The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-05-11
TERRIBLE PERIL.

Over fifty years have passed since we
moved from Vermont to the southern
part of the State of New York (said
plain looking gentleman dressed in home
spun, as he sat before the warm fire q
year or two since, relating stories of his
early life to an eager group of friendsj,
and great changes have taken place
since then. The region about here was
at that time almost an unbroken wilder
ness; few settlers were moving in &C.
casionally; and at remote distances the
little columns of blue smoke, curling
silently above the tree-tops, revealed the
spot where their humble cabins stood.
The Indian had passed on to his undis-
turbed hunting ground in the far West,
many years previous; but the deer and
bear remained, and the silence of night
was often broken by the howl of the wolf
and scream of the panther.
l was nineteen then, tough and healthy
as young men of the border generally
are, and felt myself capable of doing a
mans work at almost anything. The
first summer we cleared some five or
six acres, inclosed it with pole and log
fence, and sowed fine field of wheat.
On the approach of autumn we under
brushed several more, and when winter
set in we felt satisfied that we had made
good use of our time and done a good
summers work.
Christmas we decided to observe as a
holiday.
At an early hour some four or five
young men were congregated in the lit
tie yard in front of our rude cabin,
prepared for days fishing at the Sand
Lake.
The morning was delightful. Not a
cloud obscured the sky. The preceding
day had been day of mist and fog,
which had frozen everything with which
it had come into contact, silvering every
inanimated object with a coat of ice.
The sun shining through the tree-tops
looked like great ball of electric light,
surrounded by a sea of dazzling splen-
dor. It was the most beautiful scene of
forest trees 1 ever witnessed. Every
twig, and every branch, bending down
with incrusted ice, glittered and sparkled
like diamonds set in a brilliant lace-work
Of FURNISHED silver. The ground was
covered with an icy coating with very
light snow. The air was keen and brac-
ing, we were all in the best of spirits,
and we promised ourselves a world of
amusement in a single day.
Sand Lake was a beautiful sheet of
water, in the midst of forest, some three
miles beyond our clearing. 1t was now
firmly frozen over.
As soon as we arrived we laid aside
our pals and luncheon. and at once pro-
ceeded to cut holes in the ice and set
our lines. The fish seemed to be as
vide awake as we WERE and ere long we
had all we could attend hauling them
out and re-baiting the hooks.
The day passed off quickly, as it
always does when engaged in such sport,
and before we were aware that it was
past noon the sun was fast descending
the southwestern horizon.
We had made good haul and felt
jubilant over our success. Gathering
our fish in pals, and packing up our
implements we set out for home
"Say, boys" said Will Herkimer,
did you ever see the Cascade Glen?"
NO" replied l. Henry Brown was
telling me about it the other day. He
said it was well worth going to see."
$50 it is" replied Will; ''lets go that
way home. It's not much further, if
any, and We can go back just about as
soon. Come onl'
We readily assented, and in about half
an hour found ourselves clamberipg
down the steep and rugged Cascade
Mountain, among the slippery crags,
scrub oaks and dwarf pines. Every
where wide extended view met the eye.
To the westward the wooded hill-tops
rose in countless Misunderstanding in
. chain of peaks and undulations until
they appeared blue and hazy in the far
distance. To the northward the course
of many miles, far up towards its source
among the rounded blue hills in the
direction Of Cooperstown.
We stood for some time gazing upon
this wonderful landscape scene, where
nature had tumbled hills, crags and val
ieys together in q thousand different
forms, and then we proceeded down the
descent.
Suddenly frightful chasm yawned
before MS. For . moment we stood in
silent amazement, and then we cautiously
approached the brink and gazed down
into the dark depths below. On the op.
p0eite side . perpendicular wall Of rock,
covas.l with gray patches Of mos, ross
IL : mssv prscipice Of more than 20
soo< a ~ dvnTf pines and seantsd
1enloc1D soood ct IRON IL very 80