On one occasion, while on a reconnoitering expedition, Christen and others were crossing the Green River in Wyoming. A sudden raise in the river brought it to flood stage and swept away a party of scouts. Five of them were being drowned in the black swirling waters of the stream. Jensen was in the scouting party, and it was only after swimming a mile and a half down stream that he was able to get from the frothing seething river to the shore, practically exhausted but still alive.
He was cast upon the shore of the stream without provisions. His ammunition all wet and he was without the ordinary methods of making a fire. He laid on the banks of the river for some time until his strength gradually returned. He got up, stretched his weary limbs, walked a few paces up and down the stream. He found some driftwood and in a short time had kindled a fire by rubbing two sticks together until the friction ignited the embers. A roaring bon fire was made.
Scouts on the other side of the Green river saw the blaze and an alarm was sounded. Within a day, it was discovered that it was not a band of hostile Indians encamped on the opposite bank of the Green river. Rather, it was a lone U.S. Scout. Provisions were sent across the stream to him.
The next day, he rejoined his regiment. Six of his picked followers were now sleeping beneath the river or along its banks, drowned while serving their country.
1. Looking into the Past, Ledger-News, Antonito, Colorado, 78th Year Number 15, Thursday, Sept. 16, 1971.
Please note that I have modified the article a bit in punctuation phrasing.
He was cast upon the shore of the stream without provisions. His ammunition all wet and he was without the ordinary methods of making a fire. He laid on the banks of the river for some time until his strength gradually returned. He got up, stretched his weary limbs, walked a few paces up and down the stream. He found some driftwood and in a short time had kindled a fire by rubbing two sticks together until the friction ignited the embers. A roaring bon fire was made.
Scouts on the other side of the Green river saw the blaze and an alarm was sounded. Within a day, it was discovered that it was not a band of hostile Indians encamped on the opposite bank of the Green river. Rather, it was a lone U.S. Scout. Provisions were sent across the stream to him.
The next day, he rejoined his regiment. Six of his picked followers were now sleeping beneath the river or along its banks, drowned while serving their country.
1. Looking into the Past, Ledger-News, Antonito, Colorado, 78th Year Number 15, Thursday, Sept. 16, 1971.
Please note that I have modified the article a bit in punctuation phrasing.
1 comment:
Thanks for taking the effort to post these items. Your diligence is inspiring. At the end of this year I plan to do the BLOG books again.
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