, 1892-04-11

4 49, AHA GAs w 4&AJAA4ISN@ l. &AN9 j
The ca plain and 4 got across safely with
the cattle, but the other men landed on
4 the same side on which they had started.
4 We got on our horses and started for the
suffering commands. Just imagine how
/ cold the snow water of Snake river is in
/ April, and after swimming through half
a mile of it to drive a bunch Of cattle
six miles, with no clothing but an under
shirt and pair of drawers, running our
horses to keep up with the cattle, the
wind blowing chill enough to freeze
| the shirts ON our backs till they ratified
like paste board, then the next morning
to ride back and take the same dose in a
4 splitting snow storm. But we did it, as
| Colonel James Kelly and I. r. Cor
nelius, who still live, can testify. That
was the first time I saw Captain Hem
brey. warned him to be careful, aa
we had crossed trail made apparently
| by at least 500 Indians. who had just
gone along toward the Columbia river,
about six miles below the point where
the captains command was crossing,
and from their manmuvers [ thought
the Indians intended to cut the men off
and capture their horses. AS / had
feared, the Indians caught him, and the
gallant captain was inundated upon the
altar erected for the sacrifice of thous-
ands Of other intrepid heroes who inter
posed their lives to protect their families
and save this fair western land as heri-
| tage to their children and children q
children forever.
Returning to my command, i was de-
tailed with twelve or fourteen Of my
companions to convey Samuel Price
lnow a brother-in-law Of Senator
Mitchell Of Oregon) to The Dalles for
medical treatment, as he was suffering
4 from the mountain fever.
Reaching the John Day river, we
found that stream very much swollen,
and having no means OF crossing, we
camped for the night. The rain de-
/ scended in torrents, and we bent will
lows and spread our blankets over them
for protection from the storm.
The ensuing morning we began to
i construct raft on which to convey the
sick man to the opposite side OF the
river, which was deep, wide and swift as
a mill race. on coming out Of our I'M
4 promptu tent a man named Geer caught
his gun-lock on one Of the willow poles
and Ghe weapon was discharged, the ball
ing out at the hip.
We thus had two invalids on our
hands, and one raft would not hold
them. Seeing that immediate action
was necessary, JEFF Miller and nyself
agreed to risk our chances with the river
and 90 to The Dalles for assistance.
Plunging into the stream with our
horses, after some difficulty. we were
fortunate enough to make the other
side, and started rapidly for The Dalles,
some sixty miles distant. We had gone
but short distance, when looking at a
hill near US | observed something re-
sembling a cougar Or other wild animal
apparently sitting on its launches
atching US. With a boyish spirit !
told Miller was going to scare the ami
NAL and see it run. We had no guns
being unable to swim the river with
them, so rode towards the animal un.
armed. Getting within about forty
yards Of the supposed cougar, / noticed
it dodge down behind the rocks, and
"smelling MICE" as it were, | turned
my horses head in the opposite direc.
ton and put cruel spurs into his tanks
lust in time 10 hear wild wells ISSUING
from half score of dusky throats
(Jef Miller is now a resident of Klicki.
tat county.D
Sure enough it was FsTniqns'' and tbe
'animal'' On top Of the rock had beer
fixed up as decoy, which came very
near doing what it Was intended to az
When | overlook my companion oui
steeds were in a dead run, and then
began a race for life. Having no weapons
we depended entirely upon the speed Of
ol1r nYcAlIant horees and tho Tndians
recognizing the superioritv of o,11
animals, sought to cut us of, but by
dint of dodging in the CANYONS and oye1
precipitous hills, we finally cot OUT Of
their reach. (Paddy Min, late clerk ot
the Umatilla Indian reservation. knows
also Of this ride.) Arriving at The
Dalles without further incident. We en.
deavored to persuade several different
doctors to u to the relief of our disabled
comrades, but The gentlemen refused NJ
endanger thir lives bv making the trip
4 Fortunately for the sick men, a wagon
train, guarded by troops, passed in The
vicinity of the camp and they were
happy to state, they both finally re.
In few days orr command was mus.