The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-30
A NARROW ESCAPE.
How a Prospector Rescued Two
Women From the Danites.

In the spring Of 1871 a man reached St
Louis with some choice specimens of gold
and silver which he said he had mined in
Utah. His object was to sell his secret of
the whereabouts of the mine, but before be
had succeeded in interesting any capital to
speak Of he was one evening knocked down
by hack as he stepped from street car
and so badly hurt that ne died next day.
[ had been employed by certain
capitalist to pump the stranger regarding
his find. Not that anybody had an idea OF
rObbing him of his secret, but to put this
and that together and attempt to ascertain
something definite about his affairs. Both
gold and silver had been found in Utah.
but at distances wide apart If the man
had taken his specimens from any known
locality, it might be a good speculation to
buy his claim. If he told us of an unknown
place, it would be like buying cloth blind
folded.
In my last conversation with him, not
two hours before his death, he gave me the
information that he had been prospecting
IN the ulntah Mountains to the east of Salt
Lake City. This was only a general hint
as the range mentioned extends half way
across the Territory and far into Wyoming
and Colorado. To hunt for the spot from
which he had taken his specimens would be
ar,,iiip dime on tfis wide
praiIies. He realized this as fully as did
and did not fear that he was giving away
anything.
Instead of the mans death upsetting all
our calculations it only strengthened the
idea in the minds of half dozen capitalists
that the general hint thrown out should be
acted on. IN less than month / was in
Salt Lake City, with plenty of money to
purchase an outfit, and instructions to
strike the mountains about fifty miles east
of Salt Lake and follow them to the Colo
RADIO line. If | met with 10 success Twas to
pass through Wild Jim Canyon, where the
Green River breaks through, and return to
the west on the northern side of the mount
aims. If could make the trip before winter
set in, all right; if not was to lay no in
the mountains and finish my prospecting
another season.
Upon reaching Salt Lake l went about
my business in very quiet manner, know
ing that Mormon spies watched every
stranger and made it a business to find out
what brought him there. | wanted Il
thoroughly good horse and strong pack
mule, but III several instances those same
spies prevented my making a purchase.
knew that they were logging my footsteps
day and night, but dropped no word from
which they could extract hint Of my
future plans.
One evening was accosted on the street
by man whose look and speech proved
him to be Yankee. He was brusque and
to the point.
Stranger" be said ''you want to make
a little "trip You want a sound, fast horse
and scout mule. I've got em both"
"And you want to sell9"
"All-fired bad! | want money to take me
back to New England and my Jerusha."
Where can | see the animals!n
"Nowhere-not now. The spies are after
lii =, Al.
let you bny 'em. Stranger be squar' with
squar' old pumpldn-pie eater from Con-
nectlcut; Going prospecting""
''That's what these dod-blasted Mormons
suspicion. You've got to slip out O this as
dog-meat Of you! Which way?"
EAST"
Now you look here You've got TO
throw these devils off the scent; you kin
r''f'A 's'Hs - bold vnTir nlanS
Tomorrow night, if possible"
''Good Now tell me what you want
bought for your outfit, and let me buy it.
About twenty of us New Englanders, who
have come this far and got homesick have
camp at the end of this street. We are
trying to sell out everything but team or
two, and are going back TO Gods country
and our wives and babies"
made bargain for The animals and
gave him list Of what wanted, and had
no fears that he would deceive me. During
the greater part OF the next day | sat
around the hotel, seeming to have ahan-
doned all idea Of purchasing horses, and in
conversation with stranger, whom | sus-
pected OF being spy, | carried the idea
that ! should leave for California in a day
or two.
That afternoon ! sent my rife to the New
England camp, and about dusk showed Nd
there in person. Jol Haskell, my friend OF
the previGes evening, uad carried out his
instructions to the letter While I had
brought with me large quantity OF fixed
ammunition for rife and revovers. he had
purchased blankets, medicines, few min
ing tools, provisions and little odds and
ends necessary in a trip of this sort. The
saddle for the horse and the pack-saddle for
the mule were all that could be asked for
When we had completed our business ar
Tangements job lowered his voice and said
when it gets fully dark you must be or.
/ hope you'll get away all safe, but I'm
thinking the cussed Danites will strike
your trail before morning If they over.
haul you they'll shoot you down. Be ready
TO shoot first. They hain't got no more
mercy than wolf, and il will be pleasure
for them TO put bullet into you"
replied that had had some experience
with the class OF men referred to, and
meart TO protect my life at all hazards,
and he whispered: "You kin depend upon
them beasts. The boss has a strain OF
Kentucky blood in him, aud kin be pushed