The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-11-14

rw,;tten Tor the IDABo WORLD y IT.
An HoUR OF PERIL
travelling few years ago along 'oe 0s'1 :
that ,;neularly jagged and precipitous spar q
r,o..tain, known - the Saw Tooth hanse
and accidentally losing my way ascended one
- 4. most elevated peaks ia order. II possible
). -, ant . miners cabin ~hich believed to
\. in the vicinity. The day was DARK ana
threatening one. and in tho direction o. avery
de,.e black cloud which appeared climbing the
Southwestern skies. bright flashes of lightning
w.re .ren. which were followed By peals Of
thunder that every minute drew nearer ana
nearer until the granite foundations o. tho
nr.,, MAINTAIN itself trembled ~ with fear.
Nv accent Of the mountain resulted in disaP'
,oiutnent; but the hour passed upon that high
and cragliks summ,t-its wild and sicken'ng
ternrs-are too wildly impressed upon ny
memory ever to Be forgotten or ehsoed. mo
thundrrst.,rm which had been brewing tor
hours broke ID all ito terrific 6erceness just
as had reached the peaks most elevated
point. and stood within tw-nty.6 feet Of the
edge Of mighty preeipicel contemplating. -
is my wont. the awful grandeur u the sfupen-
dous scrne which lay around and below me.
And suddenly there came . rusn OF wind. which
bu. for the aid Ut friendly bush that stood BE-
tween me and the cliff, would have carried me
beadlong into the yawning abyss. through which
whirlrd mad and swollen river two thousand
feet below. With my arms wound tightly
around the bush. | managed to lie down proar
upon the ground. face downwards. in which
DEVOTIONAL position remained for fully an
Lour.-it seemed an age 10 ne. The wind 10
tu, the s,un,-d growth Of chaparal which cor
rrrd the surface Wherein lay. and the little
pin. shrub 10 which clung as ~ an only
friend, saved me from destruction. The wind
.-as-.i Ia blow as suddenly as j, had begun.
md tarn i. was that witnessed one Of ia.
urs's mast inirscribably snblimc and appaii.
ng displays. aud in locality exactly suited TO
lie display For ten minutes or more. all
around. aborc aud below me was lighted up
With one Continuous lurid fame. 50 bright and |
~ near that was Obliged TO keep INV eyes
osel The air became oppressive as with |
he iamrs Of sulphur. and the sharp thunder. /
laps. crash cn crash. which followed each 9th. |
II in algaesi instantaneous succ-ssion. SEEMED /
% threaten me ever, s~cond with an.ihilai.on /
And then il didn'i rails but the clouds appeared
/" hare bern rem, apar; by the elemental can
nadins which had been going an. and :h- .oos.
ned fountains If the drrp overhead pe.,r-d tn
b.. s'or,n subsidized aud the calm beautiful sun.
hiue which illamnrd the little d.I.like valley
ha. sla'ahered The thing 81 beauty far be-.
'm usr. MAS ~ my uvrr wrought imagination
hr mes, '~r,p'ng and drlirinas praspcc: had
~~r h-h-ld Rising wrarily fran my recum
~ni position. pressed the water iron my sat
rated garments III" hcs; could. and began
~ '"isoms descent, la the valley R~aching
be scene which. distance had made 81, enchan,.
's. and discovering that my matches were
ct. spread them "ai on a rock TO dry. and
'"n threw myself lazily down upon the We;
rass t" ehj"y the com'"rt-imparting rays of
he warm Jun. sun. Here I remained. amid
he OF natures grandest soltudrs. aud nights ,
erd s"lrmni'y with only rrrwliay beasts Of ,
r"y tor companions. until morning awoke To !
'r and music the m, riads Of birds, sweet .
essengers Of peace and lore. whose thrilling
ns'c made III. boson of the great forest
rave with notes Of joy. Then resumed Inv
"rney and succeeded in reaching q habitation
tour "'cl"ck in the evening of the day, hav.
g been three days without food Nothing in :
y varied experience approaches the awful. ,
'ss OF that never.t" be. forgotten hour. and {
's"tee at the shrine Of nature a. am, I do :
ut think would choose to repeat it. .