The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-09
JUMPING DOWN A MOUNTAIN.
snowshoc Thompson's Remarkable Leap OF
$50 Feet.

$50 Feet.
The sport OF "ski, " or snowshoc run
ming so long popular IN the Sierra
Nevada mountains, is beginning TO be
practiced in some of the northern Of
the Atlantic states. An eastern OK
change says; "Ski ruuuiug, a Scandi-
navian sport, is becoming popular in
Minnesota. The performer slides
down hill on long wooden skates, or
foot toboggans, and at a prepared Jolt
makes a leap into space. Ninoty-hye
feet is the longest ski jump on record
in Norway
Ninety-Gve feet seems n immense
leap. but il has been so far surpassed
in the Sicrras that no fastener need
ever try for the championship. The
champion ski runner and leapcr OF
the world was John \. Thompson-
better known as "Snowshoo Thomp-
son"-who died in Alpine county,
Cal. about thirteen years ago.
Thompson was born at Upper Tins
Prestiield, Norway, April 80, 1921
and died at his home in the Sierras
Nav Is. 1876. He was the father OF
the whole race Of snowshoe runners
Of the mountain counties Of Calllor-
mia. He made the first pair Of Nor.
wcgian snowshoes ever seen on The
Pacific coast.
Thompson's greatest leap was made
on the side Of a steep mountain Just
west Of the town Of Genoa, Douglas
county. Darling down the side of the
steep mountain he made leap Of $50
feet. This leap is vouched for 10y W.
7. Merrill, postmaster at Woodiords,
in the high Sierras, and by several
citizens Of Genoa. The leap was made
from n terrace half way down the side
Of the mountain, and tie leaper landed
i'm a drift Of snow over fifty feet m
depth. where for a time he was buried
out OF sight.
G. 7. Gregory now dccoascO, who
was for some years neighbor 10 Snow
shoe Thompson in the mountains,
said. in speaking Of the feats Of the
great ski leapcr. Il did not see him
make his great jump off the side Of the
mountain back Of Genoa, but ] have
often seen him make leaps of fifty and
sixty feet at Silver Mountain, Alpine
county"
The people Of Silver Mountain min
ing camp were wont 10 amuse them
selves in winter by descending a big
mountain near the town and then
darling down to valley below on
their snowshocs. They had starting
point only about half way up the side
Of the mountain. SnowshOe Ihomp-
son sometimes joined these parties OF
ski runners. lie was not satisfied WITH
a run down half a mountaln-he
wanted it all.
lie would circle round till he had
reached the highest peak OF the big
mountain. He would then utter the
wild war cry Of the old Mortimer; ana
then with his balance pole poised horl-
zontally before him III both hands
would come flying down the side Of
the mountain like a fend Of the wind.
When he came near 10 the crowd OF
townspcople standing midway down
the mountain, Thompson would stoop
almost to the ground, then suddenly
sprnging up would gosalllng through
the air high above the men and women
watching the descent At times he
would make several leaps, each OF
from fifty to eighty feet in a single
descent. His ski lcaping was not
little like "sky flying"
Snowshoo Thompson was a very
sinewy and powerful man. lie stood
six feet in his stockings and weighed
$50 pounds. He had the blonde hair
and beard and the blue eyes of his
Scandinavian ancestors, the old sea
rowing Northmen.-Virginia City I'm
ferDrlse.