The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-03-20
HANGING TOAB Birdie
ATHRiLliNG ADVENTURE IN THE DIG
HORN MOUNTAINS.

a Hunter Held Over q Eottomiess Canyon
by His Horses Dridlc i,ein-Tfe rIys-
terry Of ~.wo Rifle Shots Explained-How
Leo Cleared tho Path.
During che fall Of 1877, just after tho
expedition which had resulted in the
down and capturing of Chief
Joseph and his band of warriors, my
troop was detached to make q scout
from Camp Brown down through the
Rattlesnake range to the Platte river
and from there to the Yellowstone by
Of the Goose Creek trail
When we camped on Clear creek, q
comrade named Lee and l started of
for a days hunting among the high
peaks of the Big Horn mountains, ex-
pecting to get a few sheep. Lee was a
man of extraordinary strength and was
noted in the regiment for his feats of
muscular ability.
We assembled the mountain by a deer
trail, Lee riding in advance. The trail
led up a 'hogback" until it ran ont
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 a zigzag manner toward the sum-
nit. We lismounted and led our horses.
for the trail ran dangerously close to the
edge of a cliff that formed n side OF
en- immense canyon, whose depth we
could only guess. Narrower and mar
rover grew the trail as we advanced
yAs1 - ,~-~zl a. k.nko NJ N ~Nyvpt
only a short distance in front of If. We
moved forward cautiously, for on n
side the mountain appeared to rise from
under our very feet into o 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 a curve at that point,
to round which required steady nerves.
We passed it safely, but had not gone
90 yards when both horses bent their
ears forward, snorted and showed evil
dences of the greatest terror. Before l
could ascertain the cause of it, being in
AC0x vi Z . lolSc auu AuADIC ~ SCO
beyond it, a shot was fred that awoke
ten thousand echoes.
What followed the sound of the shot
happened SO quickly that I did not re-
alize danger until l 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
hin, ~ tho rroca,n ~ coVno lrn.o<1oI
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 l
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 tho
sudden tossing of his head threw me off
my balance, and before I could recover
I was falling over the cliff.
In%stinctively I 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 O hold sufficient to sus-
tain my weight. For a moment I hung
suspended over the terrible abyss, my
whole weight resting upon my right
arm. Quick as a flash l grasped the
reins with my left also, and there ]
hung, expecting death every instant,
for l knew that my horse would moi
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.
I asked myself how much longer it
was possible to hang by SO frail a sup
port as o bit Of leather. The grip Of my
hands was SO tight that my finger ends
were tingling and burning as though
touched with q 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 rs I felt the reins drag along
the edge Of the precipice l 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, there was singing in my
ears, and ! realized that my strength
was giving out.
Just then l heard my name spoken.
At first I thought it was but the voice
Of n of the visions my excited brain
had conjured mp. 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, I saw his face above
| me-what a white, scared face it was,
] thought! Slowly. oh. SO slowly, his
hand stole down the reins until it rested
upon my wrist. Then there was a quick
grip of powerful fingers. nm exertion Of
wonderful strength, and l was in safety
Lee told me afterward that I was un-
conscious when he stretched me out on
the trail.
The first shot had been fired at q
mountain lion that crouched III the trail
q short distance ahead and bad emf it