.OTk1.NjQ2NTg

But when I got there I was greatly shocked by finding that the shanty already had a tenant one who should occupy it untill the last trump shall sound right in the center was a newly dug grave a small paper stuck into a stake driven into the ground informed us that a party of prospecters passing that way a few days before had found a man lying dead there he was shot through the leg apparently by accident and undoubtedably had died from starvation his leg being broken and not having any food the paper stated that his gun lay near him also some cooking utensils pick axe shovel and a gold pan there was a few dollars in money in his pockets with some papers telling his name all of which his friends could have by applying to a certain house in Denver City. It was a most horrible fate the poor fellow met living there probably some days suffering all the pangs of hunger cold and pain he must have died a hundred deaths in anticipation before he was released from suffering it was a more cruel death than the greatest tyrant of old ever prepared for his enimies. That spot was no resting place for us that night I could not stop there if I was forced to sleep in the snow all night we recrossed the torrent but it was growing so very dark we dared not travel any farther there was some tremendous precipices all around us so we camped about one hundred yards from the grave camped on the cold bare ground. We gathered some pine logs made a rousing fire cooked some supper but it was done in silence. We could not help thinking of the lonely sleeper near us and of his horrid and lingering fate.