Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-01-06
RIDING ON SNOW SHOES.
SLIDING DOWN A MOUNTAIN Pug-
SUED BY HUNGRY WOLVES.
Thrilling Escape Of a Very Careless West
erner - Chased by wild Beasts, He
Trusts Himself TO the Roagh and
Wooded Mountain Side.

Perhaps not many people east of the
Rocky mountains have ever Travelled on
snow shoes. The Norwegian snow shoes, /
OF skees, are the ones mostly used here. /
Going down a decline one goes at such
a terrific rate of speed that one has to
use a brake-that is, ride the pole,
which is generally stick come eight
feet long. which is held in front in the
hands and then sat upon so it viii
plow in the snow. thus lessening the
speed.
On the nth Of February started from
my cabin at tine foot Of Storm mountain
to make trip to the top to see if the
fur bearing animals we're still out. It is
only about ten miles to the top, aud
reckoned that could easily make there
and back in a day. Packing a slight
lunch tied it to my belt and started
When had reached the top and looked
it over J 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
the dark, for one could not keep the trail
and would be liable to rush headlong
against a tree or go plunging over
precipice.
SURROUNDED BY WOLVES
Darkness fell as have never seen it
before. Everything was obliterated
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 | could see the dim outlines Of the
snow capped peaks. dark and soInber.
rearing their heads toward the sky.
must have fallen asleep, but | awoke
with start at the cry of panther COM
/ ing from a path Of green timber q 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 sea
son Of the year are very hungry and
fierce.
If | could keep them at bay until the
I moon rose was safe, as | could easily
I keep away from them As one came
I close did very foolish thing. Pulling
I my revolver, shot him through the
body With fearful yell he started to
I run, the blood pouring from the wound
: in stream He was pounced upon IN a
I second and torn to pieces by his com
panions. Crazed bya taste of blood the
whole yeiping 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 leath
ers of my snow shoes | started down the
steep incline as If shot from d catapult
Down, down. down into the darkness
rushed at q headlong rate. ! gauni
brute crouching near tree spraug al
my throat. but he had not calculated or
my rate Of speed and passed har1nlessly
through the air ten feet behind me III
came the pack, but their cries became
fainter and fainter, and l soon began q
ride my pole and slacken my rate O
speed, as | was passing close TO tn
brink Of precipice and soon had a turI
to make. which one cannot easily d,
with snow shoes twelve feet long.
stopped at the turn 10 await the rising o
the moon. which soon came up. maxim:
it as light as day.
FLYING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE
believed that the wolves had left Z
hunt some slower game. but that deIu
sion soon suffered rude shock. Sooi
the yelps commenced with redouble'
fury as they scented me. and came close
and closer. I got on my shoes and waited
nothing l0ath to showing them agail
I how easy it was to give them the slip
= On they came. and as they got close
started out once more. but was h0rriliet
q to find that at this place the decline va
c not great enough for the shoes to ral
: themselves had forgotten until thi
: time about this place. There was benc
( about 500 yards long, and from ther
g the trail veered 20 the right and for hal
= mile descended very nearly at an angl
/ Of - degs.. then the angle was not quit
]. so much. but still very steep. down
= trail as straight as a string TO my cabin
;. seven miles below.
: On came the bowling pack, and know
= ing i WAS life Or death 10 get 10 Ii
II steep decline before my pursuers l be1
e every energy TO reach It. - / reache
II the turn l could hear their .5--s riEl
.e behind me. and could even hear The
heavy breathing. While was tur-in
N nv shoes one biz brute in advance Of Il
1t rest reached me, and with a faartl
+ suarl sTrslng At my head. l stopped. an
II as he went over me l sCraiSAcered II.
Ia self On my shoes and started down Il
in steep hill l plunged down with
n speed that 10 steam could give. Ire
j flew like sgectres; looking down Il
rs narrow path II seemed ike q plunge
It. destruction.
p Ny pole snapped like pipe stem u
i. der the heavy strain. and bounded f.
l. ward with increased speed. The w0r
III swan before my eyes; trees reelad ba,
: from nv course with a horrible nigh
a mare wei~dness. don't exactly 2
er member what the next sensation wa
or but I tried To peep out from under 4
IS. brim Of my hat. and it was all a blur
trees. rocks. landscape were all blend
together in an undisJluguishable ma,
Il 1t seemed an age, but 1t was in facc b
he very few moments until my speed
e gan 10 decrease The momentum W
us speeding me ont onto the mesa (lndl
" for valleyl | saw my cabin close
ld but having no pole could not stop, 5,
=