Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-04-30
Flfteen Mlnutes' Work OF CloudDursE Des
tween Mountain Ranges.

the parallel ranges of mountains, Is
valley half mile wide and 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 n creek which seems thread OF
silver trailing along the green grass.
A carpet Of grass and howers-here
and there n grove-birds flying up and
down-a warm and gentle SUP 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 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 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. desolate-landmarks of a mighty
conflict of elements. At the same time
nature created this valley as an offset
On the mountain is desolation and de-
spair; here is beauty and contentment
Look there!'
Away up among the dark hills we see
black cloud rising up into the clear
skies. But for its blackness one might
believe it o signal smoke made by the
Indians. II is cloud trying to lift
itself over the mountain from the east
side. II 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 us 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 it's struggles it sways like balloon.
As it nears the mountains the vapors
are condensed and become heavier, and
as the weight increases the struggle be-
comes fiercer. There is no by-play Of
thunder and lightning; only a 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? II
means that the cloud could not lift itself
high enough to clear the mountain,
and that when its lower edge hit
that tall peak on a line with ne
there came a cloudburst. The tons OF
water held in that big cloud fell 70
earth with force you can scarcely con-
ceive. Trees were made into match
wood. Rocks weighing thousand tons
were whirled about. Boulders 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
boulder which could have been moved
by the blast of hundred pounds OF
powder. is swept in one awful ava
lanche 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 big vol
scrambles up the almost perpendicular
bank at our feet, and there lies, crouch
and whining in terror.
Look up the valley. No man viii
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 o.
ten feet and its speed is that of rail
road train. The buffaloes were th'
furthest up the valley. Watch then
coming. The herd numbers about fifty
and every animal runs for his life
Now buffalo, deer, wolf, horse ana
hare are coming in wild mob, ant
close behind them that foam-cresteC
wave of death. AS it reaches the tree
they melt away. As it tears along TIT
sides of the valley great rocks ar
loosened and carried along
The rush is led by a sorrel horse-hi
new coat shining like velvet-his eye
full of excitement-his ears laid fla
back. He is two hundred feet ahead o
every thing, and we wave our hats ant
cheer him rs he passes us.
Roll! Tumble: Foam. Crash! TIL
waters are Uttered with trunk ant