The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1881-04-29

A LEAP FOB LIFT.
From the Evening Telegram.

line rough Wild LIE OF Gno mOunGlneef
of modern times is not without its ro-
mances as well as the days of a half CEN
tury ago. Daniel Boone, Simeon Ken
ton, Lewis Witzel and other brave men
claim a niche in American history and
are awarded places of honor for their
mary deeds of bravery So also will the
names of Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill, Dan
Kelly, better known as Yellowstone Kel-
", Walt Wilder, Buckskin Joe, Kit Car
son and Jim Bridger be remembered as
year succeeds year, for the many acts
they have performed for the benefit of
mankind, but more particularly the peo-
pie of the west. It is of the latter I
would now speak, and for the entertain
ment of the general reader T
will now refer to little escapade in re-
lat1on to myself. Our band of seven
was corralled in our camp among the
WIND RIVER MOUNTAINS
By one of the worst snow storms we had
seen for many year, and such an one as
we hope our reader will never expert
ence. We had to amuse ourselves as
best we could, and as a matter of course,
when assembled around our camp fire
our thoughts turned to our escapes,
fights and adventures, and one was just
as anxious to hear them as the other.
The boys assembled were all full of these
adventures, yet Yellowstone Kelly
opened the ball by saying: Come, Buff
falo Bill, give US yarn. The others
joined in the demand and concluded to
give them brief sketch, and as they had
alluded to the great scar on my back, I
concluded to tell them how got it.
Well, boys, was out on hunt by my
self, and not having very good luck, [
was returning to camp thoroughly dis
gusted with the chase. Being a little
further from camp than I imagined at
first, I stopped to give my horse
BITE OF GRASS
And feast upon piece of pork and hard
tack. I took the bits out of my horses
mouth so that he could feed well, and
just had got my coffee to heating when I
noticed some bushes moving in a pecu-
liar way and in an instant I
knew I had redskins about NE.
I did not desire that they should
know that observed them, so leaving
my coffee and untasted meal I walked
out toward my horse as if had forgot
ten something, but it didn't work worth
a cent. With a yell that fairly raised the
hair on my head out from the bushes
dashed band of Kiowas headed by
their great chief One Ear. They made
for me with rush. I whistled for my
horse and as he came running to me I
met him half way, and the race for life
began. It was scarey business at first as
I was chased by about sixty redskins.
After an hours run with the devils at my
heels I saw that Blacbkird, my horse,
was too lively for them. They were
pressing me pretty close when wheeled
~ kI,,o hy.o1 vrrI,t =
MY OLD WINCHESTER,
And as luck would have it, knocked a
Kiowa from his mustang. This was the
signal for about thirty shots from my
pursuers, and the bullets tumbled about
me like rain. About mile further on I
noticed the reds spreading out behind
me like fan, which could not under
stand, yet I knew by their yells some-
thing unusual was on hand. Not until
within fifty yards of Devil canyon did I
realize the motive for their spreading out
on either side to flank me. I knew it
was one of three things. Being captured
and roasted, a tumble of 100 feet to the
bottom of the canyon, or leap across
the yawning gulf in safety. If ever my
I was not long in deciding to make the
leap. AS Blackbird hesitated for an
instant on the brink in his headlong
speed, I buried my spurs in his flank, and
like bird he flew
FRoM BRINK TO BRINK
And I was safe. Not, however, until
one of my pursuers, cowardly red
devil, threw hatchet burying it in my
back, partially severing three ribs. This
made me mad, and as soon as Blackbird
gained footing slid off, and taking
position behind rock I turned my old
Winchester loose upon them and they
tumbled lively. The remainder of the
band turned and fled with all speed,
screaming "mij manitoo! mil manitoo!'
meaning the devil. That cut, the marks
of which will carry to the happy hunt
ing ground, laid me up for some time,
but like the half dozen others, came
through all right. When able to get
around again I measured the chasm
with the other boys and found it to be
twenty-one feet and six inches wide.
This Blackbird cleared after q two hours
chase, and have often thought it was
NO wonder the Kiowas thought it was the
devil, and always will remember it as
Blackbird's and Buffalo Bills leap for
life. In future issues these sketches
will be published fresh from the pen of
the great Scout and Indian slayer,
Buffalo Bill.
A SAILORS HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE