The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-24

ton several years ago, the gentlemao
started out one fne morning in Sep
tember with rifle and fishing rod.
mounted on a sure-footed beast-ono
that was thoroughly used to the rough
and rocky mountain paths
Having reached place on one of tho
mountain streams that he had visited
before, he whiled away some little time
angling. but soon tired Of this sport
and started ont for larger game. in the
meantime turning his horse TO Craze
in meadow-like place near at hand.
thinking surely he would return before
dark
Time passed quickly. and before he
was aware OF it darkness was upon him
and he had wandered some distance.
His first thought was 20 the direction
to take to get to his horse and return
to his hotel, located near Berryville.
But he was about in The nix a mariner
would be on the high seas without a
compass,
The night grew darker and darker
and he wandered aimlessly on. hoping
and trusting he might be on the right
path But fate was against him.
Suddenly terrible sight met his
eyes and an awful combination OF hiss
ing. bowling and shrieking fell upon
his ears At turn in the narrow path
ne Looked over the precipice into
verita de ditch and all he could SEQ
was what TO him looked like thousands
OF green eyes And he was making
preparations to move on as rapidly as
possible when he remembered that he
had lost his way and was liable 20
step into this pit at any moment.
What could he do? Below him were
thousands OF savage beasts and venom
Gus reptiles. any one OF which could
have mastered him in his then cx-
hausted condition.
FINALLY the distracted and uucop-
seious hunter knew nothing more Of
his horrible surroundings, having
tainted from fright.
Not returning TO his lodge that night.
some of the older residents of the vi
entity started out to search for him
All day long they hunted the caves and
other retreats for hunters in that re-
gion, and it was not until near dusk that
one section of the party came upon
what they thought was the corpse OF
the wanderer.
Calling in the rest of the party with
their horns. they applied stimulants
and brought him 10 consciousness.
Asked about his horse he was unable
to speak, being absolutely paralyzed
from fright. He was carried to vehi-
Gle left at the nearest point to the point
traverse bic by a wagon OF any sort, md
ia ken TO his lodge where a physician
was summoned; but it was several days
before he could speak word. and the
only way he could express himself was
by the word awful" oft repe ated in
his then semi-delirious condition.
His faithful horse was found where
left and was evidently more OF a mou n
taineer than his rider.
The pit of wild beasts and reptiles,
which ad frightened almost TO death
the subject of this sketch was known
! TO the o lder settlers as "Sure Death
| Hollow" and rightly named IL was.
too; for in that den was 10 be found
! every species of snake known in the
section and also savage animals. any
one of which would have been more
than a match for a single human being.
unless he was a sure shot and man of
unheard of nerve.
As TO the victim @. this terrible night.
he was months recovering from tho
prostration, and was granted an extra
leave of absence by his department in
order that he might journey to the sea-
shore. where hunters are not seen. 10
is useless TO say that he has never since
taken mountain trip alone or with
anyone else.-St. Louis Republic.