The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-12-30
SINGING RIVER.

cit was late in the sixties.
After perilous, tedious and fruitless
journey to the upper Kootenay, we had
decided to return eastward over the trail
already known to us rather than try to
reach the Pacific over an entirely un-
known route, beset with extraordinary
danger and hitherto almost untraveled.
Our party was fairly well organize&
considering the fact that we were mefe.
ly on prospecting trip, led out by Many
stories of fabulous strikes and rich dig
gings.
We were as sorely disappointed a lot
as ever started on a back xrail. Not
even a decent color did wg find on the
weary way. Seated a1oKt the camp
fire that evening, Bill Upper, our guide,
finally broke the silence, which had
lasted for over half AN hour, as every
man felt too keenly/ the disappointment
of returning empty handed.
''See here, boys" said Bill, "here We
sit mopin and mopin, night after night,
over matters /as can't be helped. It's
hundreds of miles back yonder to the
diggins in1LAlder gulch, which is es far
es We kin, git this season, barrin no mis-
hap. Thar amt no use stayin hee-,
and if we don't be movin soon, snow
will ketch us in the hills afore we kin
| get across"
The force of the argument struck
| home 1t aroused us all from the usual
after supper lethargy which we were
accustomed to drop into. To be caught
| on the main range of the Rockies IL
midwinter was a prospect so horrible
and uninviting that we determined tC
| lose no time in getting started for home.
We concluded to devote one day tC
hunting and supplying the party with
fresh meat, To prepare q lot for the trip
and then be off. Game was plentiful ir
that uucanpy region and we found Tic
trouble in getting all that we wanted
On the following day we started early
and after a wearisome march reached
the summit of the continental divide
safely.
Early fall had set in when we began
the ascent. We had taken the lower
route, the one used by Lewis and Clarke
in their expedition to the Columbia, and
now known as Mullan pass. This would
bring us to the neighborhood of Last
Chance, which was i'll its primeval in
fancy when we left the far off settle
ments.
Our stock of breadstuffs was running
low, and it was necessary to reach some
camp as early as possible.
The scenes we passed through foI
beauty and sublimity beggared all de-
scription. Occasionally a scared bird
would rise hastily into space as our col
umn came winding down the trail,
which was so narrow as to compel us to
ride Indian fashiOn-one behind the 9th
er-with the pack animals in groups be-
tween us, thus making conversation
| during the progress of the journey I'M
possible.
1t is doubtful if any of the others paid
heed to the attractions of the country
Silently the cavalcade wendell its way
down the steep trail. The whole looked
so uninviting and dangerous that invol-
UNFAIRLY each man looked to his fire
arms and all drew as close together as
possible while we rode on, and many q
pipe was slowed away in the pocket OF
its owner. 1t stood us in hand to be
careful, as the Indian did not look with
great favor upon the inroads the white
men were making upon his hitherto un-
disputed domain. Many venturesome
prospector had left the settlements be
fore us and had never returned, leaving
his bones to bleach in the sun and rain
until found later, if ever, by others fol
lowing in his footsteps. Danger lurked
even in the closest proximity of the set
Elements, and the unwary could never
tell when the blow might fall. Eternal
vigilance was the price of life.
The sun was setting. 1t became evi
dent that we could not reach Last
| Chance before dark, although we could
see the smoke of the camp, as we were
ON much higher ground. We We're nov
| leisurely following the course of a small
stream unknown to us. Arriving at {
small tableland, we decided to pitcl
camp there for the night, for we welt
tired and hungry. Camp was sooI
ready and preparations for hearty
| supper were quickly under way. NJ
accident had befallen us thus far, anc
while consuming the meal with raven
GUS appetite the boys soon found theil
old time humor, and many good story
was dished up for dessert. After sup
per the animals were picketed in cluml
of bushes near by. The evening was
perfect.
The boys were idling about the tents
A few were playing cards; others were
| stretched out in the luxuriant grass
busy with sky gazing, perhaps thinking
of home and friends a good many mile:
/ away.
Bill Topper had wandered away to
/ wards the stream, and we could see him
in the twilight, seated ON huge bowl
der, near the waters edge, listening in
tently to something. Then he walked
up the stream, and returning walked
/ down the stream. At times he halted
and once he stopped and placed his eal
to the ground. Suddenly the sound Of
horses hoofs was plainly audible, and
while Bill was running back to camp
revolver IN hand, a stranger came dash
ing up, looking more dead than alive
Behind him and clinging to hinl was q
woman. The horse looked jaded, and
both riders were nearly worn out.
We asked them to sit down and rest
| but the man answered at once: "Cap
tain there is no time to lose. Rather gel
| your shooting irons ready and look tc
| your animals. You see, we were calnped
down the creek distance of about five
miles. We could see the smoke of you1
campfires all the evening. We were
right in thinking this white mans
camp, as the Indians hardly @ver use
green wood. There were only three o.
us--iny partner, his wife and myself
About tvp h1REs sre &c stopped g ge'