The Western news., 1901-11-06
NARROW ESCAPE FOR BASS.


Came Near Being Hanged for Another
Name Forgetfu!ness.
William Bass, described az 'thee only |
real guide into the Grand Canyon OF
Arizona" had an early life full Of peril
and adventure. A chapter Of In and
Around the Grand Canyon" Is devoted
to an eccount Of one Of his thrilling
experie1 1ces.
Soon after his settlement in Williams
he became Interested In accounts OF the
Havas apai Indians. peculiar people
said ~ preserve many characteristics
Of the Indians Of centuries gone by. So
he started out to hnd them, accom-
panied by q msn Of the name Of Me-
Kinney. whom he had casually met at
q restaurant.
After three or four days, suffering
not little. from heat and thirst, they
arrived at place which they took to
be ~ery near the Havasupai village. At
Mcxinney's suggestion he went on to
the village, leaving Bass to guard the
stock and pro visions.
by the ne.t afternoon" says Bass.
In relating hia adventure afterward. II
csacluded that as Mckinney had not
| returned. he had been bitten by rat
tlasnake or had fallen over 2 cliff. So
! went to look for him. l came to a
nest Of rattlesnakes. and some OF them
I killed with the gun. thinking that the
sound might warn Mckinney of my
approach.
'Soon I saw pony and moccasin
tracks which threw me into trepida-
tiOn, for common report said that II a
man was found anywhere near the
Havasupa.s with revolver and cart
ridge they would kill him. began to
try to clilab the south wall of the can
yon. and succeeded In doing SO until l
came to a perpendicular wall about
q Ave hundred feet high.
Directly over my head. but about
twenty-five feet above me. was an
I.overhanying angle Of rock. must
either get over that or go back. So
with an almost deaperate throw l man.
aged to get the rqke across the project
ing angle Faste13pg all my supplies
together, and tying them on the end OF
: one OF the ropes. I began the ascent.
placing my back against the wall and
pulling myself up hand over hand. !
ION reaching the shelf above, rolled
over upon It exhausted and nearly In
!. i sensible, but had presence of mind
. enough to secure myself with the rope.
When [ came to..I found that one more
effort would release me, and gathering
!, all my remaining strength. made II,
and reached the top just as the sun
was going down."
After three days Of similar hardships
and adventures Bass reached Williams
. and started to organize a searching
! party to 60 after Mckinney.
! "No one seemed anxious to co." bt
, saws. ..and l soon noticed groups Of
men looking suspiciously toward me
talking earnestly as ! came mp. bu1
remaining ominously still when I ap
preached"
But It was not until the searching
party had been organized and was vel
+ on the way that the doctor, who hat
e made one of the number. said to Bass
"Isass, l feel sorry for you. I'm 80
II ine to tell you something. but dom
want you to give me away. The pebpl,
j; In Williams think that you killed Afc
8 Kinney. and they have sent me to per
+ form an autopsy on his body, soOtt
the Justice and coroner. 10 hold an ID
quest, and Hurd, - an expert tr1iles
to flnd the body. u you've tried tv dis
pose Of It. They were talking rvett,
earnestly about hanging ron before yo'
left, and you had Z narrower etcap
than you imagine" .
II This candid tale left BASS In 20 On
{ viabls frame Of mind. but happily IL
party soen met AZ Indian. who gsv