The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-04-27


Hanging TO a Bride
W T. coulter in ~an Francisco Argonaut
During the fall Of 1877. Just after the
expedition which had resulted in the run
ming down and capturing of Chief Joseph
aud hi> baud of warriors my troop was
detached to niakea scout from Camp Brown
down through the Rattlesnake range TO the
Platte river and from there To the yellow
stone hy way of the i;oo>e Greek trad
When we camped on Clear creek a
eomrade named Lee and started of for
q day hunting amoue the high peaks Of
the Biz Horn mountains. expecting 10 get
a few sheep Lee was man of extraor-
dinarv strength and was noted IN the regi-
nieut for his feat, Of muscular ability
We a.c,.nded the mountain hy a deer
trail. lee riding In advance The trail
le1l up hogback until it ran uut against
the side of the mountain when We had 10
pirk cur way over the side hill until We
struck another trail windin. in zi.zag
manner toward the summit We dis
mounted and led onr horses, for the trail
ran dangerously close to the edge ol cliff
that formed one side Of an immense canyon,
whose depth We could only gue>s. Mar
ruwer and narrower grew the trail ~ we
advanced until 1t seemed IA terminate at a
lslini Unly . short distance In front of W..
Ne moved forward cautiously. for on one
-i,ie the mountain appeared TO rise from
under our very feet into wall Of solid
rpck On the other side we looked into
the depths II the great canyon. which
would prove an eternal grave t" either Of
NJ should he lo<e his froting and topple
iuto 1t
The apparent termination 1T the trail
wa due Co a curve al that point, to round
which required steady nerves We passed
IL safely, but had not gone 20 yards when
bath horses bent their ears forward snorted
and showed evidence Of the greatest terror
Before ! could ascertain the cause of 1t,
being ia rear ii lee horse and unable to
~ec beyond it "a shot wa- tred that awokc
ten Thousand echoes
What followed the sound Of the shot
happened - quickly that did no, realize
danger until found myself hanging be-
tween life and death Ny horse. unable
&" ~ee what was in the path ahead Of Us.
but whose instinct warned him of the pres
enee or some dreaded Wild beast had
stopped in terror. and when the shot was
iire,l. suddenly threw up his head and be
gan baekin. | bad pulled the reins over
hi head when dlismounted aud held them
in any right hand TO which fact | owed my
escape from instant death The rapid
backward movement Of the horse and the
.udden tossing 81 his head threw me oH my
halance. and before could recover was
falling over the elf
Instinctiyely frightened my hold IN the
reins and endeayorel 10 grasp the edge If
the elf with my left hand a. ! was ruling
oyer. did succeed IN checking the shock
81 my fall somewhat but could net secure
a hold sufficient 10 sustain my weight.
For moment | hung suspended over the
terrible ahyss. my whole weight resting
upon my right arm Quick as flash |
gra,ped the rcius with nay left also, and
there | hung expecting death eveIy in
slant, ior knew that my horse would not
stand loug in the position he then held.
could -ee him standing above me.
and the beauty Of his pose and the rigidity
or his lnsitian. a. he stoud hr0eed against
the weight dangling at the end "f his
bride rein made an impression upon nay
memory that will never be eradieated
asked myself how much longer 1t was
,,o.sible to hang BY 81 frai support as 4
biz Of leather The grip Of my hands was
80 tight that my finger ends were tinglins
and burning a. though touched with 4 hot
iraR
Suddenly another shot rang out, awaken
inc myriad Of echoes that seemed to
meek me with shrill laughter Again
that backward movement of my horse. and
a. felt the reins drag along the edge III
the precipice thought must surely let
90 and fall Strange thoughts began to
flash through my brain, mental pictures ol'
loved one, long since dead appeared to
whisper PRAYERS for me- there was singing
in nv ears. and realized thai my strength
was giving out.
just chen heard my name spoken.
At first | thought it was bat the voice of
one of the visions my excited brain had
coniured up. Bat no; there it sounded
again. 1t was Lees voice, calm, col
leeted and inspiring He was whispering
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 a quick grip
of powerful fingers AN exertion Of wonder
ful strength, and | was in safety. Lee
told me afterward that | was unconscious
when he stretched me out ON the trail.
The first shot had been fired at a moun-
tain lion that crouched in the trail short
distance ahead and had sent it crashing
into the depths of the canyon. Hearing
my cry Of fear as | toppled over the brink
of the cliff he had shot his horse to clear
a path to get back to where | was and had
been in time to rescue me.