New-York tribune., 1893-12-02
STORY OF THE LOST HUNTERS.
THE CARIIN PARTY REACH CIVILIZATION
AGAIN.
NARRATIVE OF THEIR PERILOUS JOURNEY FROM
TIE MorNTAINs-TIIE COCK LEFT TO DIE
on THE wAY-RAFTING DOWN
THE CLEARWATER RIVER.

THE CLEARWATER RIVER.
Kandrick Idaho Dec THE Carn party, who
were supposed to have been lost In Bitter Root
Mountains Idaho. and whose rescue excited so
much interest during the last few weeks arrived
here safely with the exception of George Colgate,
the cook who fell sick and was left 10 die in the
mountains The party consisted Of w. r. Carlin,
son OF Brigadier- General William Carlin; j. Pierce
brother-in-law of Mr.. Carin, and A. L. A. Him.
rnelwright secretary of the Columbia Grant Com
pany. of New-York. Himmelwright gives the fol-
lowing account OF the partys experience:
THE party was organized last summer ana
started from Spokane, Wash. where they engaged
Martin Spencer as guide and George Colgate as
cook They proceeded by train to Kendrick Idaho,
and with ten cayuses and five weeks provisions
started out from that point on September l6
"rhe route was by way of SHELLS MIL Weippe,
Browns Creek. Musselshel Creek and thence via
the Iolo trail to what are known as the indian
postoffices hfty-fve miles from Musselsnell creek
AT this point the trail branched out from the Lolo
trail. and led to Warm Springs on Clearwater
River the destination Of the party, when was
reached on September 26.
"AIthough IL rained steadily for thirteen days
which interfered considerably with the pleasure OF
hunting the party met with great success ana on
October 10 started on the return trip over the
Lolo trail After reaching the top or the hrst
ridge parallel to the Clearwater River. two ana
mated that the snow would be four feet higher
on portions of the Loo trail Should the horses
become exhausted from lack or food' the party
would be compelled to walk the balance or the ds-
,orco N Nusselshe Creek. and as the COOK was
sick and unable to walk. his position IN 'hat case
would be very serious. II was consequently de-
cded 10 return to the old camp on the Clearwater
and build RATS. II by the time the rai's were
completed the cook was still unable TO Walk an
attempt would be made to float down the river
to South Fork. near which several ranches were
known 10 be located. Fifteen days were consumed
in building the two RATS, then several days more
were devoted to a final examination OF 'he Lo''
trail and in securing meat for the proposed UP
down tn. river The trail was found impracticaoie'
The cook in the mean time had been ,, growing ras
feebler every day rapper Ben Ree,ey: a supply
engaged 10 ACCOMPANY the party n rafs ss so as 70
avoid the possibility OF losing aI 'nI,s h psyty en-
be red and began their Journey down the river on Sn
%oy'nber z Two upsets and the delay caused oy
The necessity OF examining the river IN advance o.
the RATS made progress slow, and py NoVenttoeii Nti
n only tventv-two miles had been accomplished;;
~ The point the river found TO be full OF
projecting powders and the current very swift ~
Further examination resulted in tne oiscoNeIA Oh Oh
several other impossible places In the river w', :,
absndan the RATS and proceed the remaining my as IS,
his tirno was in a semi-conscous condition morti-
dcatlon @ having set in in his legs below his knees
only esh, & dsy podsby vs more than few days
Ionger and was besides perfectly helpless he was
r.rin as comfortable possible ana the rest oi
the party began their Journey on foot. -. $4,000,
The shores OF the river We're nnhss ol iasee =,
rocks or which one could get at best only an
unccrrain foothoid Frequently a large proJectlns r
Gin would oVcrhang the river and an hor or more
would be consumed In surmounting H., On tMne M
third day after abandoning the RATS me Party
reached Black Canyon. which proved TO oe elsnt
miles in length. The river there has almost We, YER
tlcal walls varying from 200 to 1000 feet IN height
t,Imbrr lv he aid Of bushes and small saplings
with footing sometimes only few inches VIDE
and often mnny hundred feet above the river the
nrogrcss ~ the party was necessarily slow ana eX
tremey hazardous .,,,vh
.Threa ,lavs were consumed in passing through
this canvon without shelter or blankets. ana some
times ha-assed by rain and snow. Very little steep
comld he secured and when on the eighth day the
supply Of -four exhausted there was anple
cause 10 feel discouraged but, enfeebled as thsy
were from loss OF sleep and scarcity OF tood, the
PARTY pushed bravely on the tenth DAY OF tnelr
tramp November -. after having subsisted Tor TWO
days on tea. three fishes. a few berries Whne
slowly moving down the river ana Wnen Wlthln
five miles of the nearest ranch. the narty was Tor
tunate enough to meet Lieutenant Elliot VINO was
I'm charge OF one Of the relief expeditions sent out
from Vancouver Barracks.