Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-12
RACING FOR LIFE.

Arizona, and Ina met with tho poorest
luck Imaginable. Being almost out oi
provisions We decided 10 return to tho
ranch. for we were fully convinced
that the precious metals were entirely
too s,arcc In that locality TO warrant
us in prospecting further
There were three OF us In the party
Paul Sanford, Arrajo and myself
Arrajo was a half brcod-part Spanish
and part Znni Indian--and perfect
giant In strength. Ilo was not over
i've feet six, and was rather heavy In
build, yet he was Ms quick and as active
A. a panther. never know his age,
though think Il could not have been
over thirty at the time OF which ]
writ,
Paul Sanford was a slender youth Of |
eighteen, while was year younger, I
yet we woro nearly tho samo size. / |
had come TO. Arizona siN weeks before !
10 pay long promised visit TO Paul, !
who was former schoolmate, and |
whose father owned n ranch on the
ella, near where tho Rio Salinas
eiuptios H. waters into that stream.
Shortly after my arrival at tho ranch
We had conceived the Idea Of a pros.
pccting tour among the mountains,
and Immediately preached tho subject
TO Pauls father At fiat no opposed
the idea Of two boys Of our age going
on what lao considered n hazardous OK.
pcdition, but after considerable per
uasion on our part 10 finally gave his
consent, but on tho condition that wo
wcrc to DO accompanied by ArraIo,
who was ono of his most trusted ranch
hands, and were 10 DO under his guild.
ancc during the trip.
This arrangement was perfectly salts
factory to us, and after cqulpping our
selves with three pack burros, tools,
provisions, arms, etc, we set out for
tho Mongolon range, q distance Of Sow
sn,y milcs FROM the ranch. After nearly
months fruitlcss prospecting we start
Led on our return. Tho country over
which wo were compelled to pass Ia or
der 10 reach the ranch was Of tho rough.
est character Astounding In Jagged
cliffs, stcop hills and deep rayincs,
making travel both tedious and Ia
borious
Il was owing to this fact that we do.
oldcd to take a different route on our
return from tho ono We had como over.
our plan was 10 make a raft largo
enough TO contain ourselves, our pack
burros and prospecting outfit, aud iloat
down tho Rio Salinas till within few
miles Of tho rapids, whom We would
land and complete our Journey by tho
overland route. This would not only
Elyo Us forty milo tramp ncross a
very rough country, but would place ca
within thirty miles Of home In fresh
condition, besides saving Us about two
days In time.
BY tho aid OF mn oN, Which wo car
ricd with us. Arrajo soon bad sum
Client number Of Pine logs cut 10 build
the raft. These were then rolled out
into the stream and fastened securely
together by means Of stout withcs oI
hickory and mesquite. Whom every
thing was In readiness 10 begin oui
Journey we placed our traps aboard
the raft. We found great difficulty
however, In getting the burros aboard
and II was only after We had blind
folded them that We succeeded Ia ac
completing our purpose.
Thon, by tho means OF largo oa
which ho had fashioned out Of PIN
appl.ng, Arralo pushed tho raft GU
from land, and We lloatcd swiftly ava.
on the bosom OF the stream.
II was our purpose 20 float down In
river some forty miles, which was as IA
a. we could venture with our raft
owing to tho turbulent rapids and dan
gcrous falls below tho point whore "
proposed to land.
IL was early Ia tho morning when W
commenced our Journey, aud we ha
hopes Of reaching our landing point ID
fore sunset We had only travelled
few miles when tho river narrowed an
grow more rapid On either bank not
rose high bluffs and prccipitous cliiI
whose blnckoncd and senlscorChc
summit threw grateful shade aero.
the stream, aiIoriing most WELDON
protection from the ilerco rays Of Ill
summer sun.
Tile scenery along tho lilo Salinas
not VIVA, might DO called beautiful
yet II Is grand and impressive, riva
Ing tho great Colorado In lis sunlc
gaps and great gloomy canyons, who
walls Of scanned and blackened rocl
form scene Of wild grandeur rare
witnessed In America.
Tho Journey on the raft was a novel;
md pleasure to both Paul and M
scli. and wo enjoyed II with the kcc
rest OF youth. win not attempt 20 5
into the details Of that journey, for
is only my purpose In this sketch
give true account of an incident th
shortly followed - ono Of tho mo
startling aud dangerous adventures
my life
Iato In the afternoon we had IL
the great canyons and had reached
poIn, In the river where the cliffs nloi
tho banks wero less high and preci
ltous, though II was plain TO SEQ Oh
the current u tho river was grown
more rapid with every mile that
Travelled
The sun had gone down behind q
lowering hills, but upon their Iagg
submits still fingered tho red, suit
glare. Upon the leit bank OF &
stream ruse perpendicular cliffs hu