Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-09-10
On the Trail of the UteS.


from Denver in 1854 Searching for
gold, they penetrated into the heart OF
the mourt..Gs near the New Mexican
bound y
Here they struck pay dlrt built a
cabin. and set TO work in the early
spring. They worked with pan and
shovel and a rudeN constructed rocker,
and for some months had good
piece Of gravel all to themselves,
Their "diggmgs' were some distance
above their shack. After the manner
of mountaineerS they had a secret
caches for most of their valuahles, and
they left their domicile each day with
the latch-Strius out and with food hos.
pitably set upon their rough table as
an invitation to the paSSerhy to help
However, no one came that way an.
til about the list of June They then
returned one evening to find a stranger
in possession of the cabin. His pony
was picketed outside and the man lay
upon their bunk, sleeping the sleep of
exhaustion. He was a Mexican, OF
the Spanish race, and dressed as a
vaQuero.
The prospectors went quietly about
getting supper of fresh meat, dough
boys" and coffee, and the stranger did
not awake until the dropping OF tin
platter aroused him. Then he sat up
"Buenos dias. senores," he said, but
Tim and Henry understood no word
of Spanish. They made signs to their
guest to "sit by" and eat, and he com.
piled.
After supper the trio opened a con.
plains BY this means the goIddig.
gers learned a story of sad and tragic
interest, yet common enough in those
days
The stranger related that he was a
resident of Taos, but owned sheep
ranch far across the Rio Grande,
where he and his son, lad Of fifteen,
had been staying while his herders
took their annual holiday in town,
There. in his absence, the Utcs had
suddenly fallen upon his buildings,
had sacked and burned the ranCheria,
and had carried his son off with them.
At first, upon discovering the smoke
of his burning buildings, he had sup
posed that his son had been killed He
had lain in hiding until the Qtes We're
out of sight, and then had stood sadly
beside the smoldering ruins, until he
could search their ashes for the bones
Of his boy.
He could find no trace of the lad,
either within or without the ruins.
The boy was n captive subject to a
fate perhaps worse than death-slay-
cry and degradation!
There was no rancheria, no help
within ten leagues, and in desperation,
with such arms as he had--a dragon
pistol and an ancient fowing piece
the distracted father had set out dpou
the trail of the raiders. This he had
followed for three days and nights,
with little food and almost no rest.
At noon of that day, and some eight
OF nine hours, as he believed, behind
the fleeing Utes, he had come within
sight of the prospectors' cabin. The
Indians had forded the stream within
plain view but they had crossed III
the night, and so had passed unseeins
and undiscovered.
When he had finished his story the
ranChero turned sad and wistful eyes
upon the wall, where hung an arsenal
of GouDle-harrelCd rifles and Colts re.
two men, within their walls, Formidable
against a host.
But the prospectors had already eX-
changed glancas. and they at once sig
nitled to their guest their willingness
to follow the Utes in hs behalf al.
though they were very doubtful that
they should be able to rescue the boy.
They could only promise to try
With tears streaming upon his
cheeks the ranchero shook hands with
IiNlII' hAh bilN9 HN my SCI dDphl blfB.
aratiors for long, rough chase, with
a fight against odds at the end Of t.
They cleaned and oiled their rifles
and two pairs Of pistols They loaned
the Mexican one Of their mountain
ponies, TO which he transferred his
bride and saddle. and with four days
rations in their saddlepockets they
took up the tran Of the Utes
As the Indians were driving & large
"bunch" Of stolen ponies. their trail
was a plain one and could be followed
nv the light Of the stars and Of snow.
aapped peaks.
The plains and mountain Indians had
long since learned the secret OF success.
full raiding They rode far and secret
ly-fiye hundred, a thousand miles,
after the coup, scurried
homeward at Killing pace. which rem
iered organized pursuit well nigh i'm.
possible They dill not try to conceal
their trails-sunning scouts In their
rear would give notice Of chase In
time 70 enable them to scatter.
Tim and Henry knew that they were
1pon the heels Of strong war party.
but they were ulaiusmcn of many