Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1882 — Rescued from the Grave. [ARTICLE]

Rescued from the Grave.

“It Bounds like a good deal to wy. but I onoe knew a man who died and was buried'on the overland trail to California, and afterward made 'his appearance in the placer mines at Prickly Pear City—and it wasn’t his ghost either, but hiwmftlf in the flesh.” This was the reply which a well-known resident of Helena, Montana, made to a reporter who was applying the reminiscence extractor. “ In the spring of ’49,” continued the citizen, “ when the California gold excitement was at its height, in company with a large party, I crossed the plains. After getting well under way the cholera broke out among us and several died. Among other deaths was that of a man named W. H. Clark, of Henry county, Mo. We buried him near the point whore the old Santa Fe trail crossed the Arkansas river. We had no coffin, but wrapped him in his blankets, and, inclosing him in a covering of bark stripped from the cottonwood trees, we planted him about seven feet deep in the sand, and piled logs on the grave to keep the wolves from digging him np. The next morning we moved on. “I remained in California until’67, and was then attracted to Montana by the gold excitement. In 1868, while in the diggings at what is known as Montara City, I was startled at meeting Clark, whom, with my own eyes, I had seen buried on the Arkansas river nineteen years before. The recognition was mutual, and, on my expressing my surprise, he related to me that after our party had buried him and proceeded on toward California a party of Indians came along, and, seeing his new-made grave, dug him up for the sake of his blanket and clothing. As be showed signs of life they applied restoratives, and the result was that he was brought back to life and health. Ho lived among the Indians for years, and afterward came to Montana. At the time I mot him he was working for Jerry Embry. There is absolutely no doubt as to Clark’s identity, and ho is now living at Prescott, Arizona, I believe.” —Helena Independent. “The Charge of tho Heavy Brigado” wm about sl2 per month and rations for each man. — Picayune.