St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-02
WERE SAVED FROM DEATH.
HOW The cERLiR HUNTING PARTY
WE'RE SAVED.
MUCH SUFFERING FROM COLD.
How the Party Planned for Their
Escape From the Ice-Bound
Regions-Joyf full Rescue by the
Relief Party After a Tedious
Journey of Many Days-Their
Cook Left to Die.


Cook Left to Die.
KENDRICK, Idaho, Dec. 1.-Lieut.
Elliott, who was in charge of one of the
relief expeditions sent out from Van
couver barracks to rescue the lost Carlin
hunting party, has arrived here with
the rescued party. The party consisted
of w. E. Carlin, son of Brig. Gen. Will
lam P. Carlin: j. ii. Pierce, brother-in-
law of Mr.. Cariin. and A. l.. Himmel
wright, secretary of the Columbia
Granite company, of Newly DIRK. Lieut..
Elliott reached the party Nov. %. A.
i. Himmelwright gives the following
account of the hunting trip and rescue:
The party was organized last summer.
They secured their outfit in Spokane,
and engaged Martin Spencer as guide.
and George Colgate, of Post Falls, as
cook. They proceeded by train to Ken
drick, Idaho, and with ten cayuseS and
five weeks provisions, started out from
that point on Sept. IS. The route was,
by way of Snell's Mill, Weepee. Browns
creek and Mussel Shell creek. At
this point the trail branches from Lolo
trail, and leads toward the springs
Oh the Clearwater river, the
destination of the party, which was
reached on Sept. 20. Although it rained
steadily for thirteen days, which inter
fered considerably with the pleasure of
the hunting party, they met with great
success, and on Oct. 10 started on the
return trip over the LoIo trail. After
reaching the top of First ridge, parallel
to the Clearwater river, two and half
feet of snow was found, and the guide
estimated that the snow would be four
feet deep on the higher portions of the
Lolo trail. Should the horses become
exhausted from lack of food, the party
would be compelled to walk the balance
of the distance to MuSSel Shell creek,
md, as the cook was sick and unable to
walk, his position in that case would be
very serious. 1t was decided to return
build RATS. If by the time the rats
were completed the cook was still un-
able to walk, all attempt would be
made to float down the river to
the South Fork. near which river
ranches were known to be 10
Gated. Fifteen days were consumed
in building two RATS, and several
days more we're devoted to a final exam
ination of the LoIo trail and in securing
meat for the proposed trip down the
river. MI. Spencer found the trail inl-
practicable, after labOrious trip in the
snow. The cook, in the meantime had
been growing feebler every day. A
trapper, Ben keely. who, in partnership
with Prospector Jerry johnson, had
built a cabin near where the hunting
party had camped, was engaged to ac-
company the party. With his supply of
provisions equally divided on RATS. so
as to avoid the possibility Of losing all
their provisions i'll case either of the
RATS were lost, the party embarked and
began the journey down the river on
Nov. 8. A number of saddles, trophies
and articles of the outfit were left for
safety in Jerry JOhnson'S cabin until
next summer, while the cayuses were
left TO foam over the same territory that
furnished them ample food while the
party was in camp. The upsets and de-
lay caused by the necessity of eXamin-
ing the river in advance of the RATS
made progress slow, and by Nov. Is only
twenty-five miles had been accom-
plished. At this point the river
was found to be full Of pro-
jecting bouders, and the water
very swift. Further examination re-
suited in the discovery of several other
impossible places i'll the river, which
made rafting impracticable. 1t was
therefore decided to abandon the RATS
and proceed the remaining distance of
about thrty-eight miles on foot. The
cook, at that time, was in a Semi-con-
SciouS condition. caused by mortifica-
ton having developed in his legs below
the knees. Only eight days provisions
were left, aud as the cook could not pos
sibly live but few days longer, and
was besides perfectly helpless, he was
made as comfortable as possible, and
the rest of the party began the Journey
OH foot. The shores of the river were 4
mass of ragged rocks, OH which one
could get at best only an uncertain foot
hold. Frequently a large projecting
cliff would hang over the river, and an
hour or more would be consumed i'll
surrounding it. On the third day after
abandoning the RATS, the party reached
Black Canyon, which proved to be
eight miles in length. The river there
has almost vertical walls, vary
ing from 200 to 1000 feet il
height. Clinging to bushes anC
small saplings, with footing some
times of only few inches Ill width and
often many hundred feet above the
river, the progress Of the party was
necessarily slow and extremely hazard
Gus. Three days were consumed il
passing through the canyon, without
shelter or blankets, and sometimes
harraSsed by rain and snow. Very little
sleep could be secured, and, when Oh
the eighth day the supply Of flour Wa:
exhausted, there was ample cause Il
feel discouraged; but, enfeebled as il
was from the loss of sleep and the
scarcity Of food, the party pusheC
bravely on. On the tenth day OF theTl
tramp. Nov. %, after having SubSIsteC
for two days Oh tea, three fish and few
berries. while slowly moving down the
river, and when within five miles of the
nearest ranch, the party IS fortunate
enough to meet Lieut.. Elliott. The
lieutenant Immediately made camp. ant
cared for the hungry men. As s0or
as the party was able to travel, they
were hurried onward by boats to al
Indian ferry on the north fork of the
Clearwater river. twenty-four mile!
from Kendrick, then by wagon to SnelF:
mill and thence to Kendrick, where
they arrived safely Nov. 30, and were
met by Brig. Gen. William z. Carlin
On the following day, Dee. l, they
reached Spokane, where the party dis
banded. When the route by the trai
was abandoned the party was com
pelleQ 10 rely on us own resources, d;
the guide was not familiar with the
river or the management OF small Graf
in swift water. They certainly coulC
have gotten out by Nov. by pushing
through the SNOW on foot, after exhaust
ing the horses, or by snowshoes, which
they could have easily made from the
hides that were allowed to go to waste
in their camp. 1t WAS solely the hope
of bringing out George Colgate safely
that led them to endure the month O
untold hardship and suffering which
the trip down the river necesSitated.
DEATH ON THE TREsTLE.
a Young lady Run Down and