The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-09-03


ing men, he was short, extremely pow
erful and spoke pronouncedly through
his nose. His conversation was chiefly
remarkable from it's contrast to the
vigorous and high-dayored language
used by the natives. He never sWore.
Apparently he had plenty of n1oneT
| aud at first whea questioned as to his
iEtenti5ns, replied that ne had earned
| enough for holiday, and was going
TO look around bit before settling on
2 line of worB. He was tack OF many
trades, BE said, and could make a
gcDd living as soon as he decided. He
I, picked up g numtmr of acquaintance
displayed a great interest il the re-
sources and prospects of the surround
ing country and early in August an
nounced that he had determined to try
| his luck for a season as a professional
hunter and trappeT.
in this capacity he met with sac
cess from the start. He was a bril-
liant shot. and though the country was
, new to him, he seemed to have natu-
rai instinct as to the whereabouts of
game. Several short trips were ar
ranged by the local magnates. with
Fehgon as a pilot, and in each case
they returned spoil-laden.
Naturally, Archie fell in with him,
and naturally they had much enthusi-
astic talk in common, but their several
engagements prevented them from ar
ranging an expedition together till the
middle OF October.
About this time there were large
and destructive forest fires in the
Rockies, and the smoke hung a heavy
pail over all the land The sun rose
and set blood-red, and men could hard
~ quench their thirst. Much game
was driven out, and, crossing the in
teryening 40 miles Of plain, deer and
elk took up their abode on our range
in the south part of the Black Hills
Other visitors arrived, not SO welcome.
A mountain lion was seen by one of
our cowboys feasting on calf, and the
next night, ten miles away, he robbed
the heDroost of a fence-rider.
To harbor the beast meant a certain
loss of a thousand dollars a year, and
I turned his pursuit and destruction
over to Archie, who took to the idea
with great eagerness He at once en-
gagged Clark F'enton to accompany
him, and on the 18th Of October the
pair started with team and spring
wagon belonging to the ranch, loaded
with r.iAac ~ VIZ
MALTA required for two-weeks' camp
in the balls.
From that day to Ills, no man, So
far as is known, has ever set eyes on
either Of thFsn.
A fortnight went by, but as Archie
was supposed to be hunting within our
fence (an enclosure, by the way, of
about three-quarters of million
acres) and was at work for the benefit
OF the ranch, I made no report of his
absence to his father. But during the
third week the weather became very
bitter and stormy-too rough, I should
have supposed, for my partner-and
when, on the 7th of November, found
that none Of the cowboys had seen
their camp at all, became alarmed,
and telegraphed to Mr.. Sparks.
Promptly came back the reply:
Spend up to fifty thou@nd in in
quiries. Draw on me"
The number of r.ders we put out to
cover the ground, and the number of
detectives we employed would hardly
be believed, if | gave them: but up to
June, '98, the only things we recov-
cred were the wagon and horses. A
Mexican in Arizona was working old
Blue, and missionary on the Grow
reservation in Montana had Buck and
the wagon, but they had passed
through SO many hands that it was inn
possible to trace them back to any one
resembling either Clark Fenton or
Archie Sparks.
Poor Mr.. Sparks took the disappear
anee of his son very deeply to heart,
aud his efforts in the search were re-
doubled, but were entirely fruitless.
In June, '9s, had occasion to ride
over part Of the range about ten
miles distant from the home ranch.
The nature of the country was rather
curious. The soil was heavy, orange
colored sand, growing fairly good
stand of pasture grass, and spangled
at this season with wild flowers of
every hue. At frequent intervals there
rose red sandstone rocks, some of gTeat
size, and carved by weather into the
most fantastic shapes. Here would be
a table, many hundred tons in weight,
set on three slender legs; there thin
slab, serving edgeways for sun dial.
Fancy could picture George Washing
ton, the Sphinx and other celebrities,
when the strange masses were looked
at from the proper point
These cragS We're the home of Wild
cats, and my buli-terriers (Wko gen
orally succeeded in following me when
meant to leave them ait home1 were
soon busting one from rock to rocs
The cat finally took refuge in a mass
of red sandstone @aout an acre in ex-
tent, the terriers following, and while |
waited for them to come out again I
amused myself by examining the
curious Formations. On three sides the
walls were sheer, or perhaps little
1verhangins, to the height of 40 feet
At the top the weather had done
strange work. Growing the walls
"tsre great mushroom-like shapes, on
high, thick stems. each different and
vet all alike. The intervals were al
most regular giving, The annearanca of |