Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-18
A STRANGE RESCUE.


among the mountains.
1t was not the most favorable season of
the year, tor it was late enough to expect
heavy falls of snow; but the miners we're
somewhat excited over an account brought
them by friendly Indian, of silver in
dications in the mountains. In fact, he
provs d the genuineness of his representa-
tons by showing some of the genuine
metal itself. Jim, as the red skin 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 beu4r0 or
donkey, that was laden down with MIN
ing tools, powder and provisions. until
little more than the long ears we're visi-
BILE. The men were accustomed to walk
ing, and they went afoot.
On the third 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
shipped, and he rolled down precipice
fully fifty feet high. By the time his
friends could reach him and lift him up,
he was dead.
This sad occurrence threw gloom over
the miners, and Mccoy, with the not
natural superstition Of the pasple, regard
ed 1t as an i'll omen, and advocated re-
turn as soon as they could bury the re-
mains OF their late comarade.
Mccoy, however was overruled by the
others, who thought it would be throwing
away an opportunity which might never
present itselfagain, as other miners would
he 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 they
started; the sky was overcast, and there
was every promise of a coming storm.
But the other two Macs we're deter
mined to push ahead, and the objector
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
McCarty insisted that the broken ac-
count given by the Indian, Jim, located
the silver lead in a canon, and they con-
Guided that this must be the one. They
sat long time around their campfire
specializing upon the riches which they
expected to gather during the next few
days, and building air castles with all the
enjoyment of lot of schoolboys 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
ed out Mcdonald, "we've struck it'll"
The three ran forward to 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
It will be borne In mind that this work
was being done in the canon, with the
rocky walls separated by less than fifty
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, short
distance below the supposed silver ledge,
the cliff projected onward some distance
over the path.
This natural roof offered the most in
vlting spot for camp. The miners lean
ed poles against it, and walled it in with
bush and dry grass, thus forming sort
of cabin, which was extremely useful in
providing against cold. There was no
hesitation about kindling 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 1t remained to be seen wheth-
er or not it was IN paying quantities.
They were still quite hopeful when they
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 lay
to depth of six inches, and it VAS still
coming down. The wind was blowing,
and the dry flakes were hurled about in
such eddies that the miners could not see
a dozen yards from their cabin. The
wind moaned through their pilmative
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 a retreat, but,
in the ope 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
great mistake. The snow-storm was one
of the severest ever known in that section.
For six DAVIS succeeding there never was
O 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
decp in the canon, while mountainous
masses curlcd into all sorts of shapes and
hung over the cliffs. The sight was sub
lime, but enough to appall the stoutest
heart.
1t was fortunate thing they brought
30 much provisions With them. else they
would have Jared ill, fer it was out of the
question to proceed o hundred feet in any
direction from the canon. BY hard labor,
too, they dragged in enough broken
limbs and tree-trunks to keep the fame
going. The cold was notspecially severe,
and they were we'll provided with blank