The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-24

my valet, Jack. formed a kind or ~rearguard
TO look after my remains in case OF acci-
dent. Our email guide led Ms straight 10
the huge buttress Of the bridge. which was
built Of massive blocks OF stone arranged In
terrace form, from its broad baao to Ito mar
row apex. These terraosa were about fifteen
feet high and covered with ice and snow.
II was impossible for a man 20 climb them
unaided, but the boy was equal to the
emergency. After providing around for a
few minutes he found a ladder which had
been used by the woskmen. I can't begin
to describe the difficulties and dangers of
that climb. But at last We scrambled to
the top, with clothes torn and banda
bruised and bleeding. Fortunately. the
watchman wus walking toward the middle
Of the bridge. and we had q chance for a
good start before he could stop as. After a
short breathing spell Appleton, Jack and ]
began our p~erilous journey along the mar
row footpath that stretched across the
ghastly looking iron work. But before we
had reached the middle Of the bridge the
Waterman stopped US and ordered US back.
We pleaded, and protested and argued, but
it was Of no use. He wouldn't even take a
bride. Hereupon the boy Jack loudly
called my attention to the fact that the
water looked awfully cold down below.
Appleton quickly added that under certain
circumstances il would make an excellent
plunge bath, and / Clipped in with a flip
pant remark about it being q three-to-one
shot.
That watchman evidently thought we
meditated murder, or some equally despef-
ate crime, for his eyes fairly bulged from
their sockets as he backed away from us as
far re- tho narrow footpath would permit.
We brushed by him instantly and SON
tinued on our way without any further In
reference from him. The Waterman at
the other end OF the bridge. however.
proved of different metal. He was as big
as two of us and we didn't dare to attempt
any bluff with him. He was even more
obdurate than the other fellow. 1t began
to look as Though all our labor was to be in
vain, when Appleton whispered to me to
run while he engaged the Waterman IN con-
versation. Well. | scooted, and 80 did
Jack, but we didn't scoot far, for we were
brought to a sudden standstill by the abb
rupt termination Of the bridge at the but
tress. 1t was a sheer hundred feet to the
ground and there was no ladder. l gave ii
up again and could have wept scaldinR
tears if ii hadn't been so cold. Appleton,
however, succeeded in pacifying the watch
man and came to our rescue with grim de-
termination in his stride. He boldly jumped
down the first terrace and called upon
Jack and me to follow. Jack did SO, but
I heaitated. Those fifteen feet seemed like
q preoipice and the landing on the next
terrace looked awfully hard md Insecure.
I didn't dare to jump, SO / compromised by
taking a kind of %tobogcan slide on my coat
tail. 1t wasn't as exhilarating or fasoin-
ating as many slides I've bad. but it was
quite aa exciting. In this way / reached
terra irma in a somewhat d%ismantled pom
dition. Incidentally ! bade a fearful good
by to my trousers next day.
1t was about two miles from the bridge to
the opera house and we had to foot il, be-
cause there wasn't a vehicle abroad that
night. We al most of the way to keep
from freezing, md after frightening a
couple of women into Mysteries. because
they misunderstood our hurried request for
information. we arrived at the theater at a
quarter past nine and proceeded with the
performance. As there was no time to
change I went On just as I was, looking like
a scarecrow on a Massachusetts farm. The
audience was good natured, though. and
readily forcave me when they learned what
had happened. I shall never forget that
trip and / wouldn't go through ii again,
even to elect Harrison.
NAT C. GooDwJN.