The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-22
SINGING RIVER.


, already Known TO us rather than try to-
reach the Pacific over an entirely I'M
known route, bcset with extraordinary
danger and hitherto almost uutraveled.
/, Our party was fairly well organized,
considering the fact that we were mere
ly on prospecting trip, led out by many
i stories of fabulous strikes and rich dig
gings.
We were as sorely disappointed lot
as ever started on back trail. Not
even decent color did we find on the
weary way. Seated about 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 vel
sit mopin and mopin, night after night,
: over matters as can't be helped. IT'S
hundreds of miles back yonder to the
diggins in Alder gulch, which is es far
es We kin git this season, barrin no mis-
hap Thar amt no use stayin heer,
and if we don't be movin soon, snowl
will ketch us in the hills afore we kim
get across"
\ The force of the argument struck
home. 1t aroused MS all from the usual
after supper lethargy which we wercI
] accustomed to drop into. To be caug.
on the main range of the Rockies inI
midwinter was u prospect so horribleI
and uninviting that we determined toI
lose no time in getting started for home.
We concluded to devote one day toI
hunting and supplying the party with
; fresh meat, to prepare lot for the trip.
and then be off. Game was plentiful irI
that uncanny region and we found mo-
/. trouble in getting all that we wanted.
On the following day we started early
:. e:i,l after 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 uscd by Lewis and Clarke
+ in their expedition TO the Columbia, and
now known as Mnllan pass, This would
bring us to the neighborhood Of Last
Chance, which was in its priueval in.
fancy when we left the far off settle
monts.
,
low, and it was necessary to reach some
+ camp MS early as possible.
The scenes we passed through for
beauty and sublimity bcggarcd all de
, scription. Occasionally scared bird
would rise hastily into space as our col
unn came winding down the trail
which was so narrow as to compel us Ia
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
J possible
r 1t is doubtful if any of the others paid
heed to the attractions of the country.
I Silently the cayalcade wended its way
!. down the steep trail. The whole looked
so uninviting and dangerous that invol-
II unfairly each man looked to his fire
arms and all drew as close together as
. possible while we rode on, and many n
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
d great favor upon the inroads the white
=. men We're making upon his hitherto nm.
= disputed domain. Many venturesomc
5; prospector had left the settlements he.
fore us and had never returned, leaving
his bones to bleach in the sun and rain,
II until found later. if ever, hv others fol.
t lowing in HIS footsteps Danger lurkcd
h even i'll the closest proximity Of the set.
Elements, and the unwary could never
, tell when the blow might fall Eternal
IS vigilance WIS the price Of life.
The sun was setting. 1t became evi
dent that we could not reach Lpst
c, Chance before dark, although we coulf
i. see the smoke of the camp, as we wer,
on much higher ground. We were nov
X. leisurcly following the course of Il slnal
DC stream unknown to us. Arriving at ;
small tablclaud we decided to pitci
camp there for the night, for we wer,
tired and hungry. Camp was 500,
ready and preparations for a heart,
supper We're quickly under way. n,
accident had befailcn us thus far, am,
= while consuming the meal with raven
Gus appetite the boys soon found thei
old time humor, and many good stor
was dishcd up for dessert. After SUI
per the animals were piCketed in clum
of bushes near by. The evening wa
perfect.
The boys We're idlinS about the tent
A few were playing cards; others wel
stretched out in the luxpriant gras,
busy with sky gazing, perhaps thitltin
j. of home and friends good many mile
I, away.
Bill Topper had wandered away t,
wards the stream, and we could see hin
in the twilight, seated ON huge bow
der, near the waters edge, listening il
tently to something. Then he wallic
/ up the stream, and returning Wake
down the stream. At times he halle,
and once he stopped and placed his ei
to the ground. Suddenly the sound
horses boots was plainly audible, an
{ while Bill was running back to cam
revolver in hand, II stranger came dasl
ing up, looking more dead than aliv
E.Brhind htnn anu ylinalng 10 DlIn Ma,
a woman. The horse looiipd faded. AN