The National tribune., 1886-10-14
LOST AND SAVED.
A Boys Adventures in the WildS Of
Colorado.
BY W. THORNTON PARKER, NJ. D., NEWPORT,
r. L, LATE ACTING ASST SURGEON, U. S. A.

In the cold month of January. 1865 re-
ceived an invitation from an officer friend
Second Lieutenant OF the 9Th Into visit him
at the frontier station, Fort c., Colo. The mes
sage was brought to Denver by non-commis-
stoned officer who, with two or three soldiers,
would return to the fort in a few hours. The
necessary preparations were quickly made, and
we were soon en- rOu5e southwark. We travelled
in a western wagon drawn by two mules.
The first night we expected to sleep under
cover of some house, and the next night we
must find our camp on the ground in the open
prairie. We started in cold weather, and when
we reached our camping place dreary snow
storm had commenced. We formed camp as
rapidly as possible, building huge fire, and by
good luck finding an old wagOn-box, we prOpped
that up against the wind. Our simple meal i'm
ished we wrapped ourselvesjn our blankets, and
were soon fast asleep. The snow covered us
pretty well before morning, but we awoke
refreshed and hungry, and without having suf-
fered from the cold. The storm had ceased,
and we started forth to complete our journey.
What tonic can equal the glorious, invigorating
atmosphere of Colorado?
Toward evening the rough outbuildings and
tents of the fort came into view, and we were
heartily welcomed at the "mess" by our
friends. With the exception of
FEW "pJG-oUTs,"
or holes in the ground, the command was quar-
tered in canvas houses-tents spread over q
light wooden FRAMEWORK. These houses had
one door, with a window in it to give light; of
course they were very cold, but well ventilated,
and with plenty of fur rugs and wraps, and the
little stove well filed, one could make himself
quite comfortable. Under canvas in Colorado
in Summer is delightful, but in January and
February there are some drawbacks. Twelve
miles away from the post was a mail station,
where twice in the week we could get home let
ters That little rough mail station seemed a
very important place to US" the connecting
link" We regarded il with great interest, as
one would delight in an oasis on the desert
Life at a frontier post is not very exciting,
and after while it sometimes becomes monoto-
nous, but every little incident is made as much
of as possible and all endeavor TO contribute to
the general well-being Of the garrison. The
menu of the officers mess had been quite SIM
pie but sometime before my arrival a party of
emigrants passed by the post with a lame cow,
which they offered for sale, and this valuable
creature became the prize and the pride of the
officers mess. At considerable expense bag OF
Indian meal had been procured from the settle
ment, and when l reached Fort G. the mess was
luxuriating in mush aud milk for supper every
evening. How delicious il tasted hot and whole
some, feast for the gods it seemed to us who
were used to bareback aud army bacon, with
coffee without cream, as we called our morning
drink. Indeed, we seldom had condensed milk
for it, but now here was
REAL, LIVE MICH COW,
and good, pure milk, better than many of you
boys can get from your milkman in the midst
of civilization nowadays. You can Imagine
what treat this was for u.s. Sometimes we en-
ioyed roast of antelope, but it WAS not so easy
to shoot these pretty creatures as one might
think; even eight years ago they gave the
hunter penty of hard work
We started out, my friend and !, one after
noon to try for some antelope meat for the mess
By hard work and careful hunting we each got
a shot at some beautiful creatures. My friends
shot proved better than mine, and while h'
started of after his wounded antelope L sought
for another chance. The antelope escaped, anC
when | turned To join my companion / cOulC
not find him. / started in what / thought wa
the direction of the post, bat began to lose m.
bearings, and at last came 10 the conclusion
that was indeed lost on the plains. Night wa
coming on rapidly. i tried 10 find some famil
lar landmark from the hi, hest ground coul'
reach, but all was strange and bewiidering, anC
the sense of being lost and in danger came owe
me. / dared not wander farther lest | should
increase the distance between myself anC
bfrends.
examined my carbine and counted my car
| tridges. had seven shots left, none too many
for one in my position. The Indians roamed NJ
and down through this section all Winter, ant
| although they were theoretically at peace, my
chances for fair treatment were very slim in
deed. / should probably have been MURDERS
| for the sake of my carbine and clothing If no
FOR MY POOR SCALP!
| All these thoughts intruded themselves, beside
visions of wild beasts. Then / began to fee
| cold aud hungry. and to my dismay discovers
| that / had not one solitary match left.
a HI
| began 10 search for some hiding place TO shell
ter me until morning, and l ventured to rul
| towards little hollow. / was feeling YER
| lonely, aud l tried not TO remember the storie
| Of men lost on the plains, but they would com
| up before my mind. felt certain that my onl
safety was to be very possessed and brave.
might be quite near the post, and when Lieut..
returned he would surely send out searching par
ties. Oh, if | only had match would build
fire TO guide them; il was getting so dark feare
they could not find me. | debated whether o
not should part with one of my precious shotl
and decided that | would climb TO the top @
the little rise of ground and fire my evenin
gun. / could not get material together sufii
GENTLY dry to FIRE with the shot from IN
carbine.
Slowly climbed the little HILL and prayin
God TO send me relief, fired my carbine j
the air. Like an answer from heaven came
|
ined il, / thought, il is the mocking echo of IN
carbine; but it did sound like a cannon. BooI
came the gladdening sound again, and strair
ing my eyes over the horizon l saw-oh, what
joyful sight TO me-a bright light, q fire. Ho'
can it be in that direction, just the Opposit
from what believed the post to be in.
BOOM CAME THE GUN AGAIN,
and with happy, thankful heart / ran ia
enough to rival an antelope toward the ligh
the star of hope to me. In short time | sa
figures approaching; they were soldiers searcl
ing for me, sent by our kind commanding of
Ger. was saved.
Ii was hard to keep back the tears of Joy an
gratitude, but it was dark, aud l pretended
take matters very coolly. / feared, too, that
might be we'll blamed for the trouble / ha
given, and the story of the lost boy came to IL
, mind. On reaching the post, however, fOun
all glad 10 see me safely back again. and Il
delicious mush and milk was waiting, to whiC
did full justice with grateful heart.
So much for the antelope hunting. \ niue
, safer sport was poisoning wolves, which we a
, complished in the following manner: The gre
| "loaleT wolves" or gray wolves" as they a
/ more commonly known, roamed about the pc
) every night. They were not only annoying
, their bowling, but they were most accOmplisht
thieves. Their hides were then worth
skinned or 40 cents on the dead animal. III
wolves rOamed generally near the coral. "
planted a post in the ground, and high up o.
of the reach of the wolves we tied large al
tempting bone, on which we left considerab
: meat. Pieces of meat from three to four inch
: long we cut nearly in half, and in the slit tn
0 fashioned we placed good quantity of stryc
4 nine. We scattered many of these pieces
a | the ground not far from the post from WIFI