, 1921-06-23
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NOTES
(By Mrs. c. E. Ellis.)
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her height of beauty. The hills OF
old Wyoming were clothed in emer-
aid robes Of nutritious grass,
scrubby shrubs and g~ray-green sage.
The birds sang gayly, swaying IN
some timber bough of slender will
10y or thorny grease-wood,~-robins,
Wrens. thrush. orioles and msad6w'
larks vitd with each other in filling
tQe gray dawn with sweetest of
melodies. In the evening the whirr
of the night-hawk as he cut the
balmy air with his wings. and the
nlaintive cry Of the whip-poor-will
down along the creek, seemed to be-
stir every tender emotion in the .
bosoms of those who were listening
in the twilight. Difficulty creek, .
cool and clear. chartered over pebbly
bottoms and sang like T%ennysons
Brook. For men may come and men
may go, But l go on ~forever!" Into
the Medicine Bow river 1t flowed
mixing its clear waters with the
muddy. riled, foaming and roaring
waters Of the larger stream. The
snow in the mountains vas melting
fast, and frequent rains added to
this aided in causing the river to be
high and dangerous. There vas no
'IINSS oSlooo IL Do" I Shlo III
and people residing on the north and
east sides Of 1t were compelled to
take chances on fording 1t in order
to reach Carbon, which was at that
time the business center of the en-
tire community. Medicine Bow was
but little known, and the present
site OF Hanna was still a s~age-brush
flat. The Amoss ranch was then a
quarter section of land situated in
the Difficulty valley, and the Amoss
family comprised Mr.. and Mrs.
Amoss. n small daughter and two
younger sons. The necessary trips
from the ranch to Carbon after sup
plies were events Of great importance
among the Riddles at the ranch ,sand
they often took turns about, accom-
panying their father on this journey.
The ones who wen enjoyed the
rugged road. and the highly interest
ing spectacles in Carbon. while
those left behild awaited in eager
expectation to ser what would be
brought home for them. 1t was the
day to make the trip to Carbon and
the little daughters turn to accom-
pany her father. Bright and early
they drove away on the beautiful
sunny morning. little dreaming OF
the adventure which was to befall
them ere their return. On reaching
the river they found it high and
wide, and the muddy waters rolling !
on made 1t look decidedly danger
Gus. Mr.. Amoss tied the box Of his
wagon securely down. before starting
into the river and by the efforts of
a gentle and aver faithful team. |
they reached the opposite bank in
-t~ky MI ~ ry1r
made. and next day the trip as far
A hard rain in the Little Medicine
country had caused the river to rise
several inches, but Mr.. Amoss after
careful consideration. believed 1t
was not yet past fording. He drove
in. but or reaching the current. he
soon discovered that it was badly
washed out or the bottom and his
wagon began drifting down the
stream dragging the team along.
Presently the horses in their wild
struggle to swim and keep above the
water, became entangled in the har-
ness. Down the roaring they went.
Mr.. Amoss, Lille. wagon and team.
1t seemed that people and horses
were to be drowned in spite of
everything. Up near the shore Of an
island in the midst OF the river they
were carried. and Mr.. Amoss Selling
site o Hanna was still a sage-brush
her on the island and hurried back
to the rescue of the team, now en-
tangled in a mass OF .driftwood near
the island. Into the river he
plunged once more, and with pocket
knife in hand he swan through the
icy waters. Hanging onto wreck
age he cut the harness. freeing the
horses, and they too took refuge on
the island, but the wagon and all its
contents were lost. A most miserable
night was spent on the island with
no shelter and nothing to eat. but
the little girl. like her father. was
game and not a complaint was ut
tered. When daylight appeared
again. and long streaks of golden
morning sun warmed the island, Mr..
Amoss could see that the water In
the river was much lower. and with
the little girl in his arms. he mount
ed one of the horses. and crossed the
obstructing branch of the river and
the other horse followed. Even
though the wagon and supplies had
rolled down the river with the mad
dened current and the harness was
ruined. Mr.. Amoss was happy to be
able to deliver the little daughter
once more safely within the home
circle and said in his quiet drawing
manner "By gum, 1t might have been
worse"
Jack Farman made a trip to Elk |
Mountain Lao week. He rode "a
bronx. but had no trouble. He is
breaking bronks for several outfits
and his headquarters are at the Sill
tamaki ranch down on the river.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Black and
Mrs. Blacks brother, and the Wat
kins family went down to Pathfinder
Dam IN Monday on a sightseeing
tour.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tom Quealy from Elk
Mountain spent a lew days last
week, visiting relatives at the Sulli-
van ranch.
The horse roundup has been very \
busy for the past two weeks and
r,onv riHoro hovo AAnn mt Tho |