The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-07-25

" i0ooi VI ApoIiO IOdSe, Ii, Of Troy,
N. T., and of several higher organiza-
lions of Free Masons, and now at the
Masonic home at Utica, has led a life
of adventure and privation in pros
pecting in Alberta province, formerly
known as the Northwest Territory of
Canada, and in California and the
Klondike regions.
The most tragic of his adventures
occurred in the province of Alberta
Where, owing to terrible accident
which befell his young wife, who was
spending her honeymoon prospecting
with her husband, he was impelled to
end her suffering by shooting her
through the heart.
The following is McDowelrs story of
the horrible affair:
I'm 1896 1 staked three claims in
the Peace river country, 112 miles
north of Banff Hot Springs. National
park, Alberta, Canada My claims
were on the face of Castle mountain.
and the approaches We're so rugged
and precipitous as to be almost mac
cessible. There was a very narrow
per -1Ous trail which I spent a month
in widening and making more secure
during which time I left my bride Of
a few months in Calgary, in the pro-
vince of Alberta, about a five days
journey from my claims. My bride
was lonely among strangers in CAL
gary, and frequently begged me to
take her out to the claims and let her
rough it with me. but I insisted that
she
while than she would be in the des-
olation of Castle mountain, which
was infested with wolves and other
wild beasts. besides being dangerous
of access. No horse cayuse, broncho
or mustang could travel that narrow
perilous trail. Mules and burros were
the only pack animals that could keep
their feet. Burros, however, could not
stand the journey for the necessary
length of time" says the New York
! Tribune.
Although sure footed patient and
enduring they were small and frail,
and with n 10O-pound pack could not
travel for two consecutive days.
Should they travel one day they would
have to rest two before proceeding.
Mules were scarce and dear, but 1
managed to secure three and these
packed with tools, provisions and ma
terials for building a log cabin.
This hut I built in a clearing l
made some two and a half miles from
my claims-as near to them as / could
find suitable ground. Then, having
burt my cabin, I returned to Calgary
and loaded my mules with household
effects, provisions, tools and a medi
cine chest Meantime, my young wife
was becoming more and more impa-
tent and eager to join me.
When | had my cabin furnished and
had bolstered up the trail by which it
was reached. I again returned to CAL
gary and found my wife prepared to
start. Having purchased a few more
supplies, we started for our destina-
ton on July 4, 1896 My wife was de-
lighted with the cabin, and more than
ever anxious and determined to visit
the claims which. as l have said. We're
two and a half miles by an almost in
accessible trail further up the noun
tain side. One day She was so persist
ent that I promised to take her, and
we started on our mules soon after
daybreak on July II, making our way
slowly and with extreme caution. We
made poor progress, as we had to ride
on the extreme edge of Albert can
yon.
MY wife was picking her way some
ten yards ahead of me at point where
the abyss of the canyon is 1900 feet
below the narrow trail. 1t was about
8 a. m, and the sun was beating
down fiercely upon lis. I d" not know
what caused the tragedy which fol-
lowed. but 1 think that the mule was
stung by either a hornet or yellow
} jacket
"At any rate. I was startled by an
agonized roar from the mule ana d
terrified scream from my wife, and as
7 looked uD from the trail and glanced
ahead I was Mortified to see the mule
rearing and plunging and entirely De-
yond my wifes control,
L leaped from my mule and ran
forward to her assistance, but before
I had covered half the distance mule
and rider had plunged down into the
abyss and bounded from rock to
bowlder. and We're finally lost to view
= 9 600 feet below.
; IT flung myself headlong at the ex-
: treme edge of the precipice and
shrieked as 1 witnessed the awful
descent of my wife, and once IN my
intense excitement I came near pitch
ing head first down the canyon myself.
So narrow was the trail that my own
mule could not turn around. ana
therefore we could not retrace our
steps. / abandoned my animal.
, THE only way I could get to the
1 bottom of Albert canyon from where
I Law on my breast, gazing wildly
into its depths, was to ascend still
higher toward it's mouth and then
$ work my way cautiously downward
a searched for "a hours and then came
: across the carcass of the mule. smash
> cd and crushed into a shapeless mass
\ Above it hovered carrion bros, ano
r