The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-04
OFF THE TRAN
GhAstsy work Of . Blaxxard n the No.
tains Of yevnan

=
tains Of Nevaan.
By and By we came out on q blum
from which we conld look down into
the long and narrow valley Two miles
to the north and on the far side of the
valley we caught sight OF three or four
white-topped wagons. while a number
Of horses were grazing on the rich
pasturare.
Daytoa's wagon train had got OF the
mountains of Nevada-eighs wagons
end thirtv-seren men. women and
children II WAS September when ther
were last seen on the trail: il was now
june OF the following year. Every
valley and psss in the eastern portion
OF the wild territory was being ius2ecs-
ed by men sent Quito solve the mystery
One day they had turned OF the trail
to find shorter and better route. No
word had come from them since. II had
been terribly hard winter. but there
Was hope Of nndipg a. least part OF
them alive. :.
We made our way along the bluffs
until n spot WAS found where we could
descend into the valley We were
hardly down before the horses came
running W, and their every action
showed thai they were ove-ioyed "a
sight OK human beings. They were hol-
low eyed and poor n flesh N the grass
had only just begun 20 furnish pastur-
age We fired Off cur guns as . signal
TO the people IN camp that help WAS at
hand. but no one appeared in sight.
We had looked for the smoke OF CAMP
fires from the bluff but not the faint
est trace could be seen. As we adj
vanced upon the wagons the horses
kept us company. following atour heels
like dogs, and their action prepared -
In measure Tor what was TO come.
When within half mile of the camp
we could coant the wagons-eigh,.
The covers still remained, but faded
and widowed Each was backed up
against the steep hillside and the
fronts OF all were closed. In front Of
the wagons were four blsckened spots
on which the grass would not grow.
These had been the campfires of tho
emigrants. AZ a distance of two hun
dred feet we halted aud raised cheer
and two of the men discharged their
rifles. but not a sound came from the
grim-looking wagons. We stood there
for three or four minutes. hoping thas
some one would appear, and yet feeling
that we had come too late. when ths
old hunter who had acted as our guido
solemnly observed:
IF thar's anythin' Twin in this camp
it's too sick and feeble 10 move.
Some of YOU had better taae u locs
into the wagons"
For time everyone hung back.
There were the horses and wagons,
out where were the thirty-seven men.
women and chiid-en7 Between the
wagons, which were about ten fee.
apart, the grass was thickest ami
greeneSt, but the horses had not tel
there. AS we started forward after
our last halt they did not follow IT'S.
out stood with heads MP and ears
pointed forward and seemes inclined
TO run away.
Its got to be done" said IN. Lieu
tenant. "bst hspc they all got awav
Now, then. each man 10 q wagon You
needn stop at the covers. bat taite
your knives and cut the fronts away
and let the sunlight and daylight IN
| sprang up on the front of wagon
and cut and tore the cover away. but
did not look in. A crv from the man on
my left warned me OF the sght should
behold. The guide bsckoned TO me.
and together we went up the valley
a bout twelve rods 20 the spot where
they had ob:s med most of their fire.
wood. Lying on his face on the ground.
with arms still clasped about bundle
of limbs, was dead man. sitting
down, with his back to a small ire.
and hands over his face, was another.
while an Ak Law beside him. There wax
no odor. no ghastliBeSs. As YOU looked
at them they seemed 20 be sleeping.
''Thar's another-and another said
the guide as he pointed up the valley.
Its easy to see how IL came about"
In the wagons they found twen,--
eight dead. The four we foun1 made
Five Of the men had left
the camp perhaps in mid-winter. and
had started mp or down the valleY in
hopes 10 find way out or bring relief
When they persisted no man has ever
found out II may have been IN the
very dsy they started that the blizzard
zane. The horses must have found
sheltered nook sonew here and hud li.8
-ogether. A gale had scrssmrd 80 and
iown that waller two or three DAYS its
breath a. erusl a. the edge Of Knife.
Ind bringing with IL such fall Of
now that Il still lar solid az Toe In The
hady spots. The men had made n
brave effort 10 keep the fires going,
put human fesh z-d blood could not
tand against an eser.y which drove
- frosty breath deep into sinty rookie
md spit them n twain. Some law
inder their blsnssts--some sat With
bowed heads and arms folded across
heir breasts The cold had ne, tor.
urcd them Death had come as sleep
ONES TO rs AZ night-euistly and
gratefully. Side by sids in on. lone
rench We laid thsfn and covered them
n, and Their. they res; to-day. forgot
en- 20 the world IA 4. they had nsysr
xlsted. NJ. Quad. in Chicago Tsnsa
Fousr Of the Inauguration
81 never was more firmly convinced
4 the po~er OF inaz nat.0n. sad
1an. than ! vas ~ aofnsth az tha.
appened 20 the on tie occasion of 4