The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-10-01
TELEGRAPHIO NEWS.
A Tale of Death.

BOISE CITY, Idaho, Sept. 25.-WritinG
from Kootenai lake In British Columbia
to his father near Boise, George Martin
relates CHASTITY tale of death, the vIctiml
of the tragedy being William Corlett, Of
Galveston, and Henry Gesford, formerly
| of St. Paul. The unfortunate men, to
| gether with Martin and three others, had
been tor several months engaged in pros
| pecting, and with considerable success
| They had discovered nine rich lodes, ano
few days before their terrible death, il
| had been arranged that Gesford aud Cor
lett should go east and attempt to interes,
wealthy friends in their prospects. Sept
ember 10 the entire party of gold seekers
| went out for big hunt. About 10 miles
from camp, as Martha, Gesford and Cor
| lett were walking through a narrow de
fle, large mountain hon sprang from
the top of an overhanging rock, allghted
| upon Gesford and bore him TO the earth.
Corlett hit the savage animal blow
with the butt of his rife, whereat it left
Gesford and attacked Cor,ett. Before the
latter could fire, the lion terribly crushed
his right arm and his left hip, after
which it disappeared IN the underground.
When Martin, who was some distance
behind his fellows, came up, be found
both Gesford and Corlett in an Insensibie
condition. The latter was desperately
injured, but Gesford soon regained con-
sciousness.
THE MARCH TO CAMP.
Making litter of green boughs, upon
which to carry the mangled Corlett, a
start was made for camp. Just before
sunset, the wounded man recovered from
his long swoon and begged plteously
that his condctors would stop for time,
as the motion OF their rapid progress
caused him great agony. Martin, how
ever, was afraid that Corlett would die
unless his terrible wounds were attended
to, so he and Gesford continued ON their
way. AS soon as night fell, they were
literally besieged with ravenous animals,
which attracted by the odor of blood. had
silently followed the three men for miles.
The only thing to De done was to stop
and light a fire IN order tina. they might
not be assailed by the hungry providers
whose swapping eyes could be seen in the
darkness. Building circle of fire
around their wounded comrade, Martin
and Gestord prepared to repulse any at
tack by their four footed foes Presently,
however, something seemed to stampede
the animals, for they ran pell nell up
the canyon with affrighted cries. After
waiting about two hours, Martin set out
for camp to bring aid to Corlett.
DEyOuRED Ry WILD ANIMAIs
When he and the other members of the
party returned at daylight, they were
horror-stricken at what they saw. Cor
lett, with the scorched barrel of a rifle in
his hands, was lying across the dying fire,
which had literally cooked him TO death.
A search for Gesford resulted In finding
his body in three parts at little stream
about 100 feet from where Coriett's
corpse was lying. The wild animal had
killed the poor fellow and nearly de-
voured his body. It is thought that
Gesford went to the spring for weter for
the feverish and dying Corlett, and that
the animals, which had returned to their
bivouac and were watching his move
ments, followed him and killed hlm.
The savage creatures then presumably
to where Corlett was lying,
when he, game to the last, grasped
rifle and tried to stand up, when his
weak legs gave way and he pitched for
ward into the fire. The bodies were in
TERED neal the scene of the double
tragedy and heavy stones were rolled
upon the graves.