The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-10-11
LOST IN THE ROCKIES.
A Comrades Adventure During the Powder
River Expedition.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: A detach-
ment of the 18th Ohio Cav, in command OF
Gen. Conner, was camped on Powder River
after the fight we had with the Sioux Indians
in the Fall OF 1865 One day with some others
concluded to go hunting. We asked Gen. Con-
ner for permission, and he said we could 90 ;
not to take our own horses, but the Indian
ponies we had captured a few days before.
We left camp at daylight, crossed the
river, and soon came in sight of antelope.
Tom Simpson and / were together; he
thought we ought to separate so we could
get at them better.
/ went off by myself, and soon saw o
buffalo calf, which followed and killed.
| only took the liver, thinking / would go
back to camp and get some of the boys to
return with me, but when l started l could
not find my way back. kept going In the
direction / thought the camp was, and about
noon climbed a big hill to see If there were
any signs of camp or water, but all could see
were mountains all round about me.
Then / began to realize my situation
lost in the Rocky Mountains, away from my
comrades, and no idea which way to 20, and
suffering for water. 1 prayed to God to
direct me, for / was helpless.
After awhile saw smoke, as / supposed,
some miles away. My heart gave joyful
bound, and / urged my pony in that direc-
ton. While passing through canyon,
came across young buffalo that had been
recently killed. | could not rid myself of
the feeling that was not travelling in the
right direction, and again prayed for guild
anee.
Starting again, the next thing / discov-
cred was q lot of Indians camped among the
che nr1ar I nm
spurs to the pony until some distance away
from the redskins, afraid to look back, as
fancied they were right behind me- When
/ did muster courage to look back, instead
of Indians saw pack of so or so wolves
after me- / was sure I was done for then.
/ had thought Indians enough to contend
against, but when it came to Indians and
wolves. how could anyone hope to escape?
CHANGING to think of the buffalo liver on
nv saddle, [ threw it to the wolves, and
under other circumstances it would have
been amusing to see them fight over it. By
the time they got through / was some dis
lance ahead of them, but lot more had
Joined them, and no one who ever heard
wolves will wonder that my hair stood
up as they again started after me- My pony
fell down and died from exhaustion. The
wolves stopped and looked at me, as much
as TO say: we have sure thing on you
now, old fellow"
felt that my time indeed was short. / was
afraid to fire among the wolves, lest sneak
ing Indians might be near SO / walked
away as fast as possible and soon came to
the river After ducking my head few
times / took drink, and that was the best
drink l ever had The wolves were having
good feast on my poor pony, and feeling
sure that when they got through they would
want to use me for dessert, / decided not to
try to travel on, but stay near the river till
morning.
While these thoughts were passing through
my mind, heard shot and ball whistle
past me. got behind tree, when another
ball struck the tree. / drew my revolver
and fred twice. when I heard someone ask
ing who was there. / knew it was the
voice of white man, and began to hope
that deliverance had come. He proved to
be one of cur company on his way back to
camp, John Lee.
To make my story short, we got to camp
safely about 10 p. M, and after good feed
of slapjacks, antelope, and hot coffee (the
best meal l ever ate), went and reported to
Gen. Conner.
If any of old Co. K, 18th Ohio Cav, should
see this, hope they will write to the old
company bugler.-C. r. A. Bolton, Toronto,
Ontario Can. '''