The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-02-28

anticipating the tremendous rush, must
-, lat,ers through the snow 10 Wala
MALTA. Would 60? Could goP
The snow was deep. The trails over
omen and monotonous mountains. We're
drifted full. Could any living man
face the drifting snow and ind his way
n Walla WallaP At iirst the mcr-
chants had tried to hire Indians TO
undertake the trip and deliver their
letters. Not one could be found 10 90.
when the storm abated little. tn,
men who kept the ferry across
Shoshonee River scraped on the snow,
and cutting down the upheavcd blocks
OF ice made il possible TO cross with
horse.
At first meant TO carry only letters.
But having finally consented to take
little gold for only one merchant. 1
soon found l should lose friends II l
did not take gold for others. The re-
suit was that / had TO take gold worth
nearly ten thousand dollars.
A few muflled-up friends. came down
10 the river bank to see me of. Ii was
a 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 fury. As / set out
that bleak aud icy morning, after |
had mounted my plugging pony saw
Ia 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 Mon
tana; Cherokee Bob. killed in Milers-
burgh; and also Canada Joe. This
last lived with some low Indians a
little way down the river. So when
he rode ahead of me was rather glad
than otherwise; for / felt that he would
not go far. kept watch Of him. how
ever. And when saw that he skulked
around under the hill. as II he were
going home and then finally got back
into the trail. knew there was trouble
ahead.
But the "Rubiconn was now behind
My impetuous horse was plunging 10
the snow aud | was soon tearing
through the storm up the hill. Once
fairly on my way looked back below
Dave English aud Boon Helm were bid
ding good-by TO two mounted cow
boys ut the ferry-house. Ten minutes
later. as looked back through the
binding snow. / saw that these two
desperate fellows were following me-
True. there was nothing criminal In
that. The two highwaymcn had q
right 10 ride behiad me il they wished.
And Canada Joe had just rs good .
right TO ride ahead of me. But TO be
on horse deep la the binding snow
aud loaded down with gold was bad
enough. To have desperate blocking
the narrow trail before you with his
two friends behind you was fearful
had two slx-shooters close ut hand
under the bearskin flap of my saddle
bag where the gold was. kept my
left hand in my pocket where lay q
small six shooter warm and ready.
Once as the drifting and binding snow
broke away up the mountain. ~
Canada Joe with his head bent
in the storm still pushing on aheaas6f
me at safe distance. A few moments
after rs crossed aud climbed the far.
Their bank of an ugly canon. the two
robbers came close enough to hail me-
One OF them held up bottle. They
evidently intended to overtake me Il
they could. aud profess to be friendly
This l must not allow. | urged my
ambitious horse TO his best. But. to
my dismay. as hastencd up narrow
pass 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.
was in tight place now. and had
to think fast My first plan was to
ride forward aud face this man before
the others came up. But was really
afraid Of him. Ii seemed a much easier
task TO turn and kill the two rear men
aud get back TO town. But, mol mol
All this WAS abandoned almost
soon rs thought Of In those days
/ even the most desperate had certain
rights which their surviving frienos
would enforce.
was now but few hundred yard!
behind Canada Joe. So far as could
lind out the robbers were closing 10
on me. But we had ridden over lhs
toughest part of the road aud were
within "a few miles OF the high plateau
so that tho wind was tearing past 10
gale. aud the drifting snow almoA
blinded me.
Suddenly. had new thought
Why not take TO the left. gain tne
plateau by a new route. and let these
bloodthirsty robbers close their ns'
without having me inside9 rose 70
my saddle with excitement Mt the IDEA
ana striking spurs TO my brave horse
was soon climbing up the gradus.
slope ut gallop. Ait but was glaa'
Galiopl gallopl gallop. seemed 70
hear many horscsl Turning my heaa
suddenly over my shoulder. | saw Wy
two pursuers not hundred yards oe
hind me. They shouted was nov
on the high plateau and the snow wa
not so deep. Gallopl gal;op! gai'oP
Cannda Joe--thank Heayenl-s"