete r.
mined to push ahead, and the director
consented to keep their company. That
night they camped at what they called
Devils Canon-such sulphurous nam es
being IN high favor in the mining countries
Nc Carly insisted that the broken &C.
count given by the Indian, Jim, located
the silver lead in a canon. and thew COLI
Guided that this must be the one. Thew
sat long time around their campfire
specializing upon the riches which thew
expected TO gather during the next few
days, and building air. castles with all the
enjoyment OF Il lot Of schoolbovs when
they attempt to pierce the great future.
At an early hour the miners were astir,
struck into the canon, all looking about
them for the expected indications.
''By the horned spoon!" suddenly call
eel out Nc Donald, we've struck til"
The three ran forward to a rocky ledge.
where they discovered what all had
agreed was evidence of chloride ore. and
they Instantly began their preparations
for blasting away the ledge, so as to get
at the valuable stuff.
1t Will be borne in mind that this work
was being done in the canon, with the
rocky walls separated by less than tifty
feet, and rising perpendicularly to more
than four times that height. The rock
was dark and lgneous, and on the side
where the miners were working, q short
distance below the supposed silver ledge,
the clltf projected onward some distance
over the path.
This natural roof offered the most in
Vltlng spot tor camp. The miners lean
eel poles against it, and walled it in with
ousn and dry grass, thus forming a sort
OF cabin, which was extremely useful in
providing against cold. There was no
hesitation about kindling a fire, since all
the Indians they were likely to encoun-
ter were of friendly disposition towards
the whites
The men toiled away all day with mod
crate success. Silver certainly existed
there; but it remained to be seen wheth-
er or not it was in paying quantities.
They were still quite hopeful when thew
ceased their labors and went into camp.
When night closed in, the snow was
falling, and it looked very much as if it
would continue long time. Wrapping
their blankets about them, they turned
their feet to the fire and sank to sleep:
not one of the three opened his eyes until
morning.
They then discovered that the snow Law
to depth Of six inches, and it was still
coming down. The wind was blowing.
and the dry flakes were hurled about in
such eddies that the miners could not see
dozen yards from their cabin. The
wind moaned through their primatiye
hut, as if to let them know that winter
had come upon them IN night, and it
had fairly caught them.
Mccoy once more urged retreat, but.
in the hope that the storm would abate.
it was decided to defer their departure
for awhile. There was danger of becom-
ing lost, when they could not see where
they were going, and it looked simply
prudent to wait. However, it proved a
great mistake. The snow-storm was one
OF the severest ever known in that section.
For six days succeeding there never was
minute of cessation.
Sometimes, of course, the fall was more
than at other times; but the flakes were
drifting downward all the while, and
when the crystal clouds finally exhausted
themselves, the snow lay fully eight feet
deep in the canon, while mountainous
masses curled into all sorts of shapes and
hung over the cliffs. The sight was SUBJ
lime, but enough to appall the stoutest
heart.
1t was fortunate thing they brought
so much provisions with them. else thew
would have Jared ill, for it was out of the
question to proceed hundred feet in anv
direction from the canon. By hard labor,
too, they dragged in enough broken
limbs and tree-trunks to keep the flame
going. The cold was not specially severe,
and they were we'll provided with blank