Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-07-31
A RACE FOR LIFE.
A MANS FLIGHT FROM WOLVES
DOWN A MOUNTAIN.

gary Brutes-Plunging Down the
Precipitous 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,
says 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 a
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 a decline one
goes at such terrific rate of speed that
one has to use brake-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 18th of February last started
from my cabin at the foot of Storm
Mountain to make trip to the top to
see if the fur-bearing animals were still
out. 1t is only about ten miles to the
top, and reckoned that l could easily
make there and back in day. Packing
slight lunch, Tiled it to my belt and
started. Slowly and painfully worked
my way up by "tacking," as it is impos-
sible to travel straight up steep incline
on snowshoes. Noon came, and l set
down in the shelter of a rock to eat my
lunch / saw that it would be late when
l reached the top, but that did not alarm
me, for / have come from the top of
Storm Mountain to my cabin in twelve
minutes.
When 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 sundown,
and concluded to await the rising of the
moon, which knew would rise soon
after dark, rs 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 l have never
seen it before Everything was obliter-
ated. l 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 path of
green timber a short distance to the left.
This was followed by the cry of timber
wolf, which was answered. by another
and another, until the hills resounded
with their weird howls. 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 l could keep them at bay until the
moon rose was safe, as l 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 a
stream. He was pounced upon in a 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 l started down
the steep incline as if shot from
catapult. Down, down, down, into
the darkness l rushed at 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 sacken
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
it as light as day
believed 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 bench about five
hundred yards long, and from there the
trail veered to the right, and for half a
mile descended very nearly at an angle of
As degrees; then the angle was not quite
so much, but still very steep, down a
trail as straight as a 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, Ibent every
energy to reach it. Every time showed
a foot ahead would give push with
my pole, sending myself along about five
feet each time. AS reached the turn l
could hear their yelps right behind me,
and could even hear their heavy breath
ing. While was turning my shoes one
big brute in advance of the rest reached
me, and with fearful snarl sprang at my
head. / stopped, and as he went over
me l Strengthened myself on my shoes
and started down the steep hill. l
plunged down with a speed that no steam
could give Trees flew like spectres;
looking down the narrow path it seemed
like plunge to destruction. On, on, /
went, riding my pole for dear life, try
ing vainly to check my speed My pole
snapped like pipestem under the
heavy strain, and bounded for
ward with increased speed. The