The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-06-02
A ROMANCE OF THE wEsF.
Rescue Of Surveyors from PeFiIs BY In.
~ dlans and BIaFyAtiOn.

GiObe.DmOcrat from Leadyille. gives thI
particulars Of the rescue oI Frank Matthias
Civil Engineer ot the Denver & Biz
GrRnde Road, who was surrounded BY
Ute Indians and starving at the junction
Of the Roaring Forks and Grand river
The special says:
Over . month ago Matthias, with hii
surveying apparatus and wagon with
provisions and equipments, started from
Salt Lake City TO loCate'R railroad route ID
this city, HIS path lay through the south
western portion OF Utah, and thence
through Indian Territory, He did moi
wish to excite the suspicious Of the UtsG
by large body OF men, and therefore took
with him only one companion, young
man named White. Their troubles did
not begin until they reached the Indian
country, when II became evident that the
supply Of provisions was too small. Then
inClemenCy OF the weather and the un.
try made their progress very slow,
In addition they found that the Utes
were preparing for hostilities. The Iudiaps
regarded the white men with an animosity
which they did not seek to conceal, and
when midway. In the preservation demanded
that the surveyor give them some Hour.
Their supply was running short, and Il
was claimed that they could not spare
any. The savages received the informa.
tion with muttered threats, and lot them
pass only after q long parley. AT the
junction ofthe Grand and Gunnison rivers
the demand for -four was repeated, and
upon being refused the lndiOns seizsd the
wagon and Surveyor instruments. Itwas
useless 10 resist, and the surveyors begged
only to be allowed 10 leave the country.
In . few angry words they were told to 90,
but not to come back that way, or they
would be killed, With this parting In.
junction they were hurried from the
camp, and made their way up the Gun,
nison river. Their rifles were left them,
and the first day Matthias shot deer. The
next day they reached the Roaring Forks,
when they found the stream too swollen
to permit OF crossing, and the snow at the
north OF euCh depth that 1t would have
been worse than folly to have attempted
to take that direction. Death was certain
II they retraCed their steps, and they
found themselves penned In spot from
which there wac apparently no escape,
Luckily, they had carried quantity Of
deer meat with them and were not with
out food. Leayipg White at the bank OF
the river, Matthias reconnoitered In the
rear for some distance, and found that the
redskins had advanced towards the east.
He also saw preparations for war. The
SquaWs and pappooses had been sent east.
ward and south. Only the braves re.
These were engaged Ia running
oil cattle from the line Of the reservation |
and obtaining Ia much flour and provisions |
50 possible. The old surveyor knew we'll |
that In case OF hostilities the lie oil no
white man would be spared, and returned |
with q sinking heart 10 the little camp
by the Roaring Forks The two men had |
first thought Of ventpring into the stream
on log, but 1t was plain that they would
be dashed TO pieces ip the pnderlow, |
and they reluctantly gave up the project. |
1t WINS at this juncture, that LaiAyet |
Pierce, the man who brought the news Of
their situation to the city, found them.
Their appearance and the surroundings
told him story that was no sealed book |
to the mountaineer, and he shouted vi
the top OF his voice to them. Their voices
could scarcely be heard in reply above the !
roar ol the waters, but they managed 10
make him understand that they were lost
and In want OF food. Attaching q stone
TO a note Matthias threw 1t across the river.
II feel at the feet Of Pierce who, according
to directions, started at once for this city.
- nj hnV mi hNV hAna ha kNBR
vivors watched and waited.
Toward evening on Sunday, they heard
the report Of gun, and body Of men
emerged from the timber on The other
side OF the stream. It was the relief party.
In three hours they had q rough craft,
but waited until morning before making
the attemptto cross. At day yllghtthe boat
was launched and reached the other side
In sniety. The two starving survivors
were lifted inside and the return trip made.