Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-03
THE AVALANCHE.
EXPERIENCE OF A SETTLER WHO
DEFleD THE sNoW-sLIOE.


DONE Jossle''-"1tsp D0ftly."
lBg Cottonwood (Utah) Cor. New York SUM-
About four miles up the Big canyon John
Furbush and two companions have been liv-
ing In cabin built especially 10 shed Oh
avalanches. The boys dug q hole In the
earth and made . sort Of Q shelf, on which
they built the hut Furbush calculated that
when the slide came IL would jump the houss
and leave II 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 if
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 II.
He thought that whom the snow came IL
would glide right over the roof as II II were
sheet-iron
ut will roll OK that o re roof" said Johr,
sas slick as shot of q shovel
Not until about ten days ago did nythinp
occur to alarm the dwellers In the cabin
The SHOWS had bSen accommodating rapidly,
but as the weather remained cold they mani.
Tested no disposition to slip down. When
the sun came out warm the other day John
looked anxiously up the canyon. There was
not less than 1000 tons Of snow above him,
- near as he could figure It, and he calcu.
lated that good share Of II would be down
his way before long. He scraped tho root
and got everything in shape. While he and
bis men wore eating dinner couple Of days
later tremendous roar, crash, and rumble
were heard, and all three involuntarily rose
TO their feet almost speeo HESS.
"Hang on for dear life, boys" gaspsd Fur
bush, "she's a-comin'."
II was false alarm. After waiting sew
eral minutes, they stole out cautiously, and
found that the slide had been on the other
side OF the canyon, and that It had plowed
olo in the earth ten feet deep, ripping up
reat trees, and changing the entire confgu.
alton Of the earth's surface. When the
mon had examined the desolats scene few
minutes In silence, Furbush said he was
afraid slip Of that kind might bs little
too much for his scheme, but still be had q
good deal Of confidence in It.
After that Furbu,h became very anxious
to have q slide, and he even proposed once
that they start one but his companions re-
minded him that the man who went up tho
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 considsra-
bly, alarmed, and his friends advised him to
abandon his hut, for his tim, was bound to
come. His companions left him. but he was
too stubborn to yield, though he manifested
nsaCfa too. takv h<p Ill A.
previously shown When the boys left him
be said:
"Step kinder high, now, and don't jostle
things any. There amt no use bringing on
. slip for the fun Of the thing"
The boys got out Of the way % soon a.
possible, and were just congratulating thsm.
selves as well a. laughing over the
change In Furbush's attitude when the earth
trembled. and . frightful roar burst on
their ears.
"Shs's coming now!" one Of than OF.
claimed, and from where they stood they
could SEQ the whole performance. It was
grand and awful scene. The mountain
itself appeared to collapse and dissolve Oh
jects generally regarded as substantial, the
mighty bowlders and the rock rooted trees,
apparently assumed a liquid form, and
mingling with the SHOWS, appeared like .
jestic river in full sweep, It's waves dash
ing high in the air. The sound was Of Q
tempest, and tho very earth tremblsd.
Neither Of the mon 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 go and see how he wealth
cred it."
They retraced their steps far enough to
OnV1 viuno ha lval thof tha hiv,h haA T.
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 a. though logs
had been shunted there for ages. Satisfied
that Furbush was buried at the bottom Of
the canyon, the man made their way down
as hastily as possible, and to their surprise
found the cabin only about half covered by
the snow. 1t 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 az 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 ono corner
they found Furbush just returning to con-
sciousness from the effects Of severe contu.
dons 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:
"The thing sagged. just a. allus feared
It would Step softly, or you'll start another
one."
They carried him to neighboring ca bin,
and after day and night Of careful nurs-
ing he came around in good shape.