Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-21
NIGHTS WITH THE CoYorEs.
The Desperate Strait. of Two Men on the
Plains In Early Davs

Barry NO. correspondent Of the Kansas
City Tunes writes: Sitting around the stove at
the railroad station one cold day, Willing away
the time telling stories Of Wild adventures. one
old fellow forget his name-asked: did you
ever see n coyote?' And at once half dozen
chorused: Lets have it."
well" he said. "a he knocked the ashes
from his pipe and filed it from huge twist Of
aromatic ''long green" lit was in 1850. had
started early in the spring to the land Of gold
and glittering generalities. hard tack and bear
meat. with three OK teams loaded with goods
supposed to be suited to the mining trade, con-
sisting of heavy boots, miners Jackets dried
fruit, tobacco cigars cards and whisky. and
was pretty well loaded. At Forts kearney and
Laramie | disposed of some extra weight and az
Salt Lake disposed of a lot of dry goods lac d
carried along to trade 10 the Mormon mer-
chants. After laying in a supply of -four at
s25 a 100 and resting our stock we struck out
over Thousand Springs valley 10 the head OF
Humboldt river. following il down TO the
Big Meadows. where we made hay for our cat
tie and took IN water preparatory to crossing
the great desert between the sinks of Hum
boldt and Carson rivers. Finally We are in the
midst of a trackless waste and water worth 81 a
pint, dead mules and oxen enough TO fence a
lane clear across il and a million dollars worth
of outfits scattered all the way. not n mouthful
Vi kTuD VI except WHAT WAS IN our
wagons and with 10000 coyotes bowling and
yelping worse than legion of devils. The
only living things TO be seen were owls. prairie
dogs, mathematics and coyotes.
1T was right in the middle of this wild var
rem sandy desert. surrounded bv the vi ole
coyote family. with one days rations of 81 ib
and water, that We had to double teams aud
leave one of our wagons while the others at
tempted to reach grass and water on the Car
son that Morton and were left 10 guard the
last wagon
After supper. which We were careful enough
to have over before night. the music and dane
ing began. The owls screechcd. snakes ratified
prairie dogs barked and 10000 coyotes set up
their howl. Nearer and nearer they came
round and round they trotted-and we we're
forced TO fee TO our wagon for safety. Under
and around they trotted. growing, whining and
yeiping every one making the night more hide
Gus by seeming to make a dozen of himself Just
to see how much Of pandemonium he could
scare up.
What night, and still another we must
stay. The first was bad enough, but on the
second one the animals returned with REIN
forcements. They leaped upon the front of
the wagon, which We had barricaded the best
we could. and we had to fight them with our
pistols and guns. and a desperate fight il was
First one and then the other would punch
them back. Morton killed one as il leaped into
the front OF the wagon. and il fell back
dozen grabbed ami devourcd il in less time
than l can tell it. This only made them ten
times more ferocious and il became fight Of
life and death to both of Us. One after an
other leaped at us. swapping. snarliny and de-
termined to have us for picnic supper. Nor
ton had foot snapped OF. had hand badly
torn and was nearly stripped of clothing. Both
our guns were broken and we about TO
yield the fight when daylight broke up the
game. They decamped | bound up Morton's
leg with some old rags and then finished our
last ration and sat down to wait for the return
ing teams upon which depended our lives. At
10 o'clock they hove in sight and there was
more rejoicing in that solitary wagon than
can tell. We made it safe through in due
time. Morton finally went to Valparaiso and
died. 1 gathered up hundred Thousand and
here am in way station ticket agent on
the c. h. {. x I. railway.
Boys it's over forty years since that awful
night. but shudder every time | think of it,
The Geld chiils running down my back
now. Please pass that flask