Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-02-24

inH Outnt anu DhEhcU II vi tut bdChS
,of two mountain mules, for the route
We were to take was one which only
the surestfooted animals could follow.
We were destined to become well &C.
quaintcd with these mules before our
trip was over. and the admiration
which they eventually excited is only
equalled by the curiosity and interest
with which we at first regarded them.
Someone. | think, has said that the
more he saw of men and mules the
more he thought OF mules. Al least
| am sure that such sentiment would
be endorsed by those who have grown
up with the mule in the western
states. When full Justice Is done this
much abused animal. he viii be given
n place In history M a factor In pro
noting civilization only less conspic-
uous than that accorded to the rail.
rond. There are many men In the
west who have grown up with the
mule and who owe all they have tn
him. who have perpetnated In them
selves all his worst traits and none Of
his good ones. and hence have brought
him into an uDdescrved disreputs.
|
destined to keep company for some
days were full OF shrewdncss and Gun
ming and were n credit to their race.
| Not less deserving Of honorable
mention were our two Mexican guides
and cooks, Louis Qnintann and Onoffa
Gallcgos To speak good things Of
the MexicanH or "grensora Will. to
many. seem like claiming that good
can come out of Nazareth Some per
sons regard the typical Mexican as
a lazy, troacherous. greasy sneak.
with no rcdc.ming traits. am not
capable OF speaking for the race. bur
If there are many more such as nc
companied MS, the popular Mexican
character sketch viii have 10 be re-
written Cheerful industrious, zeal
oiIs and active, there vas no service
they were not gt all times ready to
perform, and hardly any want but
which thoy intolligcntly anticipated
| There are few servants who would
have performed so cheerfully ana sat
isfactorily the exaotins duties re-
quired Of them. In the next succeed
ing days we became especially fam,l
/ iBi WIN tNO htANun NOfUtf w HtH
Mexican In satisfied with thing, It is
bueno tgoodi. When II cannot be ex-
Expressed, sta bucno lsuper-excelleDt,
Leaving Chama In the afternoon. on
horseback with Mr.. Broad. the two
| Mexicans and the mules. we camped
that night at n saw mill located in
the pinerlcs. and about noon OF the
following dny we reached point on
the Brazo about two miles below the
mouth OF the canon Here we made
camp and spent the remainder OF the
day In trying the stream with our
rods and making plans for our trip
the following day.
by making diligent Inquiries of the
Mexicans. who roam all over the grant
with the sheep. and who are acquaint.
ed with every accessible foo, OF II.
Mr.. Broad learned that there were
three or four streams dropping down
into the canon from the north and
south. and 1t was hoped that by strik.
ing one of those aud following 1.
down we might be able 10 enter the
canon at desirable point Mr.,
Broad stated that he knew OF trail
over the, mountain to the south.
around the canon. and u was decided
to try TO reach the canon from that
direction Adjoining our camp was
that OF another party OF prominent
business men from Denver. who had
come for few days fishing on the
Brazo, and who decided that they
would enter the canon from below.
Il tab vt..l.
nights camp and cndeavor to meet
US as we came down from above. So
early on the following morning. our
party, on horseback, with Louis and
Onofra, with the camp outfit on the
mules, and with Mr. Broad In the lead
crossed the river and endeavored "a
Ihnd Mr., RroRd's trail on the side OF
the mountain which rose precipitous
ly from the south bank Those of us
who had travelled with Mr. Broad be
fore We're not very sanguine about
the trail" OF which he had spoken
for we had learned that his idea
mountain trail was an unbroken path
through a Jungle OF forest and under
brush. with "blazc" on tree OF
sapling about once In mile, We
were. therefore. not disappointed
when we struck the. trail" Imagin,
high and preclpitous mountain side
OF at least forty-6vc degrees slope
covered thickly with standing noun
tain pine and fallen timber. the inter
spaces filled with nm almost impene
,rable growth OF qualing asp. the sol
aud stones held loosely by the roots
of trees and underground. and slip
ping from under the animals hooft
at nearly every step. and you may
have n suggestion OF the trail" over
which Mr., Broad led us for nearl,
four hours
| He was. OF course. In the lead. fol
, lowing him went Luis on his horse
then the two mules with the packs
! then Onofra; we four tenderfeel
bringing up the rear. Much OF the
} time no one could see more than on,
other OF the party at a time. so thicl
was the growth through which We