The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-20
FLEEING FFoN'gHE TORRENT.

II
A Thrilling Experience With a Cloud
burst IN an ARizona Canyon.
From tfe san tTahcisco Chronicle
Speaking Of cloudbursts," said Col.
Granger, II had a little personal expe-
rience in that Hne pNcFjA nd never want it
repeated, l. Was b. Tie summer of 1872. A
young felloslthhkd George Brown and l
were prospecting In thel Huachuoa mount
aims In Arizona. 1t was a comparativel
unknown country at that time, and file
with dangers Of all kinds, against which IS,
we're amply prepared. We had u
fine outfit, well stored with pro.
visions, and we carried goods arms
and an abundance of ammunition.
This for the double purpose of killing
game aud defending ourselves against DOS
sible attacks of Apsches, who were bad at
that time. We had been out from civi.iza-
ton about six weeks, and had made me
small discoveries, but nothing which we felt
would justify us In working at that time, 30
we pushed further up the mountains, fol-
lowing up canyon As far we could go
with our team, and when We could take our
wagon no further we made camp, and each
day prospected the country around it, pack
ing our tools and water on our mules.
I'VE had started out early one morning
on one of these expeditions. The air was re-
markably calm; not a breath stirred, nor
was there a cloud in the sky. The sun came
up clear and hot, and Brown remarked to
me as we toiled up the narrow canyon Il at
We were sure of a fine day at any rate. We
reached the scene OF our operations about
O'Clock In the morning and tying our mules
to a clump of bushes proceeded on our
climb up the hills We had not gone far
when the air became intensely sultry and a
mass Of light, feecy clouds began to gather
overhead, apparently the vanguard of two
denser masses which were forming north
and south of us. Then a few drops Of rain
fell and the cloud masses thiekened, be-
| came blacker, and seemed to rapidly APP
preach each other. 10y
"Seeing that a storm was upon us, Brown
| and l started down the mountain for our
mules, the clouds above in the meantime
coming together, the darkness increasing,
and drops as large apparently as saucers
falling around US. We redoubed our speed
and gained our mules as the two cloud
| masses met. 1t was now almost as dark as
midnight, and the raindrops increased in
| size and rapidity until 1t seemed as though
the clouds had vertically burst, and there
was a rush Of water like Niagara coming
down from the heavens.
eve had reached our mules and were
squirting down the canyon for our lives The
hillsides were raging cataract OF water.
| Great trees were washed out by the roots;
huge powders were rolled.down into the
canyon. The water pouring down the hill
sides found small depressions and in a few
minutes tore them out to ravines. In places
we could see the soil washed clean to the
bedrock, and the whole mass tumbling into
the canyon through which we were riding.
at was a ride for life. Behind us was a
solid wall of water fifty feet high coming
with the roar OF 600 cataraots. The noise
was deafening. In the face OF this wall of
water was a mass of debris-whole trees
turning end over end hugh powders large as
a ouse-being swept forward by the force
behind as dust is swept before the broom of
the housewife.
1--WE were urging ur.poor beasts TO their
utmost limit of endurance, the water around
us growing deeper and deeper each second,
the rain still falling in torrents. while that
terrible wall behind us were increasing In
hight and velocity and steadily gaining on
shouted to him to.brekki for tho hills, but
the horrible din behind drowned my voice,
and could not hear it myself. l spurred
my mule up the side hill, and. looking back
10 see IL Brown were following. saw that
irresistible current fairly lick him up, and,
in an instant, he, with the mule he was rid
| ing, was absorbed in the mass which was
rolling down the canyunas one might disap-
pear in the nav Of some monster.
81 could not stop to look further for him.
| The rolling waik & water was coming down
| the canyon with the speed OF an express train,
and every second lessehYd the distance be-
| tween it and me. II Was matter of self
| eservation-a race for life with the ele-
ments. had got d1wa the canyon TO place
where 1t was widening and the stream spread
out in width. losing somewhat on its depth,
| but still IL seemed to press on like some hid
eous monster intent upon its prey and fear
full lest 1t should be bafiled, was gaining
on the sidehill, but tbeeoRrrent was gaining
on me. Moment oy moment it came nearer.
Ii was now but a few feet distant. II l
could but force my poor boast q few feet
| higher up the mopptqin we should
be above its forcel ind be safe. l
thrust the roweis deep % his side, and he
| gave a mad plunge. The water had reached
us, and l felt him carried off his feet.
| grasped an overhauEinG bush and he was
swept away In the torrent, leaving me sus-
pended, my feet just touching the surface
of the water. hung to that bush for my
| life, and despite the strongest exertions on
| my part 1t was all l could do to keep from
! being carried away.
''In few moments the fury OF the storm
had passed, the water abated sufficiently to
permit me to obtain a footing, and l forced
my way higher up the mountain to place
of safety, where, drenched to the skin
| awaited the suDsidence OF the waters.
1.-The storm cleared almost as suddenly as
it had begun, the whole time occupied hav-
! ing been little more than / have taken in
the telling but in those few moments dry
canyon had been converted into u raging
torrent, the mountain sides had been de-
nuded, thousands upon thousands Of tons of
| earth and rock had been carried to the
valley below, and the whole face of the
country had been changed. The clouds had
expended their force, and in q few moments
resolved themselves again into fleece and
then disappeared. The sun shone bright and
clear the torrent had rolled away, and moth
ing was left to tell OF the swift cataclyam but
the scene Of devastation left behind. A
mark on the mountain side. far above the
level Of the canyon, told its depth. Trees
uprooted aud scattered marked It's course.
Immense powders, which had been carried
far from their original resting place and
left IN lie course, showed its power while