Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-04
AN AVALANCHE STORY,
Some of the Wonders of This Resist
less Power of Nature.

Some Of the Wonders of This Resist
less Power of Nature.
From the Detroit Ere, Press.
1 see they have had terrible avalanche
In switzerland" said the man with the
yaller whiskers; land that reminds me of
an adventure my brother had in Wyoming
few years ago. Were any Of you gentle
men ever on Bald-Headed mountain out
there%'
None Of the group had ever had that
honor. and, when informed Of this the man
cCntn led:
My brother was prospecting and hunt
ing, and had a rude cabin on the side of
the mountain. He was good man, nv
brother was I've known him to stick to
the truth when he could have made $500 by
lying. l wouldn't do that, of course, but
want you to understand what sort of a
man my brother was. l used to talk to
him by the hour, but he would insist upon
telling the truth"
PITY That more of the family didn't
stick to that pclicy!' sneered the man with
the blossom on his nose.
Yes, perhaps; but, then, all of us do
what we think is for the best. Ny brother
had occupied the cabin for about a month,
when 1t came on to rain and rained for
ten days and nights. Had he known any
thing about avalanches he would have been
on the lookout; but, as he didn't he SIN ok
ed his pipe and waited for the weather to
clear up. One night he was aroused by a
trembling and quivering of the earth. and
Just as he rolled out of his blankets his
cabin began to move down hill, carried
along on the breast Of the avalanche 1t
was three miles down the valley and ten
miles across the valley to Grizzly noun
tain"
Ten and three are thirteen miles, said
the hardware drummer, as he sharpened
his knife on his shoe.
'EXactlyi' reulie1 the man with tho VAL
Ter whiskers las my brother found the
cabin going and realized what was taking
place he out with his watch and caught
the time. l claim that he is the only man
in the world who ever timed an avalanche
In exactly four minutes to second he was
across the valley, ard in exactly twenty
eight seconds more he was mile up Griz-
ely mountain. Then the avalanche had
spent its force and the cabin rested. His
report on the speed of the avalanche has
been accepted by the Royal Geographical
Society of England, and by all other So
cieties."
And he wasn't hurt?' demanded the
man who could raise his scalp 10y working
his ears.
"A few trif1ing scratches, sir; but he was
greatly Inconvenience. At the old location
he had spring close at hand, with plenty
of firewood around. At the new he had to
walk half mile after fuel and water He
was also at higher altitude and had more
But he hung on. didn't he?" asked the
hardware drummer.
"Oh, yes!"
HE hung OH and waited for another ava
lanche to carry him back to the old loca-
tion?'
Exactly. sir! Yes, sir, at the end of two
weeks there was an avalanche which car
ried him back to Bald-Headed mountain.
1t also gives me pleasure to inform you
that this second avalanche made the trip
in five seconds less time than the first. On
this occasion my brother did not get out of
bed at all, and met with no accident ex-
cept getting some dirt in his eye"
at is an awful pity that your brother is
oead!' said the man with a blossom.
Yes. ii was a great loss to the country
at large"
Because he would have made such a
champion liar in a few years more!'
What" exclaimed the man with the yal-
| Ter whskers. as he rose up. do you think
my brother prevaricated about the ava
lanche?"
Worse than that think he lied like a
trooper
Gentlemen, / trust you will excuse my
emotions-I know you will. None of you
may know what 1t is to hear dead broth
er vilified. l promised him on his dying
bed that 1 would never strike man in
anger. and l am therefore helpless in this
case except to withdraw. l therefore with
draw. Good evening, gentlemen-good even
ipgi'