Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-05-18
HANGING TO A BRIDLE
A THRILLING ADVENTURE IN THE BIG
HORN MOUNTAINS.

A Hunter Held Over n Bottomlcss Canyon
by His Horses Bridlc Rcin-The Mys-
terry of Two Rifle Shots ExpIainet,-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 mako scout
from Camp Brown down through the
Rattlesnake range to the Platte river
and from there to the Yellowstone by
way of the Goose Creek trail
When we camped on Clear creek, q
comrade named Lee and started off
for a days hunting among the high
peaks of the Big Horn mountains, ex-
pecting to get a few sheep Lee was
man of extraordinary strength and was
noted in the regiment for his fea:s of
muscular ability
We ascepded the mountain by deer
trail, Leo riding in advance. Tho 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 a 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 point
only short distance i'll front of us. Wo
moved forward cautiously. for on ono
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 tho
trail was due to curve at that point
to round which required steady nerves.
We passed it safely, but had not gono
20 yards when both horses bent their
ears forward, snorted and showed eli
dences of the greatest terror. Before l
could ascertain the cause of it, being in
rear of Lees horse and unable to SEQ
ten thousand echoes.
What followed the sound of the shot
happened so quickly that did not re-
alize danger until found myself hang
ing between life and death. My horse,
unable to see what was i'll 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 1 had
pulled the reins over his head when l
dismounted and held them In my right
hand, to which fact l 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 1 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 l
was rolling over. / did succeed in check
ing tho 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 l
hung, expecting death every instant,
for l knew that my horse would not
stand long i'll the position 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 weight dangling at the end
of his bride rein, made an impression
upon my memory that will never be
eradicated
l asked myself how much longer it
was possible to hang by so frail sup
| port as a bit of leather. The grip of my
hands was so tight that my finger ends
We're 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 that backward movement of my
horse, and as | felt the reins drag along
the edge of the precipice l thought l
must surely let go and fall. Strange
thoughts began to flash through my
| lucllttl VI lONCtl ODGS
long since dead appeared to whisper
prayers for me, there was singing III my
ears, and l realized that my strength
was giving out
Just then | 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
cd 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 a white, scared face it was,
| thought Slowly, oh, so slowly, his
hand stole down the roins until it rested
upon my wrist Then there WAS quick
grip of powerful fingers. an exertion of
wonderful strength, and was in safety
Lee told me afterward that l was un-
conscious when he stretched me out on
the trail.
The first shot had been fred at a
mountain lion that crouched in the trail
a short distance ahead and had sent it
crashing into tho depths of the canyon
Hearing my cry of fear as l toppled over
the brink Of the cliff, he had shot his
horse to clear path to get back to
where l was and had been in time to
rescue me. w. p. Coulter i'll San Fran
cisco Argonaut.