The Dickinson press., 1890-09-06
RIDING ON SNOW SHOES.
SLIDING DOWN A MOUNTAIN PUR-
SUED BY HUNGRY WOLVES.
Thrilling Escape OF Very Careless West
crner - Chased by Wild Beasts, He
Trusts Himself to tho Rough and
Wooded Mountain Side.

ILOCky llOuuCttlIlS nave ever VrlVclcu OH
snow shoes. The Norwegian snow shoes,
or skees, are the ones mostly used here.
Going down 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
plow in the snow, thus lessening the
speed.
On the 18th of February 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, aud !
reckoned that could easily make there
and back in day. Packing a slight
lunch 1 tied it to my belt and started.
When Ihad 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, as it would be dangerous
snowshoeing down the mountain side in
tho dark, for ono could not keep the trail
and would be liable to rush headlong
against a tree or go plunging over q
precipice.
SURROUNDED BY WOLVES.
Darkness fell as l have never seen it
before. Everything was obliterated. l
sat on my snow shoes at the head of the
trail waiting for the light of the moon.
The silence was oppressive. All around
me 1 could see the dim outlines of tho
snow capped peaks, dark and somber,
rearing their heads toward the sky. I
must have fallen asleep, but awoke
with start at the cry of a panther COM
ing from a path Of green timber short
distance to the left. This was followed
by the cry of a timber wolf, which was
answered by another and another, until
tho hills resounded with their weird
howls. Soon gaunt shadows fitted from
awful thought burst upon me that was
surrounded by wolves, which at this sea-
son 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 a very foolish thing. Pulling
my revolver, l shot him through tho
body. With fearful yell he started to
run, the blood pouring from the wound
in a stream. He was pounccd upon in
second and torn to pieces by his COM
panions. Crazed bya 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 tar
ried not.
Hastily slipping my feet in the leatl-
ers of my snow shoes started down the
steep incline as if shot from catapult.
Down, down, down into the darkness l
rushed at n headlong rate. A gaunt
brute crouching near a tree sprang at
my throat, but he had not calculated ON
my rate of speed and passed harmlessly
through the air ten feet behind 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 tho
brink of u precipice and soon had turn
to make, which one cannot easily do
with snow shoes twelve feet long. |
stopped at the turn to await the rising of
the moon, which soon came up, making
it as light as day.
FLYING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE.
believed that the wolves had left to
hunt some slower game, but that delu-
sion soon suffered u rude shock. Soon
the yelps commenced with redoubled
fury as they scented me, and came closer
and closer. Igot 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 l
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 500 yards long, and from there
the trail veered to the right and for half
q mile descended very nearly at an angle
of 45 degs.; then the angle was not quite
80 much, but still very steep, down a
trail as straight as a string to my cabin,
seven miles below.
On came the howling pack, and know
ing it was life or death to get to the
steep decline before my pursuers bent
every energy to reach it. AS 1 reached
the turn I could hear their yelps right
behind me, and could even hear their
heavy breathing. While was turning
my shoes one big brute in advance of the
rest reached me, and with fearful
snarl sprang at my head. Istooped, and
as he went over me I Strengthened my
cn1f c1,noc c%o ,4,1 Il Il.
steep hill. I plunged down with a
speed that no steam could give. Trees
flew like spectres; looking down the
narrow path it seemed like a plunge tc
destruction.
Ny pole snapped like pipe stem un
der the heavy strain, and I bounded for
ward with increased speed. The world
swan before my eyes; trees reeled bacl
from my course with horrible night
mare weirdness. I don't exactly re
member what the next sensation was
but / tried to peep out from under tn,
brirn of my hat, and it was all blur
trees, rocks, landscape were all blended
together in an undistinguishable mass
It seemed an age, but it was in fact bu
very few moments until my speed be
gan to decrease. The momentum wa
speeding me out onto the "mesa" Qndia1
for Valley. saw my cabin close by
but having no pole could not stop, so
disengaged my feet from my snowshoe
and rolled off into drift, and let tn
shoes go on. I found them next da,
nearly a mile from there.-Steamboa
Springs (Colo0 Cor. Inter Ocean.
A Large Hydraulic Rivetins Plant.
An immense hydraulic riveting pla1
the largest ever made-has been bui
in London for an engineering compan
in Holland, and is to be employed G
marine boilers. The riveter has gap
feet deep, closes its jaws with power
200 tons, and is capable of closing rive
up to 81 inches in diameter. A trave
ing crane, SO feet high, is designed