The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-04-03
WHOLE NO. 821
THE AVALANCHE.
EXPERIENCE OF A SETTLER WHO
DEFIED THE SNoW-SulDE.
A Cabin Built Especially to Shed on
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of the Oc-
cupant Somewhat Disappointed
Don't Jostie"-"step Softly"

rBig Cottonwood Utah) Cor. New York SUM-
About four miles up the Big canyon John
Furbush and two companions have been liv-
ing in a cabin built especially to shed off
avalanches. The boys dug a hole in the
earth and made sort of shelf, on which
they built the hut Furbush calculated that
when the slide came IL would jump the house
and leave 1t and its inmates all safe. His
faith in the scheme was great He had in
duced civil engineer to 60 up and take the
angles for him, and he put much confidence
in the remark Of that learned man that IL
the avalanche didn't sag in the middle the
house would probably stand. The building
was stoutly made, the uprights being Of
hewn timber, and the roof, which slanted
down the canyon and came at its highest
point up even with the rocks and earth
above, was as smooth as John could make it.
He thouf at that when the snow came 1t
would glide right over the roof as IL 1t were
sheet-iron-
at will roll Off that . re roof" said Johr,
"as slick as shot Off a shovel"
Not until about ten days ago did anything
occur to alarm the dwellers In the cabin.
The SHOWS had been accommodating rapidly,
but as the weather remained cold they mani
tested no disposition to slip down. When
the sun came out warm tho other day John
looked anxously up the canyon There was
not less than 900 tons of snow above him,
as near as he could figure it, and he calcu-
lated that good share Of it would be down
his way before long He scraped the roof
and got everything in shape. While he and
his men were eating dinner q couple Of days
later tremendous roar crash, and rumble
were heard, and all three involuntarily rose
to their feet almost spsec HESS.
"Hang on for dear life, boysl" gasped Fur
bush, "she's a-comin'."
1t was a false alarm. After waiting sew
eral minutes, they stole out cautiously, and
found that the slide had been on the other
side of the canycn, and that it had plowed a
hole in the earth ten feet deep, ripping up
great trees, and changing the entire confgu-
ration of the earth's surface When the
men had examined the desolate scene few
minutes in silence, Furbush said he was
afraid a slip Of that kind might be little
too much for his scheme, but still he had q
good deal Of confidence in it.
After that Furbush became very anxious
to have slide, and he even proposed once
that they start one, but his companions re-
minded him that the man who went up the
canyon would have to be mighty quick to
beat 1t down. In the course of three or four
days following there were tremendous avail
anches all around, destroying cabins mine
property, and other things in their path.
Nothing escaped them When these facts
became known to Furbush he was consldera-
bly, alarmed, and his friends advised him to
abandon his hut, for his time was bound to
come. His companions left him, but he was
too stubborn to yield, thoughshe manifested
much less anxiety for a slide than he had
previously shown. When tha boys left him
he said
'Step kinder high, now and don't jostle
things any. There amt no uss bringing on
. slip for the fun of the thing"
The boys got out of the way as soon as
possible, and were just congratulating them
selves as well as laughing over ths
change in Furbush's attitude when the earth
trembled, and q frightful roar burst on
their ears.
"She's coming nowp ons Of them ex
claimed, and from where they stood they
could see tho whole performance. 1t was q
grand and awful scene. The mountain
itself appeared to collapse and dissolve. Oh
jects generally regarded as substantial, the
mighty powders and the rock rooted trees,
apparently assumed a liquid form, and
minglirg with the SHOWS, appeared like o
Majestic river In full sweep, its waves dash
ing high In the air. The sound was Of
tempest, and the very earth trembled
Neither Of the men spoke until the mischief
had all been done, and then one of them
managed to find voice to say:
"That was old Johns Slide and no mis-
take. Let's 60 and see how he wealth
cred it"
They retraced their steps far enough to
convince themselves that the cabin had dis
appeared The whole scene had changed.
Where the shelf had been built with such
care, nothing was now to be seen but
gouged out place that looked as though logs
had been shunted there for ages. Satisfied
that Furbush was buried at the bottom of
the canyon, the men made their way down
as hastily as possible, and to their surprise
found the cabin only about half covered by
the snow. It had hung together in @ marvel
Gus fashion, and tho question now was
whether the old man inside was dead or
alive
Digging the snow and earth away with
such improvised implements as they could
find, they soon came to the door and dug
their way in. The cabin was about half full
Of snow and dirt, and over in one corner
they found Furbush just returning to con-
seriousness from the effects Of severe contu-
sions. At first he paid little attention to his
rescuers, who feared that the old fellow was
fatally hurt, but at last when they got him
out he laughed rather solemnly and said:
1.-THE thing sagged. just as allus feared
it would. Step softly, or you'll start another
one" ........r ..
They carried him to q neighboring bin,
and after day and night of careful nurs-
ing he came around in good shape.