The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-10-28
YELLOWSTONE WONDER.

James Carroll, a well-knoWn citizen
of Helena, recently made remarkable
discovery in the Yellowstone Park.
He was alone, waiting for his fellow
eNcursiorists to como up. But let him
tell his own story:
"While waiting, l dismounted and
sat down on Il rock, with my Winch
ester laying across my knees. Around
me was a scene Of grandeur. 1 was in
a deep gorge, which led down into the
valley. On each side the gray cliffs
lowered to q magnificent height.
Behind me was the steep path down
which L had come through thick
growth of stunded pines, While in front
of and below me was the gorge, Il
quarter of mile wide, perhaps, its
bottom covered from the foot of one
cliff to the other with a heavy growth
Of timber.
'tAfter resting awhile l stood up and
listened, expecting to hear my friends
approaching. But not. 4 sound met
my ear. The stiffness was so deep
that 4 feeling OF uneasincss came over
me, and l. attempted to call out nv
companions. But although l opened
my mouth and went through all the
details of q good lllsty yell, not a sound
could l make. 1 tried again and with
the same result. / couldn't understand
it. My horse, which had been standing
Quietly by me, noticed a movement Of
the bushes. near by, and probably
thinking her equine friends were near,
attempted 4 swhinner.' II was sad
foilurc, for she could not make a sound.
She was evidently as much ustonished
as l, and became rs uneasy.
81 was on the point of mounting
and n IF jnCr nnc- I,n to;,
when ticrce-loo!ling wild animal of
tho panther tribe stepped out Of the
bushes within about thirty feet of
where l was standing. 1t saw me
instantly and stopped to spring at me.
| hastily brought my gun to my
shoulder and---and fred, shall / say :?
No; l pulled the trigger, but there
was no report, although the smoke
pulled out of the end Of the gun and
the wild beast fell as if struck. 1t i'm
mcdiatly jumped up and hobbled into
the brush, but leaving a trail of blood
behind it. L was now confirmed in my
former suspicion that 1 was in land
of enchantment, and although not at
all supcrstitiOus, under ordinary cir
cumstances, l would not have been
much surprised now to have seen the
Devil himself jump out from behind
horse and started back up the path.
'sIn about Il hundred yards l met my
companions, who were all standing
close together trying to talk to each
other, but although they seemed to be
shouting at the top of their voices,
they were really as dumb as the dead
Although l felt Old Nick himself was
just as likely as not to be on my trail,
/ could not help laughing at their odd
gestures, grimaccs and red faces from
their efforts at making themselves
heard. They were pretty badly fright
encd too.
81 passed by them and beckoned
them to follow me back the way we
had come. No attempt was now made
at conversation. After going a quarter
of Il mile in silence l lost my way.
One of my comrades, who seemed to
think he knew the way back to the
trail, came up close to me, and bending
over so that his mouth was close to
my ear, with a superhuman effort
yelled: 'Let me lead!' His shout
nearly bursted my tympanum. We
had got out of the charmed air.
Helena (-liontana( Herald.