The Somerset reporter., 1891-03-12
WORK OF A CLOUDBURST
NE COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION
OF A LOVELY VALLEY.

from Paradise to Desoiation-wiid ns0s
Il A.imaia Before . Wall o. H"s""s'
feaming Water.
Here. between the fir covered sides OF
parallel ranges OF mountains ID a
ey half a mile wide AMI ten miles
;ts upper end beginning far up IN
rim hills. It winds about like
az. and here and there it is crossed by
,reek which seems thread Of silver
Killing along the green grass
CARPET Of grass and fowers-here
there a grove-birds flying up and
bwn-a warm and gentle sun pouring
hwn from out Of . clear June sky. AS
look down upon this valley we are
minded of paradise. Never a scene on
rth more peaceful. One swinging In
hammock under one of those green
ees beside the brook would find him
If as near to the peace and quietness
heaven as any spot on earth affords.
There is a herd of buffaloes grazing
far up the valley. There are deer in
be groves. Three or four wild horses
re standing in the brook, while others
Re lying on the grass few yards away.
ares scamper to and fro in playful
bod, and there is nothing to brighten
e most timid. The peaceful influence
Do powerful that we hush our voices
we look down.
In some awful convulsion of nature
Iese grim mountains were heaved up
Fom the bowels of the earth-grim,
terile, Observation-Disclosures of mighty
onflict Of elements. At the same time
Iature created this valley as an Offset,
bn the mountain are desolation and de-
pair: here are beauty and contentment
Look therer'
TIE BLACK CLOUD APPROACHING.
4 Away up among the dark hills we see
J black cloud rising up into the clear
$lsies. But for its blackness one might
believe it a signal smoke made by the
Indians. 1t is cloud trying to lift it
elf over the mountain from the east
ide. 1t began forming fifty miles away,
nd it has travelled slowly and followed
be windings of rivers and creeks, and
kacted tribute from ponds and lakes;
rops -gills, quarts, barrels, tons of
later have been absorbed and lifted up
the cloud travelled, and the desolate
ouutains were magnets which attracted
from its first formation.
The cloud lifts itself up and up, and in
struggles it sways like balloon AS
nears the mountains the vapors are
bndensed and become heavier, and as
be weight increases the struggle be-
pines fiercer. There is no byplay of
hunder and lightning; only black
lenacing cloud fighting itself.
Up! Upl Up!
All! Heaven help them! There is
bthing but animal life in the valley so
lr rs we can see, but every on-looker
tiers groan of despair as he sees the
loud suddenly fall out of sight behind
be peaks. What does that signify? 1t
leans that tile cloud could not lift itself
Ugh enough to clear the mountain, and
bat when its lower edge hit that tall
eak on line with us there came a
oudburst The tons of water held in
hat big cloud fell to earth with force
ou can scarcely conceive. Trees were
bade into matchwood. Rocks weighing
thousand tons were whirled about.
powders which hundred horses could
lot pull from their beds were sent flying
own the mountain side like marbles.
very handful of earth, every tree, shrub,
Inc. flower, every stone, rock, and
bwlder which could have been moved
lily by the blast OF hundred pounds Of
WIDER is swept in one awful avalanche
10 the mouth of the valley!
We hear the crash. We feel the
buntain culver under us. We are
hrned of what is coming. Every liv-
thing below us has heard the crash
ID felt the culver. Instinct tells them
nat has happened and warns them to
e. In ten seconds every living thing
sight in the valley is rushing down its
hgth. Here and there deer turns to
lie right or left and finds place where
be can ASCEND. and big wolf scrambles
bp the almost perpendicular bank at our
pet, and there lies crouching and whin-
pg in terror.
WILD RUSH FOR LIFE.
Look up the valley. No man will
yer see such sight twice in his life
hne. There is wall across the valley
Ia wall of roaring, tumbling, seething,
|aning waters. Its height is eight or
IN feet and its speed is that of rail
nd train. The buffaloes were the fur
est up the valley. Watch them COM
5. The herd numbers about fifty, and
|ery animal runs for his life. Now
lffalo. deer. wolf, horse and hare are
ming in wild mob, and close behind
cm that foam crested wave os death.
it reaches the trees they melt away.
it tears along the sides of the valley
eat rocks are loosened and carried
long.
The rush is led by sorrel horse-his
bw coat shining like velvet-his eyes
Pill Of excitement-his ears laid fiat
hck. He Is 800 feet ahead of every
hing. and we wave our hats and cheer
IN as he passes us.
Roll! Tumble! Foam! Crash! The
tiers are littere with trunk and branch
= 4