The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-04-03
Adventure in the Big Horn Mountains,

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
Rattlesnako range to the Platte river
and from thCro TO the Yellowstone by
way Of the Goose - K trail
When we camped on Clear creek, a
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 a
man of extraordinary strength and was
noted in the regiment for his feats of
muscular ability.
We ascendod the mountain by deer
trail, Lee riding in advance The trail
led up a 90, gback" until it ran out
against the side Of the mountain, when
We had to pick our way over the side
hill until we struck another trail wind
ing i'll 2igzag 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 grow the trail as we advanced
until it Sc, ned to terminate at a point
only a short distance in front Of US. We
moyrd forward cautiously, for on one
side to mountain appeared to rise from
u2Gcr our very feet into wall Of solid
rock. TN the other side we looked into
tLa T. 10, Of the great canyon, which
would prove IN eternal grave to either
Of us should lie lose his footing and top
pie into it,
lie apparent termination Of the
trail Wa due to curve at that point,
to round which required steady nerves.
We passed 1t safely, but had not gone
20 yards when both horses bent their
ears forward, snorted and showed evil
dences of the greatest terror Before !
could ascertain the cause of it, being in
rear of Lees horse and unable to see
beyond it, shot was fred that awoke
ten thousand echoes.
What followed the sound of the shot
happened SO quickly that l did not re-
alize danger until | found myself hang
ing between life and death. My horse,
unable to see what was in the path
ahead of us bat whose instinct warned
him of the presence of some dreaded
wild beast, had stopped in terror, and,
when the shot was fired, suddenly threw
up his head and began backing. | had
pulled the reius over his head when l
dismounted and held them in my right
hand, to which fact | 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 l 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 rolling over. did succeed in check
ing the shock of my fall somewhat, but
could not secure a 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 flash l grasped the
reins with my left also, and there
hung, expecting death every instant,
for l knew that my horse would not
stand long in the position he then held.
l 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 weight dangling at the end
Of his bride rein, made an impression
upon my memory that will never be
eradicated.
asked myself how much longer it
was possible to hang by so frail a sup
port as a 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 me with shrill laughter.
Again thar backward movement Of my
horse, and as | felt the reins drag along
the edge of the precipice | thought |
must surely let go and fall. Strar ge
thoughts began to flash through ny
brain, mental pictures of loved Of ~
long since dead a Sared to whisper
prayers for me, there was singing in I y
ears, and | realized that my streng
was giving out.
Just theu | heard my name spoken.
At first | thought it was but the voice
of one of the visions my excited brain
had conjured up. But no; there it sound
ed again. 1t was Lees voice, calm, col
lected and inspiring, He was whisper
ing words OF caution.
Opening my eyes, | saw his face above
me-what white, scared face it was,
/ thought! Slowly, oh, 50 slowly, his
hand stole down the reins until it rested
upon my wrist. Then there was quick
grip of powerful fingers, an eXertion OF
wonderful strength, and l was in safety,
Lee told me afterward that | was un-
conscious when he stretched me out on
the trail
The first shot had been fired at a
mountain lion that orouched in the trail
q short distance ahead and had sent il
crashing into the depths of the canyon,
Hearing my cry of fear as Itoppled over
the brink of the cliff, he had shot his
horse to clear path to get back &c