Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-08-07
A RACE FOR LIFE.
A MANS FLIGHT FROM WOLVES
DOWN a MOUNTAIN.

PERCEPTIONS Declivity at Terrific
Speed.
Perhaps not many people east of the
Rocky Mountains have ever Travelled on
snowshoes. The Norwegian snowshoes,
or skees, are the ones mostly used here,
sa;s a letter from Steamboat Springs,
Col, to the st. Louis Globe Democrat
They are generally made about ten feet
long, with the end bent up not unlike
sleigh runner. They are not lifted from
the ground when in motion, but slide
along on the crust, and the experienced
snowshoer, by the simple throwing of his
weight on the shoe set ahead, moves
along at much faster rate than the
pedestrian. Going down decline one
goes at such terrific rate of speed that
one has to use brakc-that is, ''ride the
pole" which is generally stick some
eight feet long, which is held in front in
the hands and then sat upon so it will
plough in the snow, thus lessening the
speed.
On the nth of February last / started
from my cabin at the foot of Storm
Mountain to make trip to the top to
/ oSO Al tuC Ahl-DcdtiuS uhiildio NClC otill
out. 1t is only about ten miles to the
top, and Ireckoned that l could easily
make there and back in a day Packing
a slight lunch, l tied it to my belt and
started. Slowly and painfully worked
my way up by "tacking," as it is impos-
sible to travel straight up a steep incline
on snowshoes. Noon came, and | set
down in the shelter of a rock to eat my
lunch. | saw that it would be late when
/ reached the top, but that did not alarm
me, for l have come from the top Of
Storm Mountain to my cabin in twelve
minutes.
When l had reached the top and looked
it over / was surprised to find the sun
just going down. Darkness falls very
sudden in this country after shutdown,
and concluded to await the rising of the
moon, which / knew would rise soon
after dark, MS it would be dangerous
snowshoeing down the mountain side in
the dark, as one could not keep the trail
and would be liable to rush headlong
against tree or go plunging over
precipice. Darkness fell as have never
seen II before Everything was obliter-
ated. / sat on my snowshoes at the head
of the trail waiting for the light of the
moon. The silence was oppressive. All
around me / could see the dim out
lines of the snow-capped peaks, dark
and sombre, rearing their heads
toward the sky. must have fallen
asleep, but / awoke with start at the
cry of panther coming from a path of
green timber a short distance to the left.
This was followed by the cry of a timber
wolf, which was answered. by another
and another, until the hills resounded
with their weird bowls. Soon gaunt
shadows fitted from tree to tree all
around me. Then the awful thought
burst upon me that was surrounded by
wolves, which at this season of the year
are very hungry and fierce.
If could keep them at bay until the
moon rose was safe, as | could easily
keep away from them. As one came close
did very foolish thing. Pulling my re-
volver, l shot him through the body.
With fearful yell he stated to run, the
blood pouring from the wound in
stream. He was bounced upon in sec
ond and torn TO pieces by his companions.
Crazed by taste of blood, the whole
yelping pack charged upon me. 1t was
growing light in the east, where the moon
would soon rise, but was still too dark to
travel with safety, but / tarried not.
Hastily slipping my feet in the feathers
of my snow.shoes started down
the steep incline as if shot from
a catapult. Down, down, down, into
the darkness rushed at a headlong rate.
A gaunt brute. crouching near tree,
sprang at my throat, but he had not cal
culated on my rate of speed, and passed
harmlessly through the air ten feet be-
hind me. On came the pack, but their
cries became fainter and fainter, and
soon began to ride my pole and slacken
my rate of speed, as was passing close to
the brink Of precipice, and soon had a
turn to make, which one cannot easily do
with snowshoes twelve feet long. |
stopped at the turn to await the rising of
the moon, which soon came up, making
il as light as day.
Ibelieved that the wolves had left TO
hunt some slower game, but that delusion
suffered a rude shock Soon the yelps
commenced with redoubled fury as they
scented me, and came closer and closer.
got on my shoes and waited, nothing
loath to showing them again how easy it
was to give them the slip. On they came,
and as they got close / started out once
more, but was Mortified to find that at /
this place the decline was not great
enough for the shoes to run themselves. |
had forgotten until this time about this |
place. There was a bench about five /
hundred yards long, and from there the |
trail veered to the right, and for half /
mile descended very nearly at an angle of +
AS degrees; then the angle was not quite
so much, but still very steep, down
trail as straight as string to my cabin,
seven miles below.
On came the bowling pack, and know
ing it was life or death TO get to the steep /
decline before my pursuers, ! bent every /
energy to reach it. Every time showed |
foot ahead l would give push with /
my pole, sending myself along about five /
feet each time. As reached the turn /
could hear their yelps right behind me,