The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-09
An Adventure Of Joaquin Miller
in Idaho With Three Motor
ious Highwaymen.
One of Them Was Boone Helm,
Afterward Hanged in
Montana.
Carrying the Mail and 10000 In =
Furious storm, Robbers Before
and Beh nd.

j
Men wanted to send money below to theil
friends or families; merchants antieipat
ing the tremendous rush, must get letseri
through the snow to Walla Walla. Woule
I go? Could go?
The snow was deep. The trails, oves
open and monotonous mountains, were
drifted full, Could any living man face
the drifting snow and find his way to Walls
Walla? At first the merchants had tried tc
hire Indians to undertake the trip and de-
liver their letters, writes Joaquin Miller in
st. Nicholas, Not one could be found tC
90. When the storm abated little, the
men who kept the ferry across Shoshonee
river scraped off the snow, and cutting
down the upheaved blocks of ice made it
possible to cross with horse.
At FIRST meant to carry only letters.
But having finally consen cd to take a lit
tie gold for one merchant. soon found
should lose friends if did not take gold
for others. The result WAS that had to
take gold worth nearly $4,000.
A few muf1led-up friends came down to
the river Lank to see me off. It was great
event. For two weeks we had not had a
line from the outer world. And meantime
the civil war was raging in all Its terrible
fufy. AS SCI Out oAaC DAoaA e.AAN NY
morning, after had mounted my plunging
pony I saw in the crowd several faces that
did not like. There was Dave English.
who was hung on that spot with several OF
his followers, not forty days later; there
was Boone Helm, hung in Montana; Chero-
kee Bob, killed in Millersburgh, and also
Canada Joe. This last lived with some low
Indians a little way down the river. So
when he rodc ahead of me was rather
glad than otherwise; for / felt that he
would not 90 far. / kept watch OF him,
however. And when saw that he skulked
around under the hill, as if he we're going
home, and then finally got back to the trail,
knew there was trouble ahead.
But the "Rubicon" was now behind, NY
impetuous horse was plunginR IN the SNOW
and was soon tearing through the storm
up the hill. Once fairly on my way look
ed back below. Dave English and Boone
Helm were bidding good-by to two mount
ed cowboys at the ferry house. len Nun
utes later as looked back through the
binding snow, saw that these two desper-
ate fellows we're following me.
True. there was nothing criminal IN that.
The two highwaymen had a right to ride
behind me if they wished. And Canada
Joe had just as good right to ride ahead
of me. But to be on a horse, deep in the
was bad enough. 10 havea desperate
blocking the narrow trail before you with
his two friends behind you was fearful;
had two six shooters close at hand un'
der the bearskin flap of my dle-bag
where the gold was. kept my lett hand
warm and ready. Once, as the drifting ana
binding snow broke away up the mountain
/ saw Canada Joe, with his head bent
down in the storm, still pushing of ahead
of me at a safe distance. "A few moments
after, as I crossed and climbed the farther
han off Y,ulv fhA two fODneTH
came close enough to hail me: One OF
them held up bottle. They evidently in
tended to overtake me if they could, and
profess to be friendly. This I must not
allow. urged my ambitious horse to his
a narrow pass l found that was not far
behind Canada Joe. This low-browed
black fellow was reported to be the worst
man in all that country. And that was
saying he was bad indeed.
I was in a tight place now, and had to
think fast. My first plan was to ride for
ward and face this man before the others
came up. But was really afraid of him.
1t seemed a much easier task to turn and
kill the two rear men and get back to town.
But, no! no! All this was abandoned as soon
as thought of. In those days even the most
desperate had certain rights which their
surviving friends would enforce
Twas now but few hundred yards behind
Canada Joe. So far as could find out,
the robbers were closing in on me. But we
had ridden over the toughest part of the
road and were within few miles Of the
high plateau, so that the wind was tearing
past in agale. and the drifting snow al
most blinded me.
Suddenly / had new thought. Why not
take to the lett, gain the plateau by new
route and let these bloodthirsty robbers
close their net without having me inside?
rose in my saddle with excitement at
the idea. and striking spurs to my brave
horse, was soon climbing MP the gradual
slope at Gallop. All! but was glad! Gal
lop! gallop: gallop! seemed to hear
many horses! Turning my head suddenly
over my shoulder, saw my two pursuers
not hundred yards behind me. They
shouted! was now on the high plateau
and the snow was not 80 deep. Gallop!
gallop! Rallop! Canada Joe, thank heaven!
was away to the right and fast falling be-
hind. Gallop! gailop! gallop! ] was gain-
ing on the robbers and they knew it,
Fainter and fainter came their curses and
their shouts.
And then: Whiz! Crack Thud!
l looked back and saw that they both had
thrown themselves from their saddles and
were taking deliberate aim.
But to no purpose. Not one shot touched
me or my horse, and reached the first sta
ton and, finally rode into Walla Walla,
with the precious burden, safe and sound,