Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-05-02
HANGING TOABRIDLE
ATHRiLLINe ADVENTURE IN THE BIG
HORN MOUNTAINS.

A Hunter Held Over Bottomiess Canyon
by His Horses Bride Rein-Tho AIys-
terry os Two Rifle Shots ExplaIned-How
Lee Cleared the Path.
During the fall Of 1877, just after the
expedition which had resulted in the
running down and capturing of Chief
Joseph and his band Of warriors, my
troop was detached to make a scout
from Camp Brown down through the
Rattlesnake range to the Platte river
and from there to the Yellowstone by
way of the Goose Greek trail.
When we camped on Clear creek,
oomrade named Lee and / started off
for a days hunting among the high
peaks of the Big Horn mountains. ex-
pecting to get few sheep. Lee was
man of extraordinary strength and was
noted in the regiment for his feats of
muscular ability.
We assembled the mountain by deer
trail, Lee riding in advance. The trail
led up "hogback" until it ran out
against the side of the mountain, when
wo had to pick our way over the side
hill until we struck another trail wind
ing in zigzag manner toward the sum-
NIT. We dismounted and led our horses.
for the trail ran dangerously close to the
edge of cliff that formed one side of
an immense canyon, whose depth we
could only guess. Narrower and mar.
rover grew the trail as we advanced
until it seemed to terminate at a point
only short distance in front of us. We
moved forward cautiously, for on tone
side the mountain appeared to rise from
under our very feet into wall of solid
rock. On the other side we looked into
the depths Of the great canyon, which
would prove an eternal grave to either
of us should he lose his footing and top
pie into it.
The apparent termination of the
trail was due to curve at that point,
to round which required steady nerves.
We passed it safely, but had not gone
30 yards when both horses bent their
tears forward, snorted and showed evil
dences of the greatest terror. Before /
could ascertain the cause of lit, being in
rear of Lees horse and unable to SEQ
beyond it, shot wasifired that awoke
ten Thousand echoes.
What followed the sound of the shot
happened SO quickly that did not re-
alize danger until I found myself hang
ing between life and death. My horse,
unable to see what was in the path
ahead of us, but whose instinct warned
him of the presence of some dreaded
wild beast had stopped in terror, and,
when the shot was fred suddenly threw
up his head and began backing. I had
pulled the reins over his head when I
dismounted and held them in my right
hand, to which fact I owed my escape
from instant death. The rapid back
ward movement of the horse and the
sudden tossing Of his head threw me off
my balance, and before could recover
was falling over the cliff.
Instinctively frightened my hold on
the reins and endeavored to grasp the
edge of the cliff with my left hand as !
was rollingover. ! did succeed in check
ing the shock of my fall somewhat, but
could not secure q hold sufficient to sus-
tain my weight. For moment hung
suspended over the terrible abyss, my
whole weight resting upon my right
arm. Quick as ia fash grasped the
reins with my left also, and there ]
hung, expecting death every instant,
for knew that my horse would not
stand long in the elposition he then held.
] could see him standing above me,
and the beauty Of his pose and the rig
idity of his position. as he stood braced
against the weightdangling at the end
of his bridle rein, made an impression
upon my menory that will never be
. eradicated.
asked myself how much longer il
was possible to hang by SO frail a sup
port as bit Of leather The grip of my
hands was SO tight, that my finger ends
were tingling and burning as though
touched with hot iron.
Suddenly another shot rang out,
awakening a myriad of echoes that
seemed to mock mewith shrill laughter.
Again that backward movement of my
horse, and as feftsthe reins drag along
the edge of the precipice I thought
must surely let go and fall. Strange
thoughts began to flash through my
brain, mental pictures of loved ones
long since dead appeared to whisper
prayers for me, thefeSwas singing in my
ears, and I realized that my strength
was giving out.
just then heard my name spoken.
At first thought it,was but the voice
of ono of the visions my excited brain
had conjuredup Butno; there it sound.
ed again. 1t was Lee's'yoice, calm, col.
lected and inspiring. He was whisper.
ing words of caution.
Opening my eyes. Isawh face above
me-what white. scared face it was,
I thought! Slowly, oh, SO slowly, his
hand stole down the reins until trested
upon my wrist. Then there was a-quick
grip of powerful fingers. an exertion Of
wonderful strength, andI,was in safety.
Lee told me afterward that was un.
conscious when he stretched me out on
the trail.
The first shot had been fred at q
mountain lion that crouched i'll the trail
a short distance ahead and had sent il
crashing into the depths of the canyon.
Hearing my cry Of fear as Itoppled owe,
the brink Of the cliff, he had shot his
horse to clear path to get back tc
where was and had been in time tc
rescue me- w. P. Coulter in San Fran
cisco Argonaut.
Tried to Brace Up.
Wife-You've been drinkingt And
you told me you were going to prayer