Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-15
over The VERGE.

expedifiOn which resulted In the running
down and capturing Chief Joseph and his
band Of warriors, my troop was detached
10 make scout from Camp Brown down
through tho Rattlcsnakc range to the
Platte river and from there 20 tho Yellow
stone by way of the Goose creek trail
When we went into camp on Clear
creek, n cofnradc, named Lee, and l start
ed off for days hunting among the high
peaks of tho Big Horn mountains, expect
ing to get few sheep. Lee was n man OF
extraordinary strength and was noted In
the regiment for his feats OF muscular
ability.
We assembled the mountain by deer
trail, Leo riding In advance. TIE trail led
mn "hogpack' until IL ran out against
the side OF the mountain, when we had
to pick our way over the side hill until we
struck another trail winding In a zigzag
manner toward the summit We dis
mounted and led our horses, for the trail
ran dangerously close to the edge of n cliff
that formed one side OF an immense can
yon, whose depth we could only guess.
Narrower and narrower grew the trail as
we advanced until ii seemed to terminate
at a point only n short distance in front
of MS. We moved forward cautiously, for
ON one side the mountain appeared to rise
i. 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 topple
into il.
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 20 yards when
both horses bent their ears forward, snortcd
and showed evidence of the greatest terror.
Before could ascertain the cause of 1t, be
ing I'm rear of Lees horse and unable TO see
beyond it, a shot was fired that awoke TO-,
600 echoes.
What followed tho sound of the shot hap
pened so quickly that did not realize dan
ger until found myself hanging 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 fired, sud
denly threw up his head and began back
ing. l had pulled the reins over his head
when dismounted and held them in my
right hand, TO which fact l owed my es-
cape from instant death. The rapid back
ward movement of the horse and the sud
den 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 endcavorcd TO grasp the edge OF
the cliff with my left hand as was rolling
over. did succeed in checking the shock
of my fall somewhat, but could not secure
a hold sufficient TO sustain my weight.
For a moment hung suspended over the
terrible abyss, my whole weight resting
upon my right arm. Quick as fash !
graspcd the reins with my left also, and
there / hung expecting death every In
stant, for l knew that my horse would not
stand long in the position he then held.
could see him standing above me, and
the beauty Of his pose and the rigidity OF
his position, as he stood braccd against the
weight dangling at the end Of his bride
rein, made an impression upon my mem
ory that will never bc cradicatcd.
/ asked r'ysclf how much longer II was
possible 10 hang on by 80 frail support
as a bit Of ieltlicr. The Strip OF my hands
was SO tight that my finger ends were
tingiing and burning IS though touched
with hot iron.
Suddculy another shot rang out awak-
ening 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 / thought / must surely lei s'O
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 a sing
ing sound in my ears, and ] realized that
my strength was fast giving out
just then heard my name spoken. AT
first thought il was but the voice of one
Of the visions my excited brain had con
jurcd up. But, no; there it sounded again.
1t was Ices voice, calm, collected and
inspiring. He was whispering words OF
caution.
Opening my eyes, l saw his face above
me. What white, scared face it was, i
thought. Slowly, oh, SO slowly, his hand
stole down the reins until it rested upon
my wrist. Then there was quick grip
of powerful fingers, an cxcriion Of wonder
full strength. and--I was in safety. Lec
told me aftcrward that was unconscious
when he stretched me out on the trail.
The first shot had been fired at "A noun
tain lion that crouchcd In the trail short
distance ahead and had sent il crashing
into the depths of the canyon. Hearing
my cry Of fear rs / toppled over the brink
of the cliff. he had shot his horse to clear
path 10 get back to where | was and nad
been In time To rescue mc.-W. u. Coulter
I'm True Flag.