The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-06-11
SAVED BY A MONK.
A party's Narrow Escape From
Death.
From the NeU York Sun.

in the evening, after the return from
the visit to Mount Solitaire recently
narrated in The Sun, that Capt. Ben
fey told the tenderfoot his strange ex-
perience with the hermit whose
residence there gave the New Mexican
mountain its name.
"On the spot where his ruined her
mitage stands" he said, II saw him
thirty-three years ago. When you
have heard what happened there at
that time you may judge for yourself
what manner Of man John of the
Crosses was. l was then a Lieuten-
ant. It was in the time of the civil
war, and the Government had hos
pital at Las Vegas Hot Springs. l
was staying there on leave of absence
to recruit my health after long service
in the malarial region down the Rio
Grande. There we're visitors at the
Springs from the East, even then, and
among them at this time was Mrs.
Mrethvyn and her daughter, a hand
some girl of II. Both mother and
daughter were venturesome riders,
and almost every day we took horse
back excursion together, SO that in the
course of fortnight we had the coun-
try for ten miles about the Hot
Springs pretty thoroughly explored.
cat last nothing would satisfy the
ladies but to ride to the top of Soil
tario. 1 discouraged the ride all l
could, and told them what they might
expect from such a trip-a long, hard
days ride, with dangerous climbing,
and no cercertainty that they could
reach the top after all. Besidea this
there was always the risk of meeting
hostile Indians. Most of the Navajos,
the most dangerous Indians, we're cor
rallied under guard down at Fort
Sumner at that time, but some of
them had never been brought in.
Others from time to time were slip
ping away from the reservation at the
fort to find their way back to their old
stamping grounds in the Northwest.
and favorite route for these rene
grades was up the Gallinas Valley,
past Solitaire.
But the ladies, in spite of all |
said, we're still determined to go, so of
course | went along with them. We
had bad luck from the beginning. |
was disappointed about getting mill
tary escort, and, worse still, at the last
moment the trustworthy guide, An
tonic, whom we had depended on to
accompany US on the trip was &C.
tailed as courier, and we had to take
up with Mexican of no very good
character, known as Ell Lobo, who
claimed to know the way to the top of
Solitaire. He had no horse and | had
to furnish him one. But we made our
start, and [ found that the guide
knew the way to the mountain at least.
We took the route up the Gallinas
Valley, over the burro trail.
1t was November, and the tops of
the Snowy Range were already white,
although no snow had fallen upon the
plain. Owing to our delay in start
ing it was noon before we reached
the foot of Solitaire; but, after rest
ing our horses bit, we began the as
cent. There was no beaten path then.
and we had to pick our way up the
long ridge at it's back. Half way up
the mountain Ell Lobo said that
his horse was giving out, and dis
mounted, tied the animal to a tree,
and went forward on foot, carrying
his rifle in hand. l had suspicion OF
some treachery on his part, and made
him travel ahead all the way to the
summit. For arms [ carried a cavalry
, carbine and a revolver, so | had the
| advantage of him in respect of weap-
ons, and l anticipated no trouble from
him so long as l could keep him il
sight.
"When we got to the mountain tor
the wind, which we had scarcely no
ticed while climbing the wooded ridge
was blowing a gale, and [ saw tina
the sky, while clear overhead, was
thickenjng about the peaks of The
, main range. But the women's spirits
we're high as they dismounted ano
turned to admire the view. 1t wa.
i then that l missed my hunting knife
5 which l knew had been in it's sheath
! few minutes before. | was on tn,
y,oinf IF 40 l1ipo RI III oho 70 ~, h, al