The Russellville Democrat., 1885-08-27


Colonel Bachfell. one OF the owners
81 the three Warrior Mines near SEQ
field. tfnnnison County, Col. who has
Just returned from the mine. gave q
graphic account u winter above .'tim-
hcr-line. A very careful record has
been kept lyy Judge Bridges, Of ScOiield,
concerning the snowfall there during
the past thrce years. During the win
Ter 81 1882 there were thirty-one
storms, and an aggregate snowfall of
twenty-five feet four inches. The
greatest average depth Of snow at any
one time was seven feet. During the
winter Of 1925 there we're forty
storms. with total snowfall OF TWEEN
weight feet three inches On April
10 che snow was seven feet deep. Dur
ing the present winter there have been
eighteen storms up TO January 3. with
total snowfall OF seventeen feet two
ia hes
The snow is deeper now than at this
time In any former year within the
knowledge Of Judge Bridges. Persons
living in lower ATTITUDES may wonder
why with such great snow-falls the
snow Is never greater than seven or
eight fe T. This Is due 10 the lightness OF
the snow when il first falls. A foot of
snow in the mountains win settle to
three or four inches within few days.
The people in the mining camps man
age to en- .oy themselves these days in n
very pleasant way snow-shoeing. a
sport which is said to be better than
either coasting or skating The snow
shoes used are not the Indian or Cana
al
shoes or 'sskees.r The skee is a long
piece OF strong. tough wood about four
inches wide. smoothly polished on the
under side and rubbed with beeswax.
furnished with band for the foot in
the middle. pointed AZ the front end and
bent upward. A long staff is used to
regulate the speed in going down hill.
Colonel Bachtelrs description of the
late snow-slide at the Sylyanite Mine:
The buildings consist Of the boarding
house, i6x24 feet, aud the blacksmith
shop and ore-house of the same size.
The houses are divided by the track
that runs from the tunnel. Their first
intImatiOn OF danger was on Friday
evening. during the heavy storm. The
men in the cabin heard terrible roar
ing coming. and. knowing il TO be a
slide. most of them ran into the covered
way that separates the buildings aud
then into the tunnel The slide rushed
upon the strong log buildings, shaking
them terribly. and il seemed as il they
must be ground from their strong foun-
dations by the tremendous weight OF
snow and ice that was grinding and
crunching It's way across the log roof.
The sides were moved and the roof was
sprung down several inches. Then all
from the stove was fast filling the room,
aud oil attempts 10 let in fresh air were
blocked by the snow.
With snow-shoe poles the men began
10 punch up through the stove-pipe hole
for air. BY driving one pole after an
other hole was finally made through
the snow. which they found to be about
fifteen feet deep and packed nearlyas
hard rs ice. As the storm still ragged.
every little while the roar Of other
slides could be heard. many of them
passing overhead. closing up the air
holes Whenever a slide ran over them.
there was great danger II the great mass
Of snow on the roof moving. II il did
the chances were that Il would either
crush or grind the building 70 pieces
Realizing this. and nat being able 20 re-
main long Ia the tuunel on account OF
lack Of air. when they heard an APP
preaching slide ! H. prairie dogs. the
whole eleven would rush into the tun-
mel. where they were SAFE. This was
kept up for forty-eighl hours. when
finally silence told them the storm was
over. Digging oui WAS the next thing.
BY following their sra 1 10 the dump
and running the snow hask into the
tunnel i dri II thlrts feet was run and
daylig1t. the FIRST Tor two dass. was
seen. The reason the buildings were
not swept away was an eNcarai on WAS
made la the de If the mountain ~ AZ
10 bring the roofs bclow she level - the
mountain side. Ctac.n1sati C9sasHCrs