The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1884-04-05
MINERS IN THE WINTER.
How They Pass ths Dreary Season Ia
Rocky Mountains

says the Denver Republican. and
must remain SO for several Inonths.
IL Is Interesting 10 glance at The con-
ditlon OF these isolated dwellers on the
sides and near the summit OF this
ranges which constitute The backb bone
OF the continent. Their cabins are
commodious, warm and comfortable.
and are generally situated ut or near
tunnel workings, which afford them
easy AMI safe access TO the scenes OF
tneir dny and night shifts of toll.
These DRIFTS are used ~ store hou,es
for provisions OF all kinds, and while
some are natural ice houses others are
teinperats enough for articles that
would be Injured by freezing.
The experienced, prudent miner
locates MS claiui IN the timber, which
tenIpers the furious windstorins and
also protects him from the dangers of
the dreaded snow-siides. IL the situ-
alton Is above timber line he chooses
flat spot, above which the mountains
ere not high enough to hold snow
banks TO break away and sweep down
upon hln, or plants ms stout cabin
beneath sheltering ridge of solid
rock la place or upon "nog back
which Is the sharp civide between Two
gnlches, ands upon which both The
winds anu The contour of the ground
prevent snow from accuIDu ulating.
Granting that he has safety secured 10
him, what are tue remaining con-
dltions of his months of imprison-
inentT The natural tastes aDd domes-
tic Instincts OF the individual are the
gauges ofhis preparation for thorough
enJoyment or mere toleIatiou OF his
voluntary exile, and hence tile habits
aud customs, the pleasures and
alnuseIIonts, and Inc modes of living
ara ~ variable as among Tue same
class OF individuals winterIng III towns
and oitie..
But, asa rule, the menn is excellent,
thanks 10 the canning of fruits, sege-
tables aud tDeats, AMI All kinds oi pre-.
serves and relisnes. intellectual
pabulum can be IA ade aS dlNcrsined
as III lower attitudes, VITA tIo one
exception OF daily news spapers. Those
possessing musical tastes aud accom-
plishlnents provide generously for en.
rest. The convivIul soul taxes good
care that the flowing bowl does not
become exhausted ero the snow mslts
from the trails, or that thu tobacco
plug aud po1ctI are ample Tor himself
anu all chance visitors. " ater is
obtained by melting the snow, and
supplies OF wood are previously pre-.
pared.
The miners, from their cosy cabins,
are tho observers oil the terrinc battles
of the elements, and not infrequently
witness natures most awe-inS piring
tbroes, commonly termed snow -slldes.
The snowfall aunounts TO from three
TO ten feet IN depth on tho level, aud
this is banked by the winds in drifts
hundreds OF feet i'm hight, covering
hundreds and thousands of acres ia
extent, according To The lay OF The
land, and when they become top
heavy, or the lower supports give way
by melting or settling, The whole mass
plnnges down the steep mountain
sides, uproo ing, overturning and
crumbling all obstacles In its pathway,
until It's force IS spent in tho valley
below or against the opposite side.
IL is i'm possible to conceive the enor-
inlly of the power Of hugo SHOW
slide until one follows i'm its wake
down u mountain, where it has cut a
huge swaih through heavy forest,
hurled from their base gigantic bowl.
ders scooped out the channel OF a
frozen river, and deposited the entire
debris in solid mass far up upon the |
opposite bank OF tho canyon.
Miners have become expert i'm de. |
tectlng the location aud direction of |
Impending slides, and are thus en-
abled TO avoid them. They, how
ever, become reckless or careless In
estimatingt tho time OF their occurrence,
and by passing over the field they |
expect to- see move later on, they are
engulied in its sudden breaking away
and are buried to depth they might
have escaped by the exercise OF more
patience. The web and Norwegian
shoes enable the practical operator to
climb the mountains and swiftly de-
scend them to the settlements for
mail or any necessaries of life which
have not been previously supplied.
The write has often been most agree
ably surprised at the preparations for
and even luxurious, living
by men thus SNOW bound in the
and in only few in-
i.oa v.otfo.I anxr rfif " ar |