WILDERNESS BRIDE

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1934, Page 10

WILDERNESS BRIDE

ENGLISHWOMAN’S PLUCK VANCOUVER, April 26. Life in the Avilderness for a young bride, and what it entails, is graphically recounted by Mrs. Dora Moore, an Englishwoman Avho, Avith her husband, rode into the Cariboo Avith a camp outfit; tivo packhorses, and a rifle and an axe each, and chose a site for their neAA r home Avhere only Indians and an occasional prospector had found their Avay. They built their home, made furniture from forest timber, and cleared their land, subsisting on returns from trapping marten, mink, muskrat, and coyote. Seven years passed. Their only child, Isabel, Avas four years old and an accomplished horseAVoman. It Avas decided that Mrs. Moore and Isabel should go to the nearest town and buy some heifers. They set out bn a cold March day on a journey that took them tAvo Aveeks.

On the fourth day they attempted to cross a stream Avhere an ice jam had caused a run-off. Mrs. Moore Avalked ahead, testing the ice tAvo feet. beloA\ r the rushing Avater Avith a pole. She then led her mount on to the ice, telling Isabel to Avait till she returned from the other side. But they did not count on Isabel’s mount. Avhich broke aAvay and followed. The ice crumbled, and Mrs. Moore escaped just as it broke into floes. The horses made their Avay to the bank dOAvnstream. To prevent freezing, Mrs. Moore Avas obliged to run beside her mount for four miles to the next ranch, Avhere she thaw'ed out.

DIFFICULT DROVING. Eventually they selected thirty head of Durham heifers and five Polled Angus. Returning the way they came, by making a detour, they crossed the river where the ice was solid coaxing the heifers over by siroAving hay in advance of them on the ice. On a. slippery trail, a heifer lost her footing and fell 300 feet among the jackpines and rocks. It was impossible to attempt a. rescue, so they left her. Making an Indian's cabin by nightfall, they Avere surprised to see the lost; heifer limp in an hour later. The last day Avas the longest—fourteen hours in the saddle. When the heifers were fattened, Mrs. Moore and Isabel, Avho Avas now s : x. accompanied by their cattle dog. Mike, drove the best of them 160 miles to the railAvay station. Alike Avould never ulloav fighting in the herd. When Lavo heads got together, he immediately separated them. They had to “muster” twice a day, due to his habit of picking up strays as he went.

Two Indian bad men were at large, having escaped from gaol and shot a mounted constable. At night Mrs. Moore slept with her six-shooter at her side. Once she used it to fire in the direction of a pair of yellow eves when Mike aroused her. A lurking cougar pounded away through the brtish. They reached the railhead, loaded their beef on to the train, resfed, did some shopping, and returned home.