Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-05-28
NO 127.
Gales ano Skettbes.
From the Chicago Tribune.
LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS.
4 True Story or the Wilds Of Sierra
Nevada In 1919
Continued from Yesterday. J


Jones's Branch OF North Fork But |
felt certain at once when saw the great
roaring torrent before me that il could be
none other than the North Fork of the
American River. which had often heari
of but had not seen. And was right.
And few moro beautiful sights can he
shown than the view from the point where
stood. The North Fork was here about
100 feet in width, quite deep. and sorapid
that lis tumblinw waters, broken bv the
rocks in its bed. seemed white with foam
ing hllows, and its roar was
deafening. On the right. the creek had
followed presented succession OF beau
tiiul cascades for a quartcrof mile from
its mouth ending with one of about
twenty feet, where il fell into the North
Fork. and forming cloud of vapor that
hung over it, clear and distinct in the
bright moonlight.
The mountains around here form kind
of amphitheatrc. The ground was COW
cred with snow, and above this stood the
dark and stately ever. green forests of
cedar, pine and fir. nearly all the trees
being of great beauty size and height.
4 bright moonlight lighted the grand and
beautiful scene. and the waters furnished
their wild music. Judging by the moon
it was about midnight. and rs now look
back at that strange Christmas eve. its
dangers and my dcliverance from a mis-
cradle death. remember most distinctly
the beauty and grandeur of natures own
celebration of Christmas eve on the banks
of the North Fork. which it was my for
tune to witness.
But only for few moments did pause
rs an admiring spectator of this wild
beauty and grandeur which probably no
white mans eyes had ever before beheld
by moonlight in the winter season
My shoes, stockings andpants were wet
from wading through snow; my limbs
were benumbed and though Young and in
experienced in such affairs, knew that
must not cease from active exercise or l
would probably perish. And having now
a basis of certain locality 10 reckon from
that is, the line of the North Fork
thought could determine my course near
enough to he certain to strike Bear River.
and probably the vicinity of our cabin SO
as to reach some track or path Accord
ingly turned about and started upon the
course thought | should take. believing
that | could possibly reach our cabin by
morning.
But the deep snow and steep ravines
which ] had to cross drew heavily upon
my strength. which had now been under
so severe IA strain for eighteen hours, in
efforts, part of the time, ut least thrice as
great rs that required on level g,ound.
free from snow and unencumbercd with
anv burden
| soon became so exhausted that had
to sit down and rest every one or two
hundred yards. This | would do under
| some fir trees, near the trunk of which the
ground was free from snow. When sat
down on the ground would be careful to
place my rifle pointing the direction was
going. so as to avoid getting turned
round, as men usually are who are lost.
And soon my WEAKNESS became so great
that every time sat down my eyes would
close. and would find myself nodding in
the first stages Of overpowering sleep.
would then Immediately get up and travel
on, keeping as near as possible the course
| had determined on.
At last daylight came. and found nv
self on high plateau, with the great,
white, naked, summit ridge Of the great
Sierra Nevada chain in plain sight, was
astonished that it seemed so near, and by
this knew that rad gone too far east.
Finding II favorable place to kindle fire,
and having one or two matches in my
hunters pouch, stopped and made "a fire,
took off my socks and pants and wrtIng
the snow water from them. and warmed
and dried myself, and melted some snow
in my pan to drink. as there was no run
ming water very near. Thus refreshed I
started on. and in an hour or two came to
the valley of Il stream. that. according to
my reckoning, ] thought must be Bear
River. And Twas right as it proved. but
had no idea that had struck it so high
up as really had, or that had travelled
so far rs afterward found that had, for
was really about twenty-five miles from
our cabin and in frightfully difficult re-
gion to travel over. descended from the
high land to the stream, in order to avoid
the deep snow, and in doing so met with a
serious fall on some shelving rock, and
slid down some twenty feet or more, hurt
ling my arm, but not seriously. When
reached the stream began following il
down, and being comparatively free from
snow, my cold and benumbed feet and
limbs soon became warm and comfortable.
And this healthy reaction soon impaired a
glow to my whole system. so that drank
a great deal of water, and this doubtless
strengthened and invigorated me, for dur.
ing the whole days travel feltcOmpara-
lively little fatigue or need ofres or food
But once during the day came very near
losing my life in passing through "ken
lyon" where, in swinging around pro.
jecting crag, "a fragment Of slate-rock be.
came detached, and | came near being
knocked off OF a precipice where I woula
have fallen about thirty feet, on the rock.
lbelow and into the stream
After this left the dangerous gorge
and took the mountain side, which, though
very difficult on account of the dense
''chaparral," or bushy growth, was We
safe. In striking Bear River l had ex
pected TO find signs Of camps, diggings
&c. But nothing Of the kind appeared