Daily national Democrat., 1861-02-20
lailp 1atiOnal Qrmutrat
Snow Scenes---No. 2.

sonvile. The town is all clustered together
at the foot of a hill many of the buildings
are spacious and handsome, and the expe-
rienced observer easily perceive5 that rich
mines abound in the vicinity. 1t is doubtful
whether richer spot can be found in this
county. Gold is discovered all along the
ridge from La Porte to this place-seven
and most of the tunnels are paying well,
come of them very largely.
The snow is about seven feet deep IN the
streets; of course, much more on the hili-
sides and SUBMITS To-day there is a great
snow.shoe race on Pilot Peak, little norIh
of this, and great numbers have gone to see
the sport. You would hardly credit me, it l
were to state the amazing velocity attained
bv the snow-shoes. An old acquaintance
whose word is always entitled to eredence'
informs me that one performer ran three quar-
ters of a mile in eighteen seconds. This Is
corroborated by numbers of witnesses, and
your readers may rely on its truth. Another
person ran mile in thirty seconds. Tins
prodigious speed was attained in descent OF
Pilot Peak-which the editor of the DEMO
GRAFT has already described | believe. Near
the outcome of the race ground there is Il
deep cut, or depression, some twenty five
feet wide this the sliders cleared at Il bound
and without falling. Even to the spectator,
familiar with such scenes this looks incredi-
Die; but occuar demonstration and actual
measurement are not to be disputed. Some
of the juveniles, having been practcing ever
since the snow fell, have attained marvellous
proficiency, sometimes springing ten or fifteen
feet, alighting safely and dashing away like
an arrow. Each being provided with bal
lance pole is enabled to maintain an upright
position, although the descent seems ab-
solutely terrifying perilous as the sight
appears, very few accidents occur; the sports
men begin to learn on gradual decivites,
essaying more dangerous places as they i'm
prove in skill and courage. The champion
belt is to be contended for to-day, and it is
well if somebody doesn't break his valuable
neck. A short time since Il child at Onion
Valley descended the hil in II small store
box and was dashed to pieces.
Yesterday morning, attempting to cross
Slate Greek Canon, from st. Louis to Gibson
vie my courage broke short off Looking
down the hill about half mile, at an angle
of 80 degrees or more, over hard frozen
snow, upon which the boot-hcel would hard
ly make indentation, l concluded that the
chances of shipwreck were rather numerous
and accordingly made a circuit of ten niles
seven of which had TO be traye"scd on snow
shoes In thick timber the snow does not
crust sufficiently to bear one without snow
shoes, ana not caring to trust those uumau-
ageable appendages above the profound
depths, ! was forced to make a whole day
journey around. It's likely that my frst
experience on snow-shoes will not be intense
" interesting to others, but it was inmea.-
urably SO to myself; frs, couldn't 60 up
lili because the Internal contrivances would
keep sliding backward, and having reached
1he summit by wading and carrying the shoes,
the descent was made at the imminet ri-l; OF
disastrous emashup. In descending the
Gibsonville | am persuaded that | capsled
four score times but had the satisfaction OF
seeinsmy companions, equally inexperienced.
summing their wooden mocca-us quite as Of
ten. 1t is a discouraging fact, morally speak,
ing, but nevertheless true, that there was a
deal of blaspheming just about that time.
Just about the time one stood up with mode
rate confidence, the treacherous underpinning
would get il advance Of the more bulky por.
tion of the person, and over he'd 60, leaving
the individual in the fix of Falstaif.
In our party was German Jew-a clever
good natured fellow, very fat and disposed to
perspre. This was lis first experience on
snow-shoes At first he got along excellent,
ly and laughed very loudly when somebody
else happened to bacllslide or overturn. But
at length his wind, strength and spirits gave
OUT and going down steep hill, our fat
friend became unmanageable, and was very
frequently inverted, while We lean ones
laughed louder than ever Israel was ahead,
and having fallen sprawling and helpless, "A
successor came down like streak, running
over the PROSTATE and discouraged Hebrew.
1t was then that his natural reverence and
pie,y first gave way and | regret to add
chat my IIebraic friend observed with irrli-
gious uncton, "Shecsus Grist, Cot tam ~
But barring the sin great harm ensued
and half an hour after we were all in high
glee round "A furiously hot fire in Gibsonvile
There is real, solid comfort in these mountain
hotels, good accommodations and excellent
fair The stranger, after traversing the drea-
ry snow waste, is glad to find desirable ac-
.commodations under snow.covered roof at
the foot of the hill but they have the ma
terial with which good accommodations may
be purchased the sincws Of war; they dig
1t out of the ground hercabouts.
They tell rich story ola young lrshman,
in this region. Some use esnow-shoes made of
oval shaped sticks and cross-laced with
etrings. The shoe is about two feet long,
foot wide at the widest place, round in front
and taperipg back to a point; makes very
curious track. One day our llibernian friend
came across one of these nondescript trails in
the woods, and being something of hunter,
followed the trail nearly half day, until it
suddenly disappeared at the foot of a tree
where the traveller had taken the shoes off,
lhe Pursuer returned home and told great
story about the strange crature he had been
following, adding that it was "webb. .futted
on1 tb0t bn l. al nur.,,o1