Mesa free press. [volume] (Mesa, Ariz.) 1892-1901, 1897-11-12
LOST ON HORSEBACK.
Some of the Peri1s Braved by Western
Settlers.

Some of the Peri1s Braved by Western
Settlers.
On the morning of April % last Mr..
Sanders, who lives about four miles
west Of Cleveland, Wash, sent his boy
George, II years old, out into the pas
ture to get a saddle-horse. The boy
Wa mounted, bareback, on the old bay
mare. The pasture Is great expanse
Of territory up on the mountainside.
The saddle-horse, cayuse, refused TO
De caught, and the boy pursued 1t on
the old mare.
Meantime his father, at home, began
30 worry especially as a strong, colu
wind was blowing from the west. he
started out after George, but could ma
nothing of him. The boy must have
wandered off into the woods and got
lost.
An alarm was given, and soon every
body about the woods hunting TOT
George. 1t was so cold that the men
who rode were in their winter clothes'
and people at home shivered indoors.
The woods in every direction were
secured in vain. Night was coming on
and the cold increasing. IT George
were not found before dark, he must
become benumbed with cold, ran
asleep, and never wake again.
All through the evening the Dig
steam-whistle at the saw-mill at Cleve-
land was blown in order that the boy
might be guided by it, If within hear
Ing. But the night went by without It'd
ings Of him.
Meantime George was wandering far
beyond the reach Of even the sound OF
the steam whistle. He had chased the
cayuse so far that that animal, remem-
bering his old range on the Indian res
ervation ON the other side of the Sim
coe Mountains, was making for it with
all speed. But George had no notion OF
giving up the pursuit, and rode on.
He caught the pony at last, but when
he had put the halter on, he found that
he had no idea where he was, nor in
which direction he ought to go. In real
ity he was on the north side Of the Sim
coe Mountains.
George looked the ground over, and
resolved to strike for the top of the
mountain. Once there, he could per-
haps make out his course. He rode on,
leading the cayuse; but it was a very
long way, and before he could get any
where near the mountain top night had
fallen.
The boy was hungry, tired and chill
ed. It was so cold up there that he
knew if he dismounted he should be-
come benumbed. He grew very sleepy
sitting on the mares back, but the
warmth Of her body kept him from
feeling the full effect Of the bitter tenn
perature. He tied the cayuse's halter
around the mares neck, and dozed
little. Now and then the animals,
starting up, reused him from nap.
Once he made up his mind that he
should never get home again, and cried.
But he did not let go his hold on the
mares broad and warm back. He cried
more and more, and at last, after it had
seemed many times that the morning
would never come, it began to grow
light very slowly.
AS soon as he could make out the di-
rection Of the mountain top he headed
the mare for it, and by and by reached
it. His hungry and half-torpid body
got new thrill all through it when, In
the distant valley, he saw houses.
He made straight for these, and had
gone some distance when he heard
shout, and saw a man on horseback
riding Up the mountain. Soon he saw it
was Will Faulkner, a young man he
knew. Faulkner soon came up with
him; he had been hunting for the boy,
and had extended his search farther
In this direction than any one else.
Will led him straight to the nearest
house, but by the time they got there
it was thirty-six hours since the boy
had eaten. He was warmed and fed,
and VIII Faulkner rode ON at the top
Of his speed to take the news to the
distracted father and mother.
When at last George reached home
again, he was still leading the cayuse.
He insisted that he should have got
home all right with 1t II no one had