The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1899-01-28
Knox Taylor's Winter Outing.

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Knox Taylor, manager of the P. s I.
Co., returned last week from rather an
eventful trip on the other side of the
mountains. During pleasant call 1t
the KEYSTONE office Thursday Mr.. Taylor
gave highly interesting account of his
midwinter trip, but requested Us not to
mention some of the spiciest incidents
which, with little indulgence in fancy,
we could weave into sensational story.
Mr.. Taylor left Ketchum on the 3lst
ult., mounted on his fiery charger, and
leading pack horse which fairly groansd
beneath its load of provisions and camp
paraphernalia for few days. recreation
over in the Lost River country. Mr.. Tay-
lor took along his rifle and good stock
of ammunition rs he had heard stories
about grizzly bears and all kinds of
horned animals that were providing amid
the dark and outrageous forests through
which he had to travel in making the
trip over the mountains seeking whom
they might devour.
1t was the last day of the old year
when Mr.. Taylor started out, yet the
weather was most propitious and only
few inches of snow on terra 6rma, so he
had no forebodings Of being bound
or carried away in the deadly avalanche
that occasionally sweeps down the sides
of the grand old mountains that he had
to cross in making the trip.
Mr.. Taylor reached Newtons ranch on
east fork of Lost River New Years
morning and to his bitter disappointment
dark clouds began to gather across the
horizon and soon the initial snow storm
of the season set in. Dir. Taylor started
back at once. He got as far as Peck's
ranch near Dickey and like the Arkansas
Traveller, concluded as it was shorty miles
to the next house" he would stop over
night, and dismounting entered the gate.
There was no one at home, but the latch
string was out so he walked in and after
taking . survey of the cellar and pantry
MIR. Taylor "smiled softly to himself"
and began active preparations for tooth
some repast. In the midst of it all,
Peck's bad boy put in an appearance and
amidst profuse apologies frsm MIR. Taylor
told him it was all right. The horses in
the meantime had been put up in the
barn and like their master were enjoying
a feast. After Mr.. Taylor had washed
all the dishes and swept up tue kitcLen
Mr.. and Mrs. Peck arrived and were so
cordial to the unexpected guest whom
they found beneath their hospitable roof
that Mr.. Taylor made up his mind to
stay right there until the return Of good
weather and spend the time searching for
some of those horned ANIMALS that people
told him were prowling around in that
part of the country. Mr.. Taylor had
read about Professor Gamers trip to
African jungles to study the habits and
language of monkeys so he thought it
would be equally interesting to study the
habits and language of antelope and
mountain sheep that are in the jungles of
Lost River. Here we have to draw a
veil for Mr.. Taylor did not reveal to US
the result of bis novel undertaking. No
doubt he could relate a blood curdling
story of his experiences in encounters
with those dangerous animals while he
was studying their habits and language
but dead sheep and antelopes tell no tales
neither does Mr.. Taylor.
After having all the sport he wanted,
Mr.. TAYLOR started out on the morning OF
the 18th inst to return to Ketchum, but
had not gone far before he realized that
his horses could not make the trip through
the four feet of snow, so he walked back
to Burton's ranch and borrowed pair OF
snowshoes leaving his horses with Mr..
Burton. He reached the summit about
dark and camped for the night in the
toll house which has had no tenant since
last fall, so there was no host to welcome
him sthere, and he was the only guest.
Next morning amid terrific snowstorm,
Mr.. Taylor mounted his snow shoes and
started down the mountain side for
Ketchum. He encountered two snow
slides en- route but escaped being caught
in them and reached headquarters about
10 o'clock at night, somewhat exhaus ted
Nine. Adelina Patti, the queen OF