The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-10-24
4 Renaissance Of a Former Rocky
Mountain Adventure,
Told in M. A. US lnimitabIe Style.
ONE OF THOSE THRILLING WESTERN ADJ
VENTURES
Which Discount all Efforts in
Fiction.
A Newspaper Reference to the
Death of Two.
Who We're Well Known In M0rgantown
and Although Nameless Will be
Recognized.

| iouSHluS IL dt1obS thc hothitS i
took 40 mile trip on top. of a six
horse stage coach. The first stop
made was at Mountain Glen where
we got dinner and fresh relay of
horses.
This was beautifully wild and
picturesque place in Deep Creek can
yon. The rapid, ice cold torrent, was
spanned by a rustic bridge half con-
cealed in tangle of vines and flow
ers overhanging a narrow path which
lead to cluster Of low white wash
ed cabins in one of which an excel
lent dinner was laid.
This was the home Of the Carpen-
tiers three Of whom had heen captur-
ed in 1877 when Chief Joseph's band
of Nez Perces raided through the
Yellowstone Park. The lady with
whom was travelling was an old
friend of the family and | was duly
presented and had an interesting
conversation with them. | found
them people of more than average in-
telligence aud culture, as the profus
ion of flowers, books and musical in
struments scattered around amply
attested.
In the summer of 1877 Frank Car
penter, his two sisters, Ida and Mrs
Cowan, and the latter's husband Geo
4. Cowan left for a tour of the Vel
lowstone Park They had covered
wagon for camping purposes a nice
carriage to use on passable roads,
and saddled horses for Mountain
climbing, They had plenty of food
along, each man gun and there was
fine bird dog with the party. Sew
eral other persons joined them before
they met with their unpleasant ad
venture.
They spent 10 days amid the match
less wonders of the Enchanted land''
and ON the 18th decided to turn their
faces homeward the following day.
On the morning Of the 18th while
still asleep they were surprised and
captured by a band of Nez Perces
Indians Two of the men were wound
ed and all were robbed of their val
uables, guns, supplies, horses, cloth
| ing &c. The harness Of the carriage
was cut up and fire built under the
carriage The handsome new water
proof cloth dresses worn by Mrs.
Cowan and her sister were taken of
and they were compelled to put on
some cast off rags belonging to some
of the squaws. Mrs. Cowan had
seen her husband fall from shot
which pierced his leg. She shrieked
and threw herself on his body when
an Indian aimed at him again. One
came up and dragged her away and
held her while the other put bullet
into his forehead Another picked
up jagged stone and brought it
down heavily on his head. Her agon
lied heart could bear no more and
she tainted, when she returned To
consciousness the party were on the
move and she and her sister were
each strapped to an Indian brave and
mounted behind them on horses. They
travelled rapidly as if fearing pursuit.
At night the captives were compell-
ed to sleep with an Indian on each
side of them to guard against escape.
The next day the Indians held a
council, and the meeting was long
and stormy. Some were in favor OF
killing the captives. Chief white
Bird wanted the men killed but pro.
posed to spare the women and an
nounced his intention of taking Mrs.
Cowan for his squaw. Chief Joseph
councelled more pacific measures,
and said that as General Howard
was pursuing them so closely they
had better release them and pursue
their fight as fast as they could
(They were then aiming for the Bri
fish Territory. The pipe was then
lighted which was to decide their
fate. AS it started on it's journey
round the dusky circle the eyes OF
the poor captives followed it anxious
ly. Some would take it and give a
few puffs then pass it on. others re-
fused it with disdainful grunt but
to their intense joy they saw that ii
had been smoked by a majority ofthe
terrible tribunal, and the verdict fol
a release was pronounced. The girls
sat shiyering in their scant rags fol-
they had been compelled to swim a
river and the nights and mornings
were then very cold and their clothes
froze on them. Chief Joseph came
up and spoke kindly to them and or
dered the Indians to restore to them
their cloth dresses.
Mrs. Cowan and her sister were
then mounted, both on one poor sor-
ry looking Indian pony and the men
were turned adrift on foot without
food or guns, to escape if they could
to starve if they must. After great
suffering from lack of food and from
cold (they had to swim rivers and
then lie in their frozen garments at
night they finally reached Bozeman
where they were kindly cared for.
Mrs. Cowan in the meantime mourn.
ed her husband as dead but he "was
not built that way" as we shall see.
When the Indians dashed the stone
down on his head he became uncon
scious and remained so till the sun
was sinking behind the western tree
tops. He was dazed and giddy when
he awoke but by the aid Of an over
hanging limb he drew himself to a
sitting posture. just then an Indian
who is supposed to have been left on
guard to watch for some of the fugi
tives jumped from his horse and
came towards him firing as he ap
preached. One ball struck him, pass
ing through his hips and making two
bad wounds. He fell on his face and
lay there till quite dark, and all wa.
silent as the grave. He then tool
account of stock" to see what hi:
chanches were Hero he was among
hostile people. 40 or so miles from
white settlement shot through tn,
head and hips and with ball through
one leg to say nothing Of the wound,
made by the stone, unable to walk {
single step or even stand up, withcui