The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1906-06-15
LOST ON THE MOUNTAIN TRAIL IN
NEW MEXICO
"A somewhat COlored Account of the Tx
periences of the Edgerton Fortune
Hunters in the Black Range
(BY THE CHIEF BoosTER.)

(BY THE CHIEF BoosTER)
Ibe party of fortune hunters which
lett Edgerton and penetrated the wilds
OF New Mexico in search of lost Ell
Dorado had many weird and exciting ex-
perlences. Their starting point was the
deserted mining camp of Lake Valley.
which at one time boosted of being the
rlcnest silver mining camp in the world
ana the proud possessor of thirty sa-
looms, each fully equipped with every
KIND of gaming device known to the
world of sport. One resort had twenty
Two gambling games running in full
olast, each presided over by fair seno-
rlta who smiled her sweetest when some
poor miner was sent back into the
ground for more silver after nights
run OF tough luck with tickle fortune.
The party wound it's way slowly over
tortuous mountain trail in what were
locally termed, handsome equipages.
After about six miles of jostling and
Joltlng in the aforesaid alleged equip
ages, the party were mighty glad To
desert them and take to the trail The
first object of interest that the party
overlook was goat ranch which was in
terestlng IN its varying aspects and par
tlcularly as it contributed to the first
mlsnap to member of the party, who
ran into and left few red hairs dangl-
ing on the only piece of barb wire fence
west Of Kansas, but his feelings were
tenderly administered to by the chatting
physicians of the party After passing
through box canyon in solid rock, the
Welrdness of which would have appealed
to Bret Harte, we struck the Mexican
camp, which was met with pleasurabIe
emotions but which turned to something
else later in the trip. Over the divide
on the mountain trail which winds up
ward and onward, covering distance
varlOusly estimated from five to forty
miles, depending on the physical and
mental condition Of the weary plodder,
the party had gradually became segre-
gated into groups of three or four. The
race was to the strong and the leaders,
Our Engineer and Danl Boone, led the
procession for many weary hours, the
next detachment consisting of the Dry
Goods Merchant, the Publicity Agent
and the Chief Booster who were silent
IN their misery and sullen in their
thoughts, until, suddenly, from nowhere,
appeared the Irish Comedian and the
Elucidator who without regard to con-
sequences had taken short cut across
unknown canyons and perilous ascents
to Join their more conservative and
timid comrades. Their immediate ap-
peal for life's elixer, which the party did
not possess, demonstrated that they had
"blown their lamps" in the dangerous
and foolhardy cutoff escapade, and they
were mighty glad of an excuse to take
things easy. About a mile or two far |
Their up the trail the party were sudden |
ly surprised by the mysterious appear
ance of Buffalo Bill and the Morse Vik- |
ing who, not to be outdone by anyone |
but the God of Venture himself had |!
also taken dark and devious route |
heretofore untraveled and unknown only |
to the Aztec Indians and their descend |
ants But they had enough and we're
willing henceforth to support the rear
guard and delve in the mysteries of ma |
ture as revealed by Gorgeous sunset |
upon the wild hilltops of the picturesque
southwest. as the sun was lending and |
blending the gold and red with the |
green Of the mountains, making a pic |
ture Of surprising beauty. The party |
got onto the wrong trail and were hope
lessly lost. Night had overtaken them
on the narrowest, toughest, crookedest,
most lonesome mountain trail to be |
found anywhere on Gods green foot
stool. Suggestions were many and va
rled, but an absolute halt was made and |
a big bonfire started. The Publicity
Agent sought the smooth side of the
mountain with the starry canopy of
heaven his only cover and turned his
thoughts upon his grandchildren in Ed
gerton, wishing, aye, praying, for one
more look at the loved ones at home.
Thoroughly tanned and overcome by
the possibilities of the situation, Silent
Bill, Elucidator and the Morse Viking
made the mountains resound with their
appeals for help. The Chief Boosters
thoughts were upon Weary Willie, who
with the balance of the party had been
losing ground all day and who were sup
posed to have sense enough to go into
camp with the Mexicans But provi-
dence dealt kindly with the party. Our
Engineer, who can outclimb a mountain
goat, came to our rescue and we finally
wound up in camp, along the banks of a
most delightful mountain creek whose
contents seemed like the nectar of the
gods to the almost famished and foot
weary bunch of fortune seekers.
The rear guard consisting of Alkali
Ike, Weary Willie, Ostler Joe and Ham
dy Andy, also had been Flooding their
weary way and turning up mile after
mile, swearing and sweating, to reach
he protecting shelter of camp before
hight overlook them. But alas, their
efforts were in vain; they were too heav-
ly handicapped by the pack mule and
Weary Willie's lamentations. The soft
side of the mountain was their downy
couch and good one it seemed to them.
)stler Joe's piteous cry for water ap-
oealed to the humane instincts Of Alkali
Ike and at the risk of his precious neck
he scaled the sides of precipice and
ound babbling brook with the true
instinct of frontiersman, and saved the
life of Ostler. Handy Andy, with the
lardihood and courage o. his ancestors,
made the same journey and with his
rood cloth cap for bucket, ameliorated
he sufferings of Weary Willie and the
Jack horse. After having refreshed him
ND ~