Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-11-07
Grizzly Pass.

squad Of Go k,-the hegu'd' ~
valry, detailed to guard u corps oil
engineers in making an exploration
Of the valley OF the Musselshell III
yer from its mouth on the Upper
Missouri in Montana, to its source
at tie base Of the Little Belt Noun
tains.
1t was in the Spring, and our
march was without particular incl
den, until we had pitched oar last
camp westward, and were nearly
ready to complete our explorations,
by returning down the valley on
the opposite side of the river. For
this camp we had selected point
on the northerly side. where the
grass was unusually fine, and near
some springs Of pure sweet water,
but distant about six miles from
the main river, which, owing to the
mountain freshets at this time OF
the year, was quite wide and deep.
When awOkc the first morning
of this encampmcnt, the sun was
just arising, and it was 50 clear and
beautiful, that determined to take
an early ride OF few miles before
breakfast, hoping to get some
game.
Although we had seen traces OF
Indians, we hadmet With no hostile
demonstrations, and ! therefore
felt no hesitation in selecting my
fayorite horse and rife, and going
unattended. Noticing several elk
in the distance, followed them
and as they made toward a range
| of mountains near the bank of the
river, / hoped to get within a rife
shot of them. followed on aud
tracked them, as supposed, into
a narrow pass which seemed to
divide the foothills into precipli-
GUS sides; but soon finding the
same too narrow and too much i'm
peded with rocks for convenient
access for my horse, ! tied him TO
a tree near the entrance, and made
nv way on foot. thus Travelled
for over half-mile. the raviae IN
many places bciug but a icw feet
wide. while on either side the bills
extended precipitously to a great
height.
After going the distance men
toned, | suddenly came out on the
river bank, which extended on q
gradual slope to the water, and af-
ter passing up the river for about
forty rods, discovered an old In
dian dugout, which had evidently
noated down the stream and be-
come lodged and partially conceal
ed in the branches of a tree that
had fallen into the water. The dug
out contained crude paddle, also
a good many leaves, showing that
il had not been in use for loug
time.
The opposite shore was fringed
with cuttonwoods for some distance
INLAND, and ,he level lands enteu-
ded back from them for several
miles.
Believing that my elk had cross
ed The river to the other side, J Sc
cured the canoe aud padded across
and plooged into lhe woods. had
not gone twenty rods before an
arrow whizzed by my head, then
anothcr-and still another. jump
ing aside to the protection o. a tree
! saw a rcdskin drawing his bow.
In moment | bad covered him
With ms rifle and fired, and ] had
the satisfaction Of hearing his
screecbing death yell as he spraDg
forward and dropped heavily to
the ground. This was succeeded
by u perfect chorus Of shouts aud
whoops at my front, and | beat Il
hasty retreat to the river, turning
occasionally to Gre my revolver at
the most pressing Of my pursucrs.
Arriving at the bank | discover
; ed to my dismay that my duSout
was floating down the stream, the
swift current having loosened /
from its landing. Throwing my
ine and revolver into the water, 80
that might not be weighted, !
plunged into the stream, and min
ute later halfa dozen redskins dash
ed in after me. Being a good
swimmer ] reached the opposite
? shore we'll iu advance Of my pursu-
ers. Hastily clambering up the
bank, quickly ran 20 the entrance
of The pass, and followed back the
route came, when my iligh; was
suddenly arrested by an unexpected
) obstruction.
When about halfway tbrOngh
the ravine, n young grizzly cub
cane tumGling down the rOckey
side to my left, and fell moaning
aud snarliug at my feet j. had
evidently lost its foOthOld in the
upper rocks-and AT the same time,
. looking up, saw an enormous old
she grizzly rolling, tumbling and
sliding after it. The she-bear Ian
ded in the path not more than
twenty feet in front Of me, and
stood there facing me, her shoulder
bloody from the contact with the
Jagged rocks, and her eyes fairly
: cleaning With that peculiar green
| - "a. 1:oo.;,-o Of Tho hi,rhoot infon.