The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1901-06-05
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Young
Girls
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Heroisr11
Lowered
Over O.
Precipice
To Save
Her
Lovers
Life


Tex, while hunting the Texas birds OF
paradise in the Guadalupe mountains
met with an experience that would
have proved fatal but for the bravery
of his sweetheart, Miss Kate Mary
land. He knew that colony of the
famous birds of paradise had long
made their abode in cleft of preci-
pice of the Guadalupe mountains.
This we'll known lofty range is located
on the southern side of the Guada-
iupe valley near JapOnica. 1t is stu
pendous mass of solid granite, rising
straight up from the waters of the nv
or to a height of $50 feet. About %
feet below the summit Of the mountain
and 300 above the sparkling waters OF
the Guadalupe there is narrow ledge
upon which can be seen few stunted
cedars.
Miss Maryland had expressed wish
for the plumage of one of the beautlful
birds which bad their nests in TIE
stunted cedars, and thither he went to
secure one He climbed the mountain
and soon saw one of the birds rising
above the precipice
Raising his gun to his face, he quick
ly fred. and the feathered beauty fell
f1uttering to the ground. Waynock ran
forward to secure his prize, but II
struggled nearer to the edge of the
bluff. In his eagerness to grasp the
bird he did not notice how near he was
drawing to the brink of the terrible
nrecpice. Once be had hand on one
of the wounded beautys wings, but it
slipped from his grasp, and in his anx-
iety he slid after it again, reaching as
far as he could.
Only the hot blood of reckless lover
could have blinded the youths eyes to
the fact that he was within a few
inches of the brink Of perpendicular
wall of rock $50 feet above the foam
ing waters of the Guadalupe. Small
rocks began to roll from under his
body. He saw the bird disappear, and
he felt himself sliding forward. In
vain he dug his fingers against the
sloping surface. Cold perspiration
streamed from bis brow, and he re-
allied that his heart had ceased to
beat. Though his eyes were wide
open, darkness surrounded him. He
rolled over on his breast and threw
his open palms against the earth with
all his power. The heroic effort was
useless. Slowly his body slid over the
brink, and with wall that startled
the wild birds he shot forward into
the air.
Old man Joy, who lived at Japonica.
happened to be riding along the road
on the opposite shore of the Guada-
lupe. He heard the frightful wall of
the unfortunate youth, and, noticing
the flight of q flock of birds of para
disc, he looked toward the mountain.
He saw human form shooting
through the air. At first it fell feet
foremost, and then the body turned
over, and the birds of gay plumage
few about it shrieking. Joy saw the
body strike among the cedars on the
cleft where birds of paradise nestled.
He expected to see it pass on and fall
crushed and lifeless into the Guada-
lupe, but it did not. He gazed at the
cedars in Amusement and terror.
Squirting his horse close to the edge
of the water. he strained his vision In
the direction of the ledge far up on
the side of the awful precipice. A
moan of despair reached his ears, and
as he looked among the still trembling
bows so far above the water he rec
ognzed the body of a man.
An inkling of the truth flashed across
his mind Certainly some one had
fallen over the bluff, and the body had
lodged among the cedars on the ledge
800 feet above the Guadalupe. lie
shouted with all the power of his
lungs. and to his Amusement voice
answered him. 1t sounded like far.
away echo.
Tell Kate fell over the bluff. Tell
her goodby."
Mr. Joy was familiar with the love
affair. and he knew what had happen
ed. Fortunately be is sensible, ener-
getic old pioneer
Hold fast, Charlie" he shouted.
Don't give up. We will save you"
Driving the spurs into the TANKS of
his horse. he made the animal fly to-
ward his house. He had not gone far
before he met five cowboys. all Way
nock's comrades. who bad just started
out to round up herd of steers. In the
fewest possible words he explained to
them what had happened and asked
them to follow him.
Fortunately Joy and the cowboys
met Kate Maryland and one of the old
mans daughters mounted on their po-
MES starting out for ride. Shouting
to them to follow and ask no questions
q Joy led the way through his gates to
the ford on the river. AS the old man
fairly few along the trail he calculated
that the cowboys had perhaps 2oO Zee
of rope. and he carried long lariat a
the horn of his own saddle. If they
could only get to the summit before
Waynock gave out, they would have
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