The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-28
FIRE MADE WITH GUN.

Mr.. Hough. in the current number, gives
me the first Information OF the fate OF
Mr.. Egan, the railroad officer. who was
lost in Montana last November: since he
was first reported TO be lost l have
often thought that when the snow had
| left this spring his body would be found
AT the bottom of one of those ravines that
cross that country in every direction.
l have been in the country, and / cannot
call TO my mind now any place in the
west, and l know the whole of the west
pretty well. where a worse place could
| be found to get lost in.
Had Mr.. Egan. when he found him
| self lost, got up on as hig-. a point as
he coulI ind, and then started a fire. one
that would give plenty of smoke, he no
doubt would have been alive today. Some
of the parties who were out looking for
him probably passed within a mile of
where his body lay frozen under the snow
for he no doubt froze TO death.
l remember q similar case that hap
pened many years ago. A party of US
mounted men We're out in what is now
StOnewall county. Texas on a hunt and
scout; and while we were lying over a
day in camp a number of men went of
in different directions on foot TO hunt.
Another came up late in the afternoon
and at dark, one OF them was still MISS
ing.
It began to snow; but only enough snow
fell to whiten the ground; but it would
be of 10 use for US TO try TO find that man
after night. We kept up a good signal
fire all night. but he did not come in. and
early the next morning, four of us. all
that in our Lieutenant opinion could be
sent without danger of US getting lost in
our turn were sent out, each man by
himself. to hunt Up the missing man. We
going mounted.
had g0ue nearly six miles from camp
directly towards the Double Mountains.
when just ahead Of me, UP on the top Of a
rocky ridge ! noticed a gray wolf act
ing rather curious'y he seemed 10 be
interested in something down on the other
side Of the ridge. I sent a shot at him.
but missed him. and he left. Clim bling
up to where the wolf had been, 7 found
my man. He lay just below me. and be
tween this ridge and . higher one. He
had fallen down from where I stood now
LATE last night. he told me then had
lain here ever since He was not hurt
much when i came TO examine him. he
had found himself lost late in the eve
ming before then had wandered around
half-frozen. and did net have energy
enough left TO set upsnd hunt the camp
Why did you not start a FIRE last
night I asked. Had you put one on
The side Of thst hill Up there we could
nave seen ii ard found you. The camp
is in sight OF this hin
He had no matches. ne ssid.
You did rot need any; YOU had gun
and pistol Now let ne start one FOR you"
I had matches. bu; did not use them.
took the greasy rag / used for gun
stopper. and taking q small piece Of pa
per folded both and thrust them thunder
small Jog. then holding my pistol with
the rruzzIe few inches away from this
STUFF. I fred into il just once, then blew
on Il. and rad FIRE without matches
After ! had got he man warmed Up
little. I put him OF my horse. and we
went home
Mt Egan may net have Rad any
matches either. hut Re was too old =
hunter 10 heed them he No doubt knew
OF this trick and had he rot been stun
ned from Q fall. could have used 81 I had
rot supposed thst ;hsre vas nan living
who vas IN the habit q using a gun. hut
would know how 20 start a FIRE this
way. found nen rixht in that camp.
though. who did not knew Il, OF ~ least
had never thought ot it-FoFsst and
Stream