Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-09
BIG ANALANCHES.
A Man from Colorado Describes How Snow
Shoes are Used Among hem.
ST. LOUIS Poi. DISPATCH

A Man from Colorado Describes How Snow
Shoes are Used Among HEM
St. LOUIS ,tDispatch.
George w. Seaver, of AS pen, Col, in
conversation with reporter, said:
"Just before left home we had the first
of our Winter pests. 1 refer to snow
slides. In Colorado there are two els
tinct kinds of snow sli ps-the snow-slide
and the avalanche. The snow-siide oc-
ours when dry fall of snow has COW
cred the steep sides of the mountains and
passes. The snow under these conditions
literally slides until it reaches lower
and more level space. Such disturb
ance is inconvenient, as it blocks wagon
and rail roads, but is seldom attended
with serious consequences, as the snow is
so light and soft that it divides On en-
countering any obstacle, such as house
without carrying it away. It's motion,
also, is SO gradual, that a man in its
track can easily fne means Of getting
out of the way, and even if he were
caught could escape without injury.
''The avalanche, on the other hand"
Mr.. Seaver went on to say, sis far more
dangerous. For the formation Of an ava
lanche snow more or less moist is neces-
sary, and also hard frozen base upon
which the snow rests. A heavy fall sue
ceed1ng a cold snap is nearly certain to
| occasion avaIanches, and these are most
disastrous. Instead Of slipping slowly
and easily along in soft, porous mass,
the snow falls and rushes down the
mountain side with irresistible force and
at terrific speed. Trees and rocks are
torn up and Incorporated in the rushing
mass, and whatever comes in it's way has
| to yield. Unlike the srowslide, the
avalanche when once it has gathered
Roadway is not stopped by any level space
of ordinary extent, but rushes across a
| plain several hundred yards in width and
| plunges down the mountain side beyond.
| When an avalanche occurs in the neigh
| borhoOd Of a pass the snow usually fills
| it up from forty to fifty feet, and is not
cloared out until Spring, unless a very
large force of men is put to work TO make
| a pathway It is no uncommon thing
| for mining camp to be cut off from
communication with the outside world
| for weeks at q time by one
| of these avalanches, and the suffering
| from want OF food and fuel is often ex-
IRENE. The only way TO establish COM
munication is by line of ccuriers on
snOw-shoes, and these men are in con
slant danger of their lives, as in passing
along the track OF an avalanche the least
noise or motion is likely to start another
and dozens of lives are thus lost every
year. The short, broad Canadian snow
| shoe is never used by the cUuriers, as
this pattern is only good on level ground.
All mail carriers and courlers are equip
ped with the Norwegian snow-shoe, a
strip of wood about e1g ut feet long and
two inches wide. This gives a firm sup
| ont .
for coasting. I have seen snow shoe
men come down a slope at the rate of
nearly mile minute, and run fully g
hundred yards on the level before losing
their impetus. an convinced that the
best ana must daring snow-shoe men in
the world are found among the mining
camps of the Rocky Mountains, but in
eite of their skill scores of them are
| lost every year frozen to death or over
| whAlmed by avalanches-and it is q
wonder to me how so many men are will
| ing to volunteer for the most hazardous
duty of crossing the avalanche covered
| passes in Winter"
ROUGH ON PILES. Quick, complete cure soc.
| BUCHIU-PAIBA. Great Kidney Remedy. 81
WELLS HEALTH REVIEWER for weak men.
| WELLS HAIR BAISAN. IF gray gradually
restores color; elegant tonic dressing, 50c
/ On freezing days protect your chest,
! C.oSe up your coat. pull down your vest,
And vank your cap down strong.
These frosty mornings when billiards blow,
| Man wants but little ear below,
| Nor wants that little long.
l. LOOK YOUNG, prevent tendency to wrinkles
| or ageing of the skin by using LEAURELLE OIL.
Preserves youthful. plump fresh condition Of
| the features. transparent. alabaSter skin SlOO
Druggists or exp E S. Wells, Jersey City. n. j.
johnny said the care-worn editor to his only
son. L know you want to help your Eoor cid
| father and give him an item but I'd rather you'd
stay away from the pond till the ice gets thicker.
1 Won m, = Gonna in handy 70 feed the preSs