II—GOV. YATES’ WILD DASH FROM EUROPE TO HEAD OFF THE DEENEN BOOM
For many days the way was easy, and no mishaps attended them until they arrived at the foothills of a vast mountain range. An unfortunate mishap then occurred. One of the colonels was overcome and had to be borne along on the back of his steed thereby greatly lessening the speed of the gallant little band. Despite this untoward accident, the governor led bravely onward, ever crying out: “Courage, my comrades! Courage! We shall soon be there!”
Thus inspired they began the ascent. A vast solitude surrounded them! No sign of life met their eye, save where some distant mountain goat disported himself on the dizzy peaks, or where some adventurous eagle clung high in the Alpine crags. The hardships of traveling now became extreme, provisions gave out and for many weeks the little cavalcade were obliged to subsist upon eagles and mountain goats, which, owing to the peculiar formation of the country were difficult to catch, and more difficult to shoot, as the colonels were unaccustomed to the use of firearms. When they reached an altitude of 19,000 feet, another colonel was overcome and had to be carried along with his stricken comrade, for the governor resolved not to abandon his devoted follower in the mountain fastness as a prey to the savage goats.
Upon the nineteenth day of the ascent the last colonel gave out, and the governor carefully placed him upon the horse parallel with the two other exhausted colonels. A few days after this fresh misfortune the little band reached the summit, 42,000 feet above the sea level. A magnificent view of the surrounding continent was obtained, and largely repaid for the hardships of the ascent. Behind lay the peaks that they had crossed, many of them rising to a height of 30,000 feet or more. Down at their feet lay the broad, convex bosom of the Atlantic Ocean. A happy thought struck the governor. “I remind myself of Balboa discovering the Pacific,” he said with a smile, but if his followers heard this merry quip they gave no heed. Then the governor’s face became grave as another thought struck him. “There is no disguising the fact that I have a long swim ahead of me,” he said resolutely.
III—GOV. YATES’ WILD DASH FROM EUROPE TO HEAD OFF THE DENEEN BOOM