Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-03-03
ROCKY FORD COLORADO FRIDAY, MARCH 8. lsll
CAVE HUNTERS FOUND.
Former Rocky Ford Boy Has Strenu-
Gus Time in Royal Gorge.

Former Rocky Ford Boy Has Strenu-
Gus Time in Royal Gorge.
Rocky Ford people were intensely
interested in a big man hunt in Royal
Gorge the first of the week, when it
became known that one of the lost
boys was Eugene Hawkey, the II
year-old son Of G. c. Hawkey, the for
Ford, who is now located in Canon
City. The story was graphically told
in Tuesdays Pueblo Chieftain, as fol-
lows:
Canon City, Feb. 27.-The great
est man hunt ever known in Canon
City district was ended at 1890 this
morning, when the blowing of whis-
ties and the ringing of bells gave the
signal that Thomas Jenkins and Eu-
gene Hawkey, the young cave hunters
who had been lost in the mountains
Of the Royal Gorge park since last
Saturday afternoon, had been found.
Hundreds of men from Canon City,
Parkdale and Webster park had been
engaged in the search. The Denver
and Rio Grande railroad sent out two
special trains with rescue parties, the
Gorge station was stocked with pro-
visions and supplies for the rcscuers
and telephone installed and head
quarters established there.
The news of the finding Of the boys
was received by telephone from the
ranch Of the Boston Land and Cattle
company on Webster park. twelve
were found by a rescuing party OF
.nu,hnve from, NNehst.r part n
o'clock this morning. When found,
the boys were making their way
through snow from to } feet deep,
were nearly dead from hunger, cold
and exposure, having had nothing to
eat for forty-five hours and no shelter
from the binding snow and bitter
cold. The boys were badly bruised
and their feet and hands frozen
They were brought to Canon City
at 2 o'clock this afternoon. placed un-
der a physicians care and it Is
thought that both will recover.
Young jenkins was able to give the
following story to the reporter: Last
Saturday afternoon we found 4 cave
in the Royal Gorge about mile cas-,
of the hanging bridge. We entered
and found a room perhaps 30 feet
deep. We did not stay here long but
climbed higher up the mountain side
looking for another cavern, and al
last reached the top 1000 feet above
the river. As night was approaching
the Carter and Sullivan boys who
were with us, started for home down
4 draw towards the river.
That way didn't look good to IL
so Hawkcy and decided to return
by way OF the Grape creek valley to
the east of us. So we started out and
began walking. 1t was showing
blizzard and we couldn't see ten feet
ahead of us. Some places the snow
was up to our waist and time and
again we recrossed our own tracks
We kept going until midnight. when
we built a fire and remained there un-
til morning. All day Sunday We
trampcd, but seemed to get no where
Once we ran into flock OF mountain
sheep but they soon disappeared into
the snowstorm. When night came on
we built another fire at the loot OF 2
big cedar tree which caught hre and
the burning branches falling about u
set our clothing on fire several times
"When morning came we sat out
again. although scarcely able 70 drag
ourselves through the snow. About 9
tain and looking down in the valley
nearly n mile away. we saw some
horscmcn. fred my revolver and
we yelled as loud as We could and
attracted their attention. One OF the
men. Chess Griffs. rode near and ask.
ed il we were the lost men. We said
YES. When the others came up, We
were placed on horses and taken to
an old cabin about a mile and a quar-.
ter away and furnished with food and
dry clothing. We found out We were
or the edge of Webster park about
three miles from the Smith ranch and
twelve miles from Canon City.
Il tell you l won Id not go through
money in Colorado" said jenkins.
1--WE never completely CAV. up hope
of finding our way out although !
must admit that at times 1t looked
rather bad for us"