The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-02
KILLED BY MOUNTAIN LIONS.
Fate of Prospectors in the Kootenai Coun-
try-Beseiged by Ravenons Animals.

Fate of Prospectors in the Kootenat Coun-
try-Bessiged by Ravenons Animals.
BOISE. Idaho, Oct. Inviting from
Kootenai Lake, in British Columbia, to his
father near Boise, George Martin relates a
terrible tale of death, the victims of the
tragedy being William Corlett, of Calves
ton. and Henry Gesford, formerly OF st.
Paul. The unfortunate men, together with
Martin and three others, had been for sew
eral months engaged in prospecting, and
with considerable success. They had dis
covered nine rich lodes. and a few days be-
fore their terrible death it had been ar
ranged that Gesford and Corlett should
proceed east and attempt to interest wealthy
friends in their prospects. On Sept. 10 the
entire party of gold seekers went ont for a
big hunt. About ten miles from camp. as
Martin, Gesford and Corlett were walking
through a narrow deile, a large mountain
lion sprang from the top of an overhanging
rock, alighting upon Gesford, and bore him
to the earth. Corlett hit the savage animal
a blow with the butt of bis rifle. whereat it
left Gesford and attacked the intrepid Cor
lett. Before the latter could fire the lion
terribly crushed his right arm and his left
hip, after which it disappeared in the un.
dergrowth. When Martin, who WAS some
distance behind his fellows, came up he
found both Gesford and Corlett in an in
sensible condition. The latter was desoer-
ately injured, but Gesford soon regained
.snsciousness.
Making a litter of green bouRhs upon
which to carry the mRngled Corlett, a start
was made for camp. Just before sunset the
wounded man recovered from his long
swoon and begged piteously that his con-
ductors would stop for a time. as the mo-
ton of their rapid progress caused him
great agony. Martin, however, was afraid
that Corlett would die unless his ter ible
wounds were attended to. 30 he and Ges-
ford continued on their way. AS soon rs
night foil they were literally besieged by
ravenous animals which, attracted by the
odor of blood, had silently followed the
three men for miles. The only thing to be
done was to stop and light a fire, in order
that they might not be assaulted by the hun
cry providers, whose fiery eyes could be seen
in the darkness. Building a circle OF fire
around their wounded comrade, Martin
and Gesford prepared to repulse any attack
by their four-footed foes. Presently, how
ever, something seemed to stampede the
animals, for they ran pell-mell up the cali
yon with a%ffrighted cries.
After waiting about two hours, Martin
set out for camp to bring aid to Corlett.
When he and the other member of the party
returned at daylight they were horror
stricken at what they saw. Corlett, with the
scorched barrel of a rifle in hig hands, was
lying across the dying fire, which had lit
orally cooked him to death. Search for
Gesford resulted in the finding of his body
in three parts at a little stream about
100 feet from whore Corlett's corpse was
lying. Wild animals had killed the poor
fellow and nearly devoured his body. 1t is
thought that Geeford went to the spring
for water for the feverish and dying Cor
lett, and that the animals, which had re-
turned to their bivouao and were watching
his movements, followed and killed him.
The savage creatures then presumably re-
turned to where Corlett was living, when he.
game to the last. grasped q rifle and tried
to stand up, when his weak legs gave way
and he pitched forward into the fire. The
bodies were inferred near the scene Of the
double tragedy. and heavy stones were
rolled upon their graves.