The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-06-19
An Awful Peril.
Denver Tribune.

Charles May and his brother Rob-
ert. In the spring Of 1870, offered to
pass 10000 railroad ties down the
Arkansas from the mountain source.
He says: Our offer was accepted,
when We started into the upper en-
trance OF the canon with a large skiff
provided with six days provisions
and 200 feet OF rope, with which, by
taking a running turn around some
firmly planted object. we could lower
our boat hundred feet at time. In
this way, at the end OF three days.
having set adrift many hundred ties.
We reached the entrance 10 the ROYAL
Gorge. Here we discovered that an
attempt to descend the first waterfall
with two in the boat was certain de-
struction, and to return was impossi-
BILE. Accordingly / determined to
lower my brother down the fall in the
boat, distance OF two hundred feet,
give him the rope and let him take
The chance Of the canon Cite seemed
more certain in that direction), while
1 would risk my physical ability to
climb the canon wall, which was
about 1000 feet high.
about 10 o'clock in the morning |
shook hands with my brother, low
cred him in the boat safely to the
foot OF tho fall, gave him the rope,
and saw him no more. Then throw
ing aside my coat, hat and boots, ani
stripping the socks from my feet, l
commenced my climbing way. often
reaching the height OF one or two
hundred feet, only TO be compelled to
return to try some other way. At
length, about o'clock in the after-
noon, / reached height upon the
smooth canon wall OF about a thou
sand feet. Here my further progress
was arrested by shelving ledge OF
rocks that jutted out from the caneu
side foot or more. To advance was
without hope: to return, certain
death. Reaching upward and out
ward, / grasped the rim of the ledge
with one hand and then with the 9TH
er, my feet slipped from the smooth
side OF the canon, and my body hung
suspended In the air a thousand feet
aboye the roaring waters OF the Ar
kansas.
AT that moment I looked down.
ward to measure the distance / would
have TO fall when the strength of my
arms gave out. A singing sensation
crept through my hair as my eye
caught the strong root or a cedar
bush that projected out over the
ledge, little beyond my reach. Ny
grasp upon the rim OF the ledge was
fast yielding to the weight OF my per-
son. Then determined to make my
best effort to raise my body and
throw 1t sideways toward the root SO
as to bring it within my grasp. At
the moment OF commencing the effort
/ saw my mothers face as she leaned
,at over the ledge, reached down her
hand and caught me by the hair.
Stranger, my mother died while yet a
young woman, when and my broth
er were small boys, but 1 remember
her face. / was successful in making
the side leap OF my arms, when 1
drew myself upon the ledge and rest
ed for time. From here upward
my climbing way was laborious but
less dangerous. / reached the top OF
the canon just as the sun was sink
ing down behind the snowy range,
and hastensd to oul camp at the
mouth OF the canon, where 1 found
my brother all safe. Charley said
he. have you had your head in flour
sack?' 1t was then discovered that
my hair was as white as you see it
now."