Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-08-24
LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS
One Man Crazy and not Found.
The zahner Surveying Party.
8wamped Their Boats ana Lost Their
Supplies.

Supplies.
On Tuesday two men and boy,
named Charles Bryant, NJ Culp and
John Culp, arrived in town from, Mis-.
soula, having left that place on the Sd
inst. Mr.. Bryant gave to US the fol.
lowing account Of the trip which was
also confirmed by Mr.. M. Culp. AT
Missoula they were told that it was
only 1870 miles to Lewiston and that
they could easily make the trip on foot
IN six days, that game was plenty on
the trail and there was no necessity of
carrying but few pounds Of grub and
their blankets. Needing these sug,
gestions the three left, having provided
themselves with guns for hunting,
Two days out they met Hull Rice and
party with their band Of horses. Rice
told them that he had lost several Of
his horses in the mountains; some OF
which Bryant and party saw on the
route, and one fine bay very lame.
They were over-taken by four other
men who left Missoula one day after
they did. They all crossed the Sum
nit and also the Lo Lo fork of the
Clearwater without difficulty; they
killed one deer, but supposing they
should find many more they did not
preserve the meat for future use. Al
ter crossing the Clearwater they found
that heavy rains had washed out the
trail 80 bad that it became difficult to
follow it and in meandering around
they entirely lost it. They all scat
tered and hunted for it again, but
could not find it, Their grub gave out
and no game appeared and for three
days they had nothing but one hard
biscuit and green sarvis berries to eat,
and became very weak and almost de.
ferrous. One of the party who had
overtaken them whose name was
Thomas Newland, claimed that he was
acquainted with the mountains and at
tempted to guide them. On the fourth
day he said that he SAY the trailacross
a deep ravine along a steep side Of the
mountain and made for it and they fol.
lowed, when they reached the bottom
oft ravine they lost sight of New
land, they called for him Justify, fired
guns, bat could get no trace Of him
They were satisfied that he found ne
trail but think he must have taken
either up or down the ravine after
reaching the bottom. They have
neither seen nor heard from him since
and his weak condition and apparently
bewildered mind induces them to be
lieve that he has persisted. The re
maiuder Of the party wandered through
brush and rock for three more days
weak and almost persisted without
seeing any game. On the morning o.
the 4th day they came to the river ant
saw an elk aud shot it and wounded i
and some of the more strong of tn
patty followed up the side of the noun
tain and found it dead. They wer
engaged in getting 1t down to the rive
when they encountered Maxon will
two Of his men eordelling his boat
with supplies up the stream. Mako,
furnished them with grub, and they at
almost to surfeiting aud the next morn
ing all but one of the party, whom
Maxon retained to assist 10 getting tn
boat up the river, started for Zahner'
camp, about fvo miles below. Will
they were making this distance Max
on swamped his boat and lost nearl,
oil the supplies, his watch aud som
clothing. and started down the rive
and reached camp before Bryant an
party did. Zahner told them tina
they had but little grub themsclve
but that he expected pack trail
would reach them and were looking
for it daily. Zahner retained thrc
of the men with him for work and sur
piled Bryant and the two Culps wit
four days rations and directed ther
down river to Loug Bills, which plac
after severe trip, they reached o
the fifth day. Here they learned this
the pack train with grub WINS only q
J thu NJ ,,arcla Shall and wonld not 1,