The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-09

ley Of Thomas Forks to Salt Creek,
Wyo. This valley is adapted to stock
raising, principally, and great herds of
horses and cattle can be seen from one
end to the other, owned largely by a
few wealthy ranchers.
Salt Creek Canyon.
The road into Salt Creek canyon is
uncommonly rough, being but little
Travelled. 1t was with great difficulty
we kept our conveyance from tipping
over, requiring two men to ride the
brake on the elevated side of the road.
The small stream that flows through
here is lined with trout, and the hills
and adjoining canyons afford very
encouraging prospect to the hunting
sportsman, limited principally at this
season of the year to small game:
later in the fall, however, it is a favor
lite rendezvous for the feeted animals,
elk, antelope and deer, which at pres
emit are farther east, owing to the copi-
Gus sprinkling of sheep that literally
line the hills, and. that seem to scare
the deer, etc, away.
From this canyon there are two
routes to Star Valley, which is located
So miles to the north. One leading to
the left is almost impossible, having
fallen practically into disuse, over
which, however, sheep wagons occa-
sionally pull; the other crossing a dug
way to the right, via Smiths Forks, is
more preferable, but at least So miles
more distant.
Through defective engineering, and
contrary to directions which were not
exactly definite, we selected the latter,
and drove over to Smiths Fork, pass
ing through canyons and ravines, driv-
ing long distances over siding hills,
through patches of quaker asp and
under brush, till finally we lost the
trail; but on we pushed with undaunted
hope, the horses stumbling and Keeling
with the heavy load over territory
never before traversed by man, when
presently we emerged on top of
mammothi ridge, which commands an
extensive view for many miles of sur
rounding country, through a portion of
which could be discerned a road in the
distant perspective. This we recovered
after an hours walking and riding,
and were soon on the main Travelled
road from Cokeville to Star Valley.
A Vision in Red.
Passing along this road for some
distance, we saw over rising hill
small band of Indians, riding horse
back towards us. The Indian troubles
of Jackson's Hole returned to our men
tai vision with tremendous velocity,
imagining we could see the four In
dams shot deal and the awful spirit of
revenge swelling the bosoms of their
survivors, and the possibility of us be-
ing the victims of that revenge. In
the event of such q contingency we
unsacked our rifles, and resolved to
wear a fearless air, mixed with chiv-
airy. but in this transition my atten-
ton was particularly attracted to MI
D., who, as he endeaVored to pose as
as an awe inspiring villain, with ms
hat pulled down over his eyes, ana
teeth firmly set, began to shivering fur-
iously. The countenances of Messrs,
I. and W., observing this predicameJlt,
were varied with a smile, but they
were too badly scared to indulge in
boisterous laughter, while of course
your correspondent was perfectly
calm.
Thirty miles, as we were, from any
living soul, way back midst wild and
lonely mountains, seemed a most Ge-
sirable spot for the scalping process.
On they came with their horses and
we'll armed. Two Of us dismounted
from the wagon, carrying shot guns,
with the ostensible purpose OF hunting
chickens along the road. Presently
the crisis came and we were face to
face with a band of painted abcrigf-
nes One of these wild cat look
denizens of the hills accosted the
writer, and asked for some smoking
tobacco, without the least hesitation,
but somewhat awkwardly the demand
was complied with, the red skin look
ing vicious and contemptuously as he
rode away. We were soon throush
their ranks, to our unspeakable relief.
Mr. D. afterwards felt for his scalp an
congratulated himself on finding it in
tact.
After so narrow an escape from eXter-
mination we moved somewhat hastily
along and camped that night a COM
Portable distance from the imaginary
battle field.
Mad Rush of Thunder.
Large tiers Of dark heavy clouds had
already began to congregate in the
sky, foreboding a stormy night, and
before the somber shadows of night
had fallen the heavens were over
spread with a. dark ominous mass. Be
fore our tent was pitched, great drops
of rain began to fall; then a vivid
flash Of lightning, followed by loud
peal of thunder that rolled and died
away in the distance; a second flash
and sharp quick crash, and the rain
began falling till it swelled into tor
rents. The mad rush of thunder with
terrific sound across the heavens and
through the canyons, was enough to
move the imps of hades to seek places
of safety. l thought of the terro-ized
Casca at the Roman capitol midst the
TEMPEST dropping fire, when he ex-
claimed, Either there is a civil strife
I in heaven, or else the world too saucy
with the gods incenses them to send
destruction" The rain continued to
pour till after midnight with its wild
accompaniments. Suddenly as if the
clouds had exhausted their moisture
the storm abated, but the thunder con-
tinued to roll, seeming to start near
by and dwindling g it rolled across
the heavens to a II rumbling sound
and dying away in the distance
The morning hours passed slowly on.
AS we looked from the tent door. gray
lines fretting the clouds, SUSPENDED
over the eastern mountains, indicated
the approaching day; the sun rose
that morning in all it's characteristic
glory, shedding rich glow over the
watered landscape.
Star. Valley.
Travelling along this road Star valley
suddenly dawns on the view as you
reach the summit of a large mount
ain. The head waters of Salt river on
the western slope of this mountain is
heavily timbered canyons and ravines,
and flows northwesternly through the
valley. 1t contains great quantities of
trout, which was demonstrated to our
satisfaction by a catch of $50 in less
than five hours