Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-06-14

or escape, the whites were on them
with their war cries, and in a few
minutes II scalps were dangling from
their saddle horns.
On their way to Salt Lake, they
passed rapidly the heads of the Green
and Grand rivers, and at last reached
the edge of the desert lying along the
southern shore of the Great Salt lake
Plunging into the desert they no
longer chanted Indian songs and
charged forward with war whoops ring
ing. Instead they rode silently and
were more thoughtful. They passed
many bands of Yutas and miserable
Digger Indians, who scurried out Of
their paths
Soon they entered the country of
/ the Yamparicas, or Root Diggers, the
most AFFECT and degraded of all the
western tribes. These Indians, although
ened by hunger, and their attacks
were often more feared than those of
holder tribes, especially If they gath
cred an oVerpowering number and
charged into camp at night. Early
one morning an attack came and the
Diggers killed one of the trappers who
was standing guard, scalping him and
running off three horses. Five trappers
at daylight tracked the Indians to
their village, into which they dashed
headlong, recovering the stolen horses
and bringing back Is scalpS dangling
at their belts.
They suffered from thirst and hun
ger, having to kill several of their
horses and eat them, but they replaced
these after a battle with a band Of
Indians returning from successful
raid into California after horses. In
the fight with these reds the trappers
killed six and got 20 horses.
They met with one horrible exper-
fence, when, reduced to the last straits
Of hunger, they met a small band Of
Indians who proved friendly and Of
fered them meat Starting to eat 1t
they discovered it was human flesh,
and from white men, at that.
Looks Like Paradise
At last they reached their destina-
ton, the Mission of San Fernando, |
which appeared like a paradise after |
their weeks spent in the desert. Fig
abounded, and the landscape became |
dotted with groves of olive trees. The
Mission of San Fernando was situated |
on small river called Las Animas, a |
branch of Los Martires. They could see |
its rude tower and cross peeping out !
of grove Of fruit trees. About 1t were |
scattered the huts Of the Indians, built |
of stone and adobe. The monastery |
housed a queer assortment of priests /
and servants, with attaches of all de-
grees Of Spanish and Indian blood |
mixture. Fray Augustin, a Capuchin
monk with a huge paunch and fat
jowls, was in charge.
Being apprised by a cattle herder
of the approach Of the trappers, the
inmates Of the mission prepared to
fight Half a hundred half breed cow
Ell - I
few Indians were mounted and armed.
An old brass cannon was mounted on
the walls and loaded to the muzzle
with bullets and powder. Fray Angus
tin, too fate to move fast, exhorted
the men to fight well, the women
and confusion reigned.
Meanwhile, the trappers trotted
steadily toward the mission in a line.
The Californian horsemen moved for
ward and broke into a gallop. The
trappers then dashed forward into the
middle Of the faltering troop. their
loud war cries and the crack OF their
rifles spreading terror. In a minute
half a dozen saddles of the Califor-
mans were emptied, and one of the
rappers had fallen with a bullet
through his heart. Fray Augustin shot
The cannon in the air, but it did no
more harm than to knock him down,
AAAA tA4~ AAEAAI We1 ONGAs I
Feast and Drink
For three days the mountain men
ieasted and drank. Then they gathered
! choice herd Of 400 horses and started
back, for 1t was now October and they
Wished TO cross the Rockies again be-
ore winter set In.
On their return, the trappers fol-
owed for a distance the old Spanish
rail, which led them south OF the
sierra Nevadas. Their trip across the
iesert was attended by Indian attacks,
nut they came through safely and In
arly December crossed divide Of the
3ockies, losing many horses In the
now. They struck for the headwaters
4 the Arkansas river IN Colorado and
ollowed that stream to q valley IN
he mountains known as The Bayou
salade, famous aa rendezvous for
raiders and trappers. Here they let
heir stolen horses grow Eat. They then