Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-30
By A. G. BIRCH.
Soscsl to The Star and North American
NeySpaper AliirrCe

Sosc:sl to the Star ana North American
Newspaper AliEUCe
DENVER. Colo. September 30
When / left the other BOYS in the
depths Of the Ysmpa River Canyon,
following the wreCkirg of one of our
boats. we all were so exhausted and
6lIpirited that we cared very little
whether we ever got out alive. But
with the loss of our provisions we knew
hunger soon would BE- staring us III the
face, and that led me TO make the at
tempt to reach Johnson'S Draw on foot
and f1nd the food cache
Several months before l had visited
Johnson's Draw with Fray Baker. riding
down from the rim on horseback.
would know the place again; it is one
OF Just two spots in the whole canyon
where one can get into or out of the
gorge.
AS left Durham. Mace and Mo~itz
shortly after noon on Friday. August
"a. they we're spreading on the ground
the signal flag that meant Serious
trouble. Need help" They hoped the
cowpuncll4rs who were 10 ride the rim
would spy it. But the signal never
was seen.
When we met again. the boys told me
they worked whole Gay trying TO get
the wrecked boat off the rocks, but could
not bulge it an inch Then they tore
everything that could be spared out
OF the remaining boat-seats, floor
boards, extra car locks and fender
ropes. And they threw away every bit
of equipment that was not absolutely
needed. Then they started on down.
stream.
Meanwhile. I was having plenty of
trouble.
Rough Going.
Within two Or three miles I found it
vas impossible to walk through the
canyon sticking to one bank. Some
times there were sandy beaches where
one could walk. But these would soon
give way TO stretches of huge boulders
that had fallen from the cliffs above
and that lay in such jumbled profusion
spent hours crawling over them tor
Q single mile.
Then the bank would end altogether
the river rushing swift and deep
against sheer cliffs for long distance.
was too exhausted now and in too
much misery from my injured back, to
attempt to swim through these swift
stretches of water. SO l either had to
climb hundreds of feet up the walls and
pass along some ledge over these preci-
pices, or else 60 back upstream to
ouieter stretch of water and swim to
the opposite bank. Sometimes I took
one course and sometimes the other
whichever seemed easier.
And then there was quicksand. This
was the worst horror of my Journey.
There is much quicksarld all through
this canyon. and several times pulled
myself out Of bad traps.
Wishing TO travel as light as possible
and hoping Johnson's Draw really
was not far off carried no clothing
other than what wore-sailor's duck
trousers and thin. short-sleeve6 shirt.
I had no food, Of course, and no
matches.
Four Days without Food.
But Johnsons Draw was a long dis
lance. And could not average more
than a mile and half an hour. With
out bite to eat. J tramped all Of FRI
day. Saturday and Sunday, and until late
Monday afternoon. But neither did the
other boys. who remained with the boat,
have anything to cat after those two
cans of beans and The can of soup were
some.
At times. usually ,ate in the afternoon
or at night. it rained furiously and got
bitterly cold.
AT night I would find some hollow
Under a cliff and stretch out on the
ICChSs R4USl VI ilIS iIk1S Wdc tUU CUIN,
stiff and miserable to sleep.
Monday noticed vulture following
me for hours.
About 4:30 pm. on Monday I reach
ed johnson Draw. No one was in
sight. No cache of food, and no flag
by the waters edge. shouted for half
an hour, but there was no answer. The
place was deserted. Never in my life
have felt so downcast.
I was on the opposite bank from
.rohnsons Draw. The stream was too
wide for me to swim in my exhausted
condition. There was nothing for 1t but
to back upstream until / reached
more favorable spot and swim across
there.
Signs Of Life.
When got back to the Draw found
tigns of A recent camp, but no note
or food l assumed that Baker had
waited until we were so long overdue
that he had given us up for lost
end had departed to ride the rim in
search of us This proved to be true:
Baker had stayed until the night be-
fore I got there.
It was Is miles from Johnsons Draw
IL Bakers ranch. at Youghal. and a
climb of over 1000 feet. l did not
have strength for the trip that night.
BESIDES, 1t was raining furiollsly. SO |
"holed up" under cliff and waited.
shivering, for morning.
.Tuesday-my fourth day without