The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-02-11
A RACE WITH IDAHO ROBBERS.
joaquin Miller Relates an Experience OF
His Youth.

ARAcE WITH IDAHO ROBBERS.
joaquin Miller Relates an Experience OF
His Youth.
1 was lying ice-bound at Lewiston,
Idaho. Men wanted to send below to
their friends or families; merchants,
anticipating the tremendous rush, must
get letters through the snow to Walla
Walla. Would go? Could 1 go?
The snow was deep. The trails over
open and monotonous mountains, were
drifted full. Could any living man
face the drifting snow and find his way
to Walla Walla? At first the mer-
chants had tried to hire Indians to
undertake the trip and deliver their
letters. Not one could be found to 60.
When the storm abated a little, the
men who kept the ferry across the
Shoshonee River scraped off the snow,
and cutting down the upheaved blocks
of ice made it possible to cross with a
horse.
At first meant to carry only letters.
But having finally consented to take
little gold for only one merchant, l
soon found l should lose friends if
did not take gold for others. The re-
suit was that had to take gold worth
nearly ten thousand dollars.
A few mufhed-up friends, came down
to the river bank to see me off. 1t was
a great event. For two weeks we had
not had line from the outer world.
And meantime the civil war was raging
in all it's terrible fury. As l set out
that bleak and icy morning, after
had mounted my plunging pony l saw
in she crowd several faces that l 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 Millers-
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 l saw that he skulked
around under the hill, as if he were
going home and then finally got back
into the trail, knew there was trouble
ahead.
But the ..Rubicon" was now behind.
NV impetuous horse was plunging in
the snow and 1 was soon tearing
through the storm up the hill. Once
fairly on my way I looked back below.
Dave English and Boon Helm were bid
ding good-by to two mounted cow
boys at 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 highwaymen had a
/ right to ride behind me if they wished.
And Canada Joe had just as good a
right to ride ahead of me. But to be
on a horse deep in the binding snow
and 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 at hand
under the bearskin flap of my saddle
; bag where the gold was. kept my
I LETT hand in my pocket where lay 8
: small six shooter warm and ready
Once as the drifting and binding snow
broke away up the mountain. l saw
Canada Joe with his head bent dowI
' in the storm still pushing on ahead o
= me at safe distance. A few moment
= after, as crossed and climbed the far
u ther bank of an ugly canon, the TIVE
3 robbers came close enough to hail me
. One of them held up a bottle. The,
'I evidently intended to overtake me
. they could, and profess to be friendly
p This must not allow. l urged m,
e ambitious horse to his best. But, t
Is my dismay. as hastened up marrow
V pass found that was not far behin
T. Canada Joe. This low-browed blac
le fellow was reported to be the wors
- > man in all that country. And that wa
u saving he was bad indeed.
70 / was in tight place now, and ha
y to think fast. My first plan was
:. ride forward and face this man befor
~ the others came up. But was reall
ID afraid of him. 1t seemed a much easie
SO task to turn and kill the two rear me
S Ses and get back to town. But, no! NJ
le All this was abandoned almost
q. soon as thought of. In those day
to even the most desperate had certa
E. rights which their surviving frient
would enforce.
10 was now but few hundred var
as behind Canada Joe. So far as / cou
g find out, the robbers were closing
e. on me. But we had ridden over ii
$. roughest part of the road and we
In within few miles of the high platea
le so that the wind was tearing past in
" gale, and the drifting snow almo
s. blinded me.
ed Suddenly, I had a new though
IN Why not take to the left, gain Il
plateau by new route, and let the
ne bloodthirsty robbers close their n
IS without having me inside? I rose
" my saddle with excitement at the ide
and striking spurs to my brave hors
au was soon climbing up the gradu
e; slope at a gallop. All! but was gla
Cd Gallop! gallop! gallop. I seemed
a hear many horses! Turning my he'
nt suddenly over my shoulder, saw n
w two pursuers not hundred yards b
st hind me. They shouted! I was nc
s. on the high plateau and the snow W
ee not so deep. Gallop! galiop! gallo
n Canada Joe-thank Heaven!-w
w away to the right. and fast falling /
y; hind. Gallop! gallop! gallop! 1 W
ed gaining on the robbers and they kne
90 it. Fainter and fainter came the
curses and their shouts.
And then: Whizi Crack! Thud!
looked back and saw that they bo
IL had thrown themselves from the
d, saddles and were taking deliberate ali
od But to no purpose. Not one sh
rd touched me or my horse, and reach
lis the first station and, finally, rode in
us Walla Walla, with my precious br
ks den, safe and sound.-St. Nicholas.
p
q GnhAoIroorn and