The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-09-27
GRAND CANYON STORIES.

GRAND CANYON STORIES. In the opinion of most visitors to the ] Grand Canyon in Arizona there is one i thing there that is grander than the 1 Grand Canyon itself, and that is the { liars about the Canyon. These imagi- native getlemen are mostly guides who 1 have lived there many years. Constant contemplation of the majesty of that great work of nature is said to stimu- late the imagination in geometrical ratio as the years go by, and con- sequently the tales that are spun for the wayfarers ears grow more pie turesque as the age of the guides in- creases.
 1 It is no reflection on them to call these artists of the Grand canyon liars. There is little deception in their tales. They tell them not to deceive, but to amuse. They probably feel that the Grand Canyon is so appalling in aspect that a sort of antidote is needed. They call themselves modestly yarn spinners. They are. Captain Hance is the most famous of these artists. Next to the canyon he is the best known institution there.
 He has lived there most of his sixty years and he has trail named after him. Moreover, he has place down in the canyon where he lives and enter tains those who like to finger in his society.
 Hance has a soft, gentle voice, and his eye is mellow and kindly. He speaks with sort of resigned and re- gretful tone and his face is as immobile as an Indians as he sets forth the dramatic incidents of history and fic- tion interwoven in the traditions of the place.
 Not to meet Hance is to miss half the joy of seeing the Grand Canyon. He is really part of it.
 Not long ago Hance made himself a party of tourists. He seemed to be rather conspicuous one morning near gathering up supply of meat for a dog After he had made his collection of scraps he began to chop them up very line.
 q suppose your dog is quite young, captain, judging from the care you give
 
 terested tourists. ''Tain't a dog" said Hance Not dog? What Is it, then?"' ] "Fish!"
 You don't mean to tell me that you are going to give all that chopped ur meat to fish ,
 Yep"
 Where is that fish?"
 Down in the river in the canyon" "Where?"
 Down at my place. I have to come here every morning to get food for him Amt got enough down there myself tC feed him. He's pretty good size"
 How big |"
 , Then Hance lowered his voice, and his sad eyes loked straight into those of the inquirer, as he said:
 T don't know as I ought to tell you about that fish, because I'm afraid you might think was exaggerating it lit tle I don't like to exaggerate, and never do unless I am pushed to it by some of these unreasonable tourists who never seem satisfied unless you tell 'em lies-real lies, big lies.
 Tt alwalys hurts me to lie abou anything. One ought never to lie il the presence of such wonderful man Hesitation of nature, of Gods power, al this great canyon exhibits. Why, sir what grander, what more-Oh, yes about that fish was telling you of.
 "He came to me during a freshet ii the river down there You see, he wa, being swept away from home ant friends and all he held dear. He wa, helpless.
 There is a little sort of Iagon nea my place. Usually when it is dry, i is several feet above the river. In tim of flood the water reaches up there, fill it, and sometimes the water stays uriti the next flood.
 'Well, I saw big commotfon comin, down the stream the day I was tellin, you of, and I saw a monster salmon my fish being carried away, as I tolc you. I had a lariat there, the one used to use when I was a cowboy ant I just flung it into the river, caugh that fish and with the aid of the cur rent lowed him to my lagoon.
 "How big was he? We'll, the las time I measured him he was 12 fee long. but he ain't got his full growtl lyet. He suffers from growing pains good deal can notice.
 "I thought I was going to have fight with that fish when caught him and thought it wouldn't be long befor had part of him cooking in the par But, Lord bless you, do you suppose could have killed him? Not on you life!
 When he looked me in the eve. after I saved him from being carrie off into strange waters, he gave m such grateful look and came alon into my laggon without the leas trouble, as if to say. You saved m life. I'll stay with you as long as live
 You know, got to love that ifs right there. The flood went down sud denly and left him stranded in that If tie pool on my hands. I go to see bir every morning, and he wags his ta five times, just so (the captain illus trates this,) as sort of signal C