Show f A TRIP TO THE YELLOWSTONE PARK t Uncle Nick a and d the Camp at Fish Creek PART ii CONCLUDED Morning came the storm was over and the sun shone between the stately pines pine and cast its light upon our tent The exhaustion and excitement of the previous s day had been worn away by bythe bythe bythe the refreshing slumber of the night Saturday was consumed in resting our animals and in discussing plans plan by y which we could resume our journey From the passing traveler we learned that there were several everal ranches located in the valley and we entertained the hope that possibly a wagon could be obtained to replace the broken one Accordingly I mounted Old Jim early Sunday morning in search of some som j ranchers rancher's s cabin After making my way t through l dense forests and along windi winding g c t 1 All trails I was finally directed to a cabin located on the bank of a a am m magnificent cent stream of water a water a stream on whose banks I afterward spent many an exciting exciting exciting ing moment sometimes S not even even Confining confining confining con Con- fining myself to the banks I made my way to the ranchers rancher's home and was cordially met at t the door by a corpulent old gentleman of about three score years to whom I 1 explained my errand I was given the as assurance urance that I wOuld be beable able to pr procure cure the necessary wagon But asked the stranger where are you from rom and which way are you traveling traveling travel travel- ing When I explained that I was on m my way to the National Park and that I was from Salt Lake Lak City his eyes eye sparkled and his countenance beamed with an expression of joy the cause of which I afterwards learned for he was none other than Captain Wilson th the Pony Express boy of early days in Utah We are having Sunday School he continued will you not come in and talk to the children A half doz dozen n ranchers with their families had met for instruction and religious worship Superintendent Wilson or Uncle Nic Nick as he was familiarly called was their spiritual counselor and guide There Therein in inthe the wilds of Wyoming almost beyond the pales of civilization I met a congregation congregation congregation congre congre- gation of true worshippers free from the cant and hypocrisy of affe affected ted city life I returned to to camp reported my success success success suc suc- cess and preparations were immediately start started d dl made to resume our journey We l late te in the afternoon and made our camp about half a C- mile from Uncle bank of ofFish ofFish Nicks cabin on the opposite Fish Eish Creek very Creek very appropriately name named l as i it was literally alive wi with h beautiful beautiful- trout enough to gladden t the e h heart art of the most despondent fisherman Oh such delicious trout and what a feast we had 1 A c r t. t that night How by the light of the camp fire we ate and ate and ate I Iam Iam Iam am inclined especially in my psychology psychology psychology psycho psycho- logy classes to boast of my self control but I must confess that my excitement was cooled only by a plunge into the stream to assist the expert fisherman of th the party in landing a monstrous trout We were loath to leave Fish Creek but it was necessary necessary to continue our journey as we had already lost time We were a a a. little late the next day in starting and had proceeded but a short distance when we observed our companions companions companions com com- just above us upon the mountain mountain mountain moun moun- tain side apparently waiting our ap ap- As we neared the them the strange position of the wagons occasioned some alarm which soon proved to be well founded The horses on one of the wagons had become frightened and the f mother in her attempt to save her children from what appeared certain death had rushed in front of the excited J team caught the animals by the bits checked their speed but she herself was crushed under the feet of th the excited team The accident had just occurred as we came in view The suffering of the injured woman was intense and from all appearances her injuries must prove fatal So far from home and under u such circumstances Our hearts sickened sickened sickened sick sick- ened at the thought Medical aid was impossible what could be done No Notime Notime Notime time was lost Willing hands were soon at work medicine was quickly r administered to relieve the awful suffering suffering suffering suffer suffer- ing tents were pitched on the mountain mountain mountain moun moun- tain side and the injured wife pl placed ced upon a couch attended by her sympathetic sympathetic sympathetic sym sym- pathetic and stricken grief-stricken husband Pray for me children were the almost inaudible words that came from the 1 apparently dying mothers mother's lips Leila was not to die the prayers were an an- The day passed night came and went while our fears increased The news of the accident reached Nick At once he and his good wife were at the sufferers sufferer's side I have already sent for a doctor II he said II and and the woman must be carried to my home and receive our care Medical aid was secured and in that ranchers rancher's cabin the heroic woman lay suffering for two weeks With what courage and forti fortitude tude she bore it all Her anxiety was not for herself herselt but for those who were thus delayed in their pleasure trip She had been from the first more anxious for others than for herself and this unselfishness had endeared her to every everyone one of the party even the little children felt it keenly and would would vie with each other to serve the one so dear to them One little boy whose attachment attachment attachment attach attach- ment to her herVas was Vas little less than that of ofa a loving son would often cautiously approach the bed and whisper Would you like mamma to bring you a cup of tea Can I get you a drink of fresh freshwater freshwater freshwater water Here are a few huckle berries for you II As time went on his attachment attachment attachment attach attach- ment for her increased and he would run by her side to pick a handful of wild strawberries or to gather for her the first new flower flower but but he no longer is with us the angel of death has stolen him from our home the vacant chair never can be filled filled but but this does not belong to my story Under the care of kind friends our injured sister grew stronger and stronger Though the accident had delayed us still we were sorry to leave our newly made friends for whom we had formed an attachment and appreciation for their sympathy and humanity We were also loath to leave the excellent fishing and hunting in the vicinity of Fish Creek The announcement was made in camp that we were to start in the morning for forthe forthe forthe the Park and that Uncle Nick would accompany us as guide II And is Uncle Nick to go with us the children asked and at the affirmative answer how they danced and clapped their hands II Uncle U nele Nick was such an interesting jolly companion for both old and young He was a man of medium height broad shouldered and weighing about pounds his head inclined to baldness dark hair well mixed with grey His eyes were bright and keen denoting quick perception mouth firm yet kind and voice of musical sweetness his speech however with his quaint expressions expressions expressions ex ex- and old time songs reminded one of stories of frontier life In spite of his pounds his step was noticeably noticeably noticeably notice notice- ably graceful and buoyant while his whole demeanor portrayed the true kindhearted kindhearted kindhearted kind- kind hearted man man he was was was-a a veritable diamond diamond diamond dia dia- mond in the rough Besides being Pony Express rider while a boy only twelve years old he was appointed by the Governor of Utah to go with the In Indians Indians Indians In- In as their interpreter on one of their expeditions south At fourteen years of age he left home at the urgent request of Indians and remained with them a year during which time the combined combined combined com com- tribes of this region united in a war against the Sioux The united tribes then went on one of their armed hunting trips and II Uncle Nick became acquainted with all this western country also the now noted Yellowstone country Though accustomed to hard frontier life he possessed the tender generous feelings so often lacking in those whom we call cultured His lIis warm sympathetic ic nature won for him the love and confidence confidence confidence con con- not only of the adults but of every child in our camp Our road followed the Snake River r i along a narrow valley in sight of the lofty and magnificent Teton Peaks We passed by the Jackson Lake where we beheld the most beau beautiful scenery of the entire trip W We e entered the Park near the Thumb Thurn b skirting the Yellowstone Lake then along the Yellowstone River passing the wonderful Mud Geys Geyser r next feasting our eyes on the marvelous Grand Canyon and Falls of the Yellow Yellow- stone We viewed the wonderful formation formation forma forma- tion springs at Mammoth passing through the Golden Gate then went to the Norris Geyser Basin Following the Gibbon River we reached the Fire FireHole FireHole FireHole Hole Basin where the Fountain Geyser and Paint Pots attracted our attention We next reached the Upper Fire Hole Basin and beheld the wonderful display of hot springs and magnificent geysers making our way out of the Park by the Riverside station At Rexburg we parted with our guide and friend Captain Wilson and with tears in their eyes the children said a alast alast alast last farewell to II Uncle Nick The exciting exciting exciting ex ex- citing Indian stories with which we were entertained so many times by the camp campfire campfire campfire fire will long be remembered but longer far the generous warm warm-hea warm hearted ted hero of our story Uncle Nick of Jackson Hole W. W M. M Stewart |