The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-02-06
WORK OF A CLOUDBURST
THE COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION
OF A LOVELY VALLEY.

from Paradise to DesOlation-wild Race
Of Animals Before . Wall of Rushing.
FOamjng Water.
Here. between the fir covered sides of
the parallel ranges of mountains, is a
valley half a mile wide AMI ten miles
long, its upper end beginning far up in
the grim hills. 1t winds about like
river. and here and there it is crossed by
creek which seems thread of silver
trailing along the green grass.
A carpet of grass and flowers-here
and there grove-birds flying up and
down-a warm and gentle sun pouring
down from out of clear June sky. As
we look down upon this valley we are
reminded of paradise. Never a scene on
earth more peaceful. One swinging in
a hammock under one of those green
trees beside the brook would find him
self as near to the peace and Quietness
of heaven as any spot on earth affords.
There is a herd of buffaloes grazing
afar up the valley, There are deer in
the groves. Three or four wild horses
are standing in the brook. while others
are lying on the grass few yards away.
Hares scamper to and fro in playful
mood, and there is nothing to brighten
the most timid. The peaceful influence
Is so powerful that we hush our voices
as we look down.
In some awful CONFUSION Of nature
these grim mountains were heaved up
from the bowels of the earth-grim,
sterile, Observation-Disclosures of mighty
conflict of elements. At the same time
nature created this valley as an offset
On the mountain are desolation and de-
spair: here are beauty and contentment.
Look therer
THE BLACK CLOUD APPROACHING.
Away up among the dark hills we see
q black cloud rising up into the clear
skies. But for its blackness one might
believe it signal smoke made by the
Indians. 1t is a cloud trying to lift it
self over the mountain from the east
side. 1t began forming fifty miles away,
and it has travelled slowly and followed
the windings of rivers and creeks, and
exacted tribute from ponds and lakes;
drops -gills. quarts, barrels, tons of
water have been absorbed and lifted up
as the cloud travelled, and the desolate
mountains were magnets which attracted
it from its first formation.
The cloud lifts itself up and up, and in
its struggles it sways like a balloon. AS
1t nears the mountains the vapors are
condensed and become heavier, and as
the weight increases the struggle be-
comes fercer. There is no byplay of
thunder and lightning: only black
menacing cloud fighting itself.
Up! Up! Up!
All! Heaven help them! There is
nothing but animal life in the valley so
far as we can see, but every on-looker
utters groan of despair as he sees the
cloud suddenly fall out of sight behind
the peaks. What does that signify? 1t
means that the cloud could not lift itself
high enough to clear the mountain, and
that when it's lower edge hit that tall
peak on line with US there came
cloudburst. The tons of water held in
that big cloud fell to earth with force
you can scarcely conceive. Trees were
made into matchwood. Rocks weighing
o thousand tons were whirled about.
Bowlders which hundred horses could
not pull from their beds were sent flying
down the mountain side like marbles.
Every handful of earth, every tree, shrub,
vine, flower, every stone, rock, and
bowlder which could have been moved
only by the blast of hundred pounds of
powder is swept in one awful avalanche
into the mouth of the valley!
We hear the crash. We feel the
mountain culver under us. We are
warned of what is coming. Every liv-
ing thing below US has heard the crash
and felt the culver. Instinct tells them
what has happened and warns them to
fee. In ten seconds every living thing
in sight in the valley is rushing down its
length. Here and there deer turns to
the right or left and finds place where
he can ascend. and a big wolf scrambles
up the almost perpendicular bank at our
feet, and there lies crouching and whin-
ing in terror.
A WILD RUSH FOR LIFE.
Look up the valley. No man will
ever see such sight twice in his life
time There is wall across the valley
"a wall of roaring, tumbling, seething,
foaming waters. Its height is eight or
ten feet and its speed Is that of a rail
road train. The buffaloes were the fur
thest up the valley Watch them COM
ing. The herd numbers about fifty, and
every animal runs for his life. Now
buffalo, deer. wolf, horse and hare are
coming in wild mob. and close behind
them that foam crested wave Of death.
As it reaches the trees they melt away.
As it tears along the sides of the valley
great rocks are loosened and carried
along.
The rush is led by q sorrel horse-his
new coat shining like velvet-his eyes
full of excitement-his ears laid fiat
back. He Is 200 feet ahead of every
thing, and we wave our hats and cheer
him as he passes us.
Roll! Tumble! Foam! Crash! The
waters are Uttered with trunk and branch
and bush. The noise is deafening. The
power is so great that the mountain is
shaken. We clutch the bushes at our
side and hold our breath as the wave
strikes.