Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-01-15
CHAPTER XIII.
at HeIl's Tran


dians at "Hells Trap" Upon beinI
notified OF this. General Crook ha.
come In advance OF hls command
which was 10 march BY night, C
view the situation.
II was about 4 o'clock In the after
noon when he and the trappe
steAlthily climbed to the ton Of In,
rlmrockn overlooking this remarkabI,
place. and lying nat on tho capsaon.
Of the rimrocks. they looked into III,
indian camp below. There was moth
ing about the place 10 indicate A trai
or place for . harsh name. Il wal
a beautiful natural meadow In tho
bend OF . mountain stream, sur
rounded on three sides by towerina
rimrocka. the river forming q dis
tinct peninsula. almost creating ar
Island, so close did the entrance
point OF the stream come 10 the point
OF exit after making the circuit oI
the little valley.
Through this narrow neck the In.
dlans had entered. and while their
animals graxed on the iuxuriant grass
they had pitched their tenta among
tho Willows bordering the stroam and
prepared for g few days reN after
their long siege At the Stone House.
Hero game and hsh were plentiful
and the launches OF deer and ante.
lope, and nsh frys alternating the
feasts on the Lord of the Desert q
fatted ibullocks, made garden OF
Eden for the braves. instead Of O
"Hell's Trap"
Here they felt safe. In this am.
phitheater they were isolated from
tho world. and there were numerous
outlets through the rimrocks where
they could make their escape II at.
tackled. and they had a. prisoners
four cowboys. the only persons they
had discovered on their trail from the
Stone House. and they now felt as
safe In this retreat as IL among the
lava beds OF the klamath country.
They regarded O casual lookout m
being sufficient for their safety from
surprise, In view of the fact that
hunting parties were continually GOV.
ering the territory In the immediate
vicinity OF the camp.
Il was a continuous feast and holi-
day for the hunted bandits.
II cannot understand why they call
this Hell's Trap" said General Crook.
as he looked down upon the placid
scene.
There IL no reason for II now, II
Ia true" replied the trapper. "but
have seen II when the name Of Hell's
Trap was not too harsh for II. The
river, now fordable at most any point.
rises from the snowbeds OF the great
mountains yondsr. The warm south
winds at times start the snow to melt.
ing. and the water comes dashing
down from every point, hllina the ra-
vines and gulches, and these flow into
the river, making II q rolling sea OF
water as suddenly as q eloudburst II
Is on these occasions that the place
bears the appearance OF q 'helrs
trap
1T has always been . great grazing
place for wild animals OF all kinds,
and the rise often comes dovL upon
them suddenly and fills the banks
all around them and breaks across
the narrow neck yonder. imprisoninG
them completely before they have
time to escape. No living thing can
ford the river during the rises.
"The Indians make It q point to
take advantage Of these rises. They
stand guard outside. and as soon as
the water Is at it's highest they rush
through the current overfiowing the
neck and slaughter the animals by
the Wholesale. In this manner they
long ago secured their winter meat
food. This has given 1t the name Of
'Hell's Trap"
After a few minutes In silence Gen.
eral Crook remarked that there
seem d to be four canyons, or out.
let's from the place, through the walls
OF the rimrocks. besides the main
entrance through the strait" or
neck. But the trapper showed him
the fifth.
ITO make a Wholesale capture" re-
marked the general. II will have to
me nat ell OF those points and
charge In over the neck Ny men
will arrive about midnight. and l
will then require your assistance IN
the men for an early morn
ing attack" he continued.
Before the trapper had time to re-
spond, IL he had intended to reply, a
sight caught the eyes OF both men
that riveted their attention in the
same direction.
They placed their field glasses to
their eyes and a groan escaped stimuli
taneously from each. The sight that
greeted them has often been seen on
the American border. Human beings
put to torture by savages, In full
view Of friends who were unable to
render them aid!
The savages marched forth into an
opening four white men in single flle
their arms bound to their sides, and
each being led by q painted war.
rfor.
The general and the trapper imme-
iiately recognized the men as four Of
he cowboys who had been sent out
On the trail of the Indians from the
Stone House. This Ia the flrst that
either had known of their fate. Gen.
eral Crook, as we'll as the trapper,
had supposed that all Of the men were
safe. The latter had not seen these
men since two days before, but he
that they had either lost
he trail or were lettering somewhere
lose at hand among the rimrocks.
But they had acted indiscreetly and
lad been entrapped by the Indians,
md were now about to pay their last
earthly penalty.
The mode OF the American sayage's
orture OF his prisoners is well known.
t has been described often enough,
With its narrowing variations. The
snake Indian was the most cruel, and
n this case his incentive was great.
Many of his companions had fallen
,efore the loopholes at the Stone
House. These men had fired the fatal
hots in many instances. It was now
he Indians turn.