The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-09-02
A PERU GUS EXPERIENCE.
Crossing a Snow-Field in the Rocky
Mountains.

Finally, through rift in the clouds
not fifty yards ahead, we saw the spot
less white of the long-looked-for snow
field.
With feeble shout we pushed for
ward but when we reached its edge
our worst fears were realized. 1t was
terribly steep, being at an angle of
about forty degrees, and the crust was
a coating of hard. slippery ice, the
thickness of pasteboard. Through a
break in the clouds we saw that it ex-
tended downward to timber-line, fully
1,500 feet, as steep as the roof of a
house and smoother than the smooth
est glass. How broad it was we could
only conjecture.
AS we came up. Kellogg struck the
crust with the butt of his gun. and l
threw a rock upon the surface, which
went sliding and bounding down the
steep face with terrific velocity.
We looked at each other in despair.
'1t's no use," said.
'tNot q bit, was the answer.
We sat down and talked it over. To
retrace our steps was out of the
question, and we could not climb to the
top of the field, probably thousand
feet in our weakened condition.
Suddenly Kellogg ieaped to his feet
and rushed toward the slippery mass,
crying out, Come on, we've got to do
it. Ill take mine this way" Without
a second thought, in my hopeless
desperation followed. By using his
gun as brace Kellogg kept his feet;
but slipped and fell on all fours and
began sliding down. In wild frenzy
I tried to drive my bare fingers through
the crust, but only succeeded in tear
ing the skin off them.
Luckily, had retained my rifle,
and by frantic effort drove it muzzle
first through the hard crust and came
to stop, having gone about twenty
feet. Had it not been for this fortunate
move my body would have been hurled
to the bottom of the gorge more than
thousand feet below, and mangled
beyond all semblance of a human form.
Looking up at my companion saw
that he had turned away his head un.
willing to be witness of my horrible
fate; but as called out to him he
looked around, and l saw a face sc
white and horror-stricken that / car
never forget it. Cold beads of sweat
stood on my forehead. and I felt tha
my courage was all gone. The ex
perience of that awful moment almos
unnerved me, and I was weak anC
helpless as a little child.
Lying on my face I held on tightly
to the rifle driven deep through thu
crust. How to regain my footing wa
puzzle. Kellogg started to com,
down to me. and it was with difficult,
that persuaded him to desist.
At last hit on a plan. Holding oil
to the rifle with one had, with tn
other drew my pocket-knife, snd
opening it with my teeth, cut two hole
in the crust for my feet, and afte
much effort stood upright. But w
were still in bad fix. Kellogg calle,
out to me to break holes through tn
crust for my feet with the butt of tn
gun. Although not more than twent
feet distant he could hardly make him
self heard above the roar of the storm
But the suggestion was a good on
and proved our salvation. We move
slowly forward. breaking hole in th
ice for each step. 1t was severe treat
ment to give valuable guns. but the
had to suffer to the best interests @
their owners.
Slowly and carefully we moved for
ward, occasionally stopping to rest an
speak words of encouragement to eac
other, for now we had the first CLEAR
of hope for five long terrible hours.
| Although very weak physically. ou
minds were much clearer than an hou
before, and we even went so far as t
chaff each other little. But we ha
plenty of fears yet. Once my heal
| leaped as Kellogg slipped and can
down on both knees. elawing frantic
ally at the air; but he regained his fe'
without difficulty. and we pushed OIL
Altogether we were over an hour
crossing that terrible field. Frederic
Funston, IN st. Nicholas.