Tombstone epitaph., 1890-01-25
SAVED BY A MATCH.
Experience of Two ProspectOrs in the
 Mountains of Colorado.

mans life and often the lives of men
 are saved by the merest chance. Two
 gentlemen of this city, says the Lead {, vile (Col.) Hera1d-Democrat, know how
 true this is, as one of them was saved
 from horrible death by match. The
 circumstance, as related by themselves,
 happened in the following manner: One
 summer they concluded to devote the
 whole of their attention to prospecting, i and started with pack animals for a
 section of country in Garfield County
 that was at the time creating considera-
 ble comment among mining men. They l left the city at the beginning of sum-
 mer, well equipped with all the neces-
 saries required by prospectors. The
 scene of action was reached without in-
 cident worthy of any special mention,
 except, perhaps, the loss of one of their
 pack animals, which was drowned in the
 Grand river while fording. They had the usual experience that all prospectors
 have, and also the usual amount of
 trouble with their pack animals. After
 the first week they got used to all the pCbG1 dlnO1dHCtS dLu GOOh Uutm III d
 matter-of-fact manner. After spend ing six weeks in the new country they left, as they found 1 nothing to suit them, and, like
 a great many new countries, it proved to be fizzle, and the mineral that was reported to be in large quanti-
 ties has, as yet, never been discovered.
 The two prospectors on learning of the
 new fields went in a westerly direction,
 and thoroughly looked the country over.
 Several good prospects were struck and
 the work done on them. Itwas now the
 middle of October, and they concluded
 that it was time to return home. The
 jacks were packed, and they started
 across the country for home. The route
 that they laid out took them over the
 flat-tops, as it was the nearest road to
 Leadville. The third day out they saw
 that storm was brewing, and not wish ing to be caught on the fat-tops they rushed their animals through, but night came before they reached valley, and they were obliged to camp on the high ground. Every thing was made snug for the night, and wishing that the storm would blow over they wrapped themselves in their blankets and laid down to rest. About midnight they were awakened from their sleep by the bowling of the wind, which whistled through the trees under which they camped. The heavens were black and the two men knew that the storm would soon descend. They had not long to | r. 41,oE ao1r Nfe fo11 and the storm broke with terrific force. No one who has never spent night on the fiat-tops during snow-storm can form any idea of the fearful velocity at which the wind travels and how dreary and lonesome the su --ound- ing country becomes. The two men were by this time thoroughly aroused to the danger of their position and longed for daylight to appear. By this time the snow was falling thickly, and was being whirled hither and thither by the ever-changing wind. Morning at last dawned and they started out in search of their animals in the face of the awful blizzard, determined to leave the country at all hazards. The prog ress was slow, as the snow had drifted heavily, and when they came to where they had turned their horses loose the previous evening the animals had left. When the storm started the stock started before it, and by the time the prospectors reached where they should have been the animals were some miles away. The men kept on trailing them, and when evening was approaching they were nearly played out and made up their minds to camp. It was a long and weary tramp, and when half the dis tance was travelled they had to give it up and make camp for the night under sheltering pine tree. One of the men was completely played out and could not go a step further, and, although it was bitterly cold, when the spot to camp was selected he stretched himself out on the ground thoroughly exhausted . and cared not whether he died or lived. ! His companion being stronger, started . to get some wood together, and encour- aged his companion with cheering words. He knew that if he did not get a fire started pretty soon his partner would freeze to death. It did not take i long to collect the fire-wood, cut some ! shavings and have every thing in readi- ness to start the fire. He put his hand in his pocket, when to his horror the | match safe was gone. Every pocket was searched, but not match | could he find. He rifed the pockets of . his friend, with the same result. The . realization of the awful position he was placed in struck him, and he knew that without a fire certain death stared his companion in the face, if not himself, Once more he searched, and to his joy . found one solitary match in his vest and snow drifting, Would he succeed in kindling the fire? was the question he asked himself. Under fallen log he found some dry, withered grass and twigs, which he carefully put in his hat; he whitfield some more shavings, pro cured more small limbs, and, with a prayer on his lips, knelt down, lit the match, applied it to the grass, saw it suddenly blaze up and as suddenly go out; but before it did one of the shay ings had ignited, the flame extended to the rest and to the twigs. When they blazed up he knew that they were saved. Logs were piled on and the hardy pros pector turned his attention to his friend, whom he lifted up and carried to the fire. The warmth soon revived him, and all that dreary night the two sat be- fore the fire, every now and again