Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-23
snow BOUND IN THE sIERRAs.
A Thrilling Incident I'm the Career of
the Late j. Goldsborough Bruff.
70 the Editor of The EVENING sr.R.

To the Editor of The Evening STAR:
The notice IN The STAR few DAYS ago of the
death of J. Goldsborough Bruff recalls to my
mind notable adventure OF his forty years
ago, which have not seen mentioned in the
sketches Of his life that have read in the city
papers.
Mr. Bruf IN the fall of 1919 while at the head
OF party Of gold seekers from Washington,
bound Tor California. was oyertaken in the
sierra Nevada mountains by a snow storm so
violent that he was unable to proceed with his
wagons. Bruff aud hunter named ClOugh
volunteered TO remain with the wagons and
other property until the other men should take
The animals. which were almost in a starving
condition, on to the Sacramento valley. from
whence they proposed to either send or bring
back fresh teams and other assistance. These
had been gone but a day or two when the
storm began afresh with redoubled furry, and
continued until the snow. on level. had piled
itself up to depth of ten or twelve feet.
UNDER THE SNOW.
In the meantime Bruff and Clough had cut
poles and broken up wagon beds out of which
to construct cabin that strong enough to
Withstand the great weight on its roof and IN
this. completely buried under the snow the
only aperture TO admit light and cir being the
one kept open by the heat aud smoke of their
campfire. they remained nearly month. until
their provisions were well-nigh exhausted.
The storm had ceased, and ClOugh one day
climbed out on to the crust of the snow with
has rifle. saying he thought he would take a
little hunt. and. If possible. bring in deer
This was the last time Mr.. Bruff ever saw his
friend; they had already been obliged to sub
sist for some time on the flesh of an OK found
IN a frozen state in the emigrant trail near
tEelr camp, the presence of which had been
revealed to them by the wolves digging down
TO 1t through the snow.
ALONE IN THE ROCKIES
Mr.. Bruf remained alone several days watch
ing and hoping for the return of his companion
but in vain, and, all his provisions were
gone. be started out in sheer despair in the di-
rectiOn of the valley The sun was shining
brightly now and the snow melting rapidly, so
that the road could be easily followed. and
when almost ready to sink down from hunger
and exhaustion he happened to discover the
skeleton of a deer by the wayside that had been
killed and its bones polished by the wolves.
These bones he managed to break by striking
one against another and from them obtained
marrow sufficient TO sustain him, with the adj
ditlOn OF some beetles and other insects that he
caught. until he reached Lassin's ranch. now
Senator Stanford's great vineyard, in the Sac
ramentO valley. Teha.na county. Cal
Mr.. Bruf wrote a book in 1851. to be illus
trated BIZ drawings made BY himself embracing
this ana other adventures, but for some reason
AZ was never published. Your correspondent
happened to be at LassIn's ranch when Mr.
Bruft arrived there. and retains very vivid
recollection of the excitement created by the
incident.
CLOUGH AND THE GRIZZLY.
During the following summer the remains OF
ClOugE. together with his rifle and the bones
OF large grizzly bear. were found near the
camp. from which circumstance it was be-
Eeved that ne had give II the bear fatal shot
and that the bear in turn had killed him.
The place Is still well known in that country
Is '.Bruff's camp"
7. ]. BUTLER, of Prescott, Ariz.