The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-08-31
A Eide on an Avalanche

The early winter of 1858 was nshered
ia, all through the Rocky Mountain range,
by severe and protraeted snow,storm.
Steady cold weather followed, with in
termittent SHOWS. .alls, 50 that before Jan
uary had passed the snow lay heavy aud
deep on all the mountain sides and in the
valleys. That region Of Colorado, known
as the ASouthern Mines, embracing the
approaches and entrance to the South
Park, was almost entirely blockaded, and
travelling from one mining camp to anoth- |
er was rendered extremely diffiaalt. But
communication was kept open between the
two most important points, 50 that reselute
men, mounted on surefooted males, could
make trips when imperative necessity
demanded.
A cireuitous path had been kept ope
between Breckenridge and Mosquito,
involving several miles and as man!
dreary hours Of travel to pass from one
pointto the other. In direct line over the
mountain the distance was less than one
third of that by tie path, and ID the sum,
mer this route was often taken by miners,
with whom time saved was an importan
consideration.
Timothy Wood was comfortably guar
tered for tie winter at Mosquito, where he
had h5ernated for nearly three months,
+ awaiting the opening of spring. One day,
on examining his supply ofbacon and -four,
he was astonished to find it reduced much
lower than he imagined ; aud no other
source for It's repiesishnnent other 'han
Breckenridge was available. So ne dete,
mined to set off the next day and procure
what he needed.
Tim was an expert performer. on Stow.
shoes and being familiar with the route
across the mountains, he decided to take
that course, instead Of following tha longer
road round the valleys. Starring offabout
ten o'clockin- the morning, armed with a
long staff, and his eyes shielded with spec
tacles, to prevent now-bIindness, he struck
b div up the mountain, taking for his
guide tall mountain pine which crowned
the summit. 1t required about two hours
to reach the point aimed at; and here Tim
+ halted to partaEe Of lunch from bis h&v-
/ ersack. Before him, for a distance Of two
miles down the mountain side, lay an al
most unbroken sheet of snow, fhe depth O
which varied from SIX to twenty feet. n
] the dim distance the curling snoSe from
! the cabins at Breckenridge was visible.
and Tim anticipated safe and rapi-
descent down the snowy plain.
The sun was shining out as it revel
! shines only uponsnch mountainousheis shts
and here and there the snow betrayed
81 MS Of yielding temporarily to the i"hu
ence of his rays. But Tim had no though
); Of danger, aud chcerfully began tbt
). descent.
He hid proceeded about halfmile from
6 his halting place, when he was startled b.
heavy rambling sound, resembling dis
!, tant thunder and at the same time he was
conscious of trembling motion beneath
! his feet. A few moments later a large bod
4 Of snow, embracing several acres Of snrfae,
! extent, and extending in about equal dis
J. tances around Tim, started slowly dowl
the mountain Fer few seconds the SUI
:, face was but little broken; but as is rat
), Of speed increased, which it did with fear
ful raj idity, it broke into confused ant
binding mass, throwing Tim from his feet
and carrying him over and over in a sue
ID cessian of somersaults which very 500
ei oewildered him, and almost deprived hil
10 Of consciousness.
J. At one tine Tim felt himself hurled fo
N some distance over projecting terrace
10 aid buried for many Ieet below the surface
ze but the next moment he was thrown to th
a surface, where the air was filed with ht
lr ing sIeet a.d evergreen leaves. AT lengt
n Tim ceased TO move and as soon as b
N could gather his scattered senses, he foun
le himself 50 deeply buried that only fam
N blue light sitted down through the twent
Geet OF snow above.
to He at once attempted to gain the SUI
IL ACE, but every effort Only sunk hlsa dee!
r. er, aud he soon turned his attention in Ii
j. opposite direction. Fortunately he wa
d. only two or three feel f.on the earth; ane
.ir auer digging down through the snow, b
X came upon . small brook which trickle
through - ise-aiched caanaei, down
IL raylne. Tia lad no other alternative tha
III TO follow tie course of this riYalet. 0ve
III it was a supporting arch ot ice, IN SON
ID places only . foot aboyetiie stream, b.
HI with an average height oil nearly three lee
IS Sometimes lying prone upon his belly "a
So craving along The bed u the stream,
III others creeping for mar y yards il a stoo
ch ing posture, Tim, alter what seemed mai