The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-10-27
LOST IN MOUNTAINS.
Rev. K. T. Cookingham Has a
Thrilling Experience on Mission
Range in Fiathead Country

Rev. II. I. Cookingham. Of the Metho. |
dist Church of Culbertson. returned last
Sunday from his visit to Poison and the |
Flathead Lake country. and il is simply |
thrilling to hear him tell Of his adventures
and miSsdventures in that mountainous
region. He called at the Searchlight Office
Tuesday and related the tale Of how he be-
came lost in the mountains. Briefly as
was as follows:
There was hunting party OF three at
Poison, composed Of Mr.. Philips. who act
ed as guide: Mr.. Schwartz, printer in the
Poison Courier Office and MIR. Harold
who had organized hunting trip and in
vited me to join them. They had pack
horses. tents. dogs. and all the equipment
necessary for big hunt and planned to
start out Monday morning over the Mission
mountains to a camping place on Swan
River where large game. such as bear elk.
moose. mountain lions. etc. make their
home.
Rev. Cookingham joined the party and
they crossed the Mission Mountains that
day but did not arrive at the place they
were to make permanent camp. After
making temporary camp that plight two
OF the party started for Swan River with
Mr.. Schwartz went to one side to hunt
along the way.
lie says, IL and MIR. Schwartz went
along several miles within hearing distance
OF one another. when presently struck the
hot trail of some animal which | took to be
a moose. as the tracks were very large. |
could hear him in the brush ahead. but
could not get sight Of him. In the excite
ment followed this animal for perhaps a
couple of hours. before thought to signal
to my companion. did SO now but could
hear nothing from HIM. stopped to con-
slider. l finally concluded to follow the
creek was near. to Swan River and try to
reach permanent camp. walked in mud
ami water all that day and finally reached
l swan NiSer that ntght.
Here fired my gun and tried to make
my companions hear me but to no avail.
l had shot couple Of grouse during the
afternoon. built a huge FIRE. roasted the
grouse. made bed of pine boughs and
slept like top. could hear the Wild ami
mails all around my camp during the night
h,,sk aa has hs
FIRE | was not lost in that sense that did
not know where vas, for ! knew that
was on Swan River and that the town Of
Big Forks was thirty or forty miles farther
down. Also that Poison and Fiathead LAKE
were over the Mission range to the west
was only lost in that was separated from
my companions.
The next morning l started down Swar
River towards Big Forks. but after a cou
pie Of hours travel I concluded to 20 ovel
the mountains to Flathead Lake. Thi.
was Wednesday morning and was slread,
weary from two days tramp but l started
! up the mountain briskly and il was an az
full climb. did not suffer from hunger
but was terribly thirsty. had one Of the
roasted grouse in the pocket Of my hunting
Jacket. but did not eat il. After climbing
up the mountain a couple Of hours over big
boulders. fallen trees, and through thicL
underground. came to a big boulder IN.
derneath which vas large quantity OF wei
moss. squeezed this moss With my hands.
securing few drops Of water with each
handful and partly qaenched my thirst that
way.
II was about this time that large noun
tain lion let out a roar which sounded As
though il vas just behind me. II startled
me some and whiried around to shoot 4,
but nothing vas in sight. This animal
followed me all the rest of the day. clear
up over the mountain top and part way
down the other side. roaring a, intervals,
but always keeping under cover 50 could
not get shot AZ it.
When ! reached nearly to the top Of thu
mountain found snsv and sat down and
ate lot Of il. which quenched my thirs
At the time but made il worss lAssr. A