Cañon City record., 1910-03-24

They made an assay of the ore TAX
en- from the shaft which they had
sunk to the depth of nine feet, and
were delighted to find that 1t ran over
with renewed zeal continued their
eyes on the precious nuggets, and
work. They hoped that before cold
weather had fairly set in they might
be able to return with enough assess
ment work finished to establish a clear
title to their claim. This required
digging to a depth of ten feet. With
the rich results at depth of nine feet
they felt that their work would soon
be accomplished.
The Mountain Snowstorm.
One difficulty confronted them.
Their provisions were running low.
They felt that they could not spare
the time to return for their remaining
supplies nor could they abandon their
valuable claim. They resolved to put
themselves on half rations for short
time. Their stores must last. they de-
clared, until more Of the precious met
al had been secured.
Gold, Goldi Was 1t not worth toll
and privation? Was It not worth IA
tigue and suffering for only a limited
period? Would 1t not buy luxuries
untold after all these days OF anxiet,
and labor? Each life was buoyed up
by thoughts such as these. Each man
sought his bed with the hope that the
morrow would bring their work to a
successful end.
One morning the party awoke. and
as they looked out upon the landscape
their faces blanched with terror. A
binding snowstorm was raging. All
the peaks around were covered with
the white shroud. The piercing wind
was whirling the fakes OF snow into
vast drifts which were filling up the
small eanons and hiding the trails.
All around was blank and dreary des-
olation, while their tents were almost
buried in the vast depths which sur
rounded them.
As the men viewed their scanty
store of provisions they felt as IL the
grave would soon await them. Strong
and brave as they were their courage
almos; failed but Peter. with his in
domi1able will. bade them be OF good
cheer and hope for the sunshine that
would soon dispel the threatening
gloom.
All through the day the storm still
fiercely ragged. while the heavy clouds
betokened no cessation from the dis
aster which had overtaken them. An
other night passed amid gloom and
silence The next morning still found
the party on the verge Of despair.
Starvation threatened them, but death
in another form they knew would be
their portion. II they dared to set out.
with a hope OF finding relief.
Death 0vertakes Them.
They asked themselves again and
again. would their friends seek them?
Could they live much longer in that
| atmosphere of ice and snow. with the
pangs of hunger already wasting their
bodies They almost wept. as melan-
choly forebodings overwhelmed them.
But Peter stiles stood like a stone
wall between his companions and de-
spair. Don't be tenderfoot towards,
boys " he said, other men have lived
and suffered. other men have come
forth from ice and snow with their
| life blood coursing through their
veins warm and ruddy."
But one morning. the youngest OF
the party. a lad of 20. was siezed with
| raging fever. He gazed into the
faces OF the other men with the wild
eyes OF insanity. In his delirium he
called for bread. He cried for his
mother to allay his hunger. Starving,
starving" he moaned; they told me
we had gold" he raved, where Is It?
Cursed be the gold that can buy no
bread. They lied to me; they cheated
me. They will starve me. to divide
my portion between themselves. No.
NO! cannot bear Il; will kill them;
I will strangie them" a
With superhuman strength almost