The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-06-11

siecrer invariably has only the mon0tr
ony Of tramptng alongside and watch-
ing the logs glide along. This was tic
case during the late cold weather. and
Sweetwood. evidently tired with 20
much tramping. determined to use the
logs as means Of more easily getting
up the mountain. With the driver Of
the team away back out Of sight, Sweet
wood climbed ON the foremost log and
congratulated himself how much nicer
IL was than trudging along In the snow.
In this pleasant mood he either for
got TINT when the logs reached the top
of the incline and began TO descend the
grade their transit suddenly increased.
or else he was so absorbed in the pleas
ures of his ride that he forgot where he
was. Be that ut may, however, when
the first log went over the incline and
began going down Sweetwood was still
on 1t. and before he could dismount the
log was going ut such speed TINT TO
even try to get off meant death.
In this dilemma ull that could be done
was to hold on like grim death aid await
the worst, which to all intente seemed
death In soma form OF other, and most
likely most horrible death. Talk of
express trains, electricity or rapid trans
sit in amy of Its various forms, they are
not In It with the way that log tsnil
went down the mountain side From
the summit to the west branch OF the
Stisuuehnnna, where the drive ended.
was at least six miles, and IN most places
the drive was quite steep. Gathering
momentum with every foot OF it's de-
scent, the log with Sweetwood on 1t
sped on as II shot from some great gun.
Trees and rocks were passed with such
startling rapidity that they seemed as
one solid blurred wall; the snow was
only glare Of white, the log drive itself
seemed only diminutive line. only
faintly discernible, winding I'm and out
like q huge snake. Sweetwood early
In the ride lost his hat. and his hair
streamed out behind like the tail OF o
bobtail horse; the wind sang denfen-
ing tunes in his ears and almost blinded
him with its velocity, while the frost
in the air seemed like hail pellets strik-
ing him in the face There was little
time for thought, but even In the few
SecOnuB LIl6r0 WdaSp SMSSessSrse@ 40
dered what the end would be.
Fortunately for Sweetwood. and the
only reason that he is alive to relate
his experience. the log on which he was
pcrched was q large, smooth one, and
glided along comparatively easy, with
little turning, and never once smuggling
on any protruding substance. Down,
down went log and rider, and in less
time than it takes to tell it the glimmer-
ing expansr of the Susquehanna burst
into view. Although nearly uncon-
scious. Swectwood remembers giving
one llasty glance toward the river and
noted the fact that twas comparatively
clear of logs at that point, and the next
thing he knew he was plunged into
about eight feet of water. Contrary to
his expectation of being crushed to
death, he was unhurt. save the sicken-
ing sensation of the thrilling ride and
the shock sustained by his sudden
plunge into the river.
When he struck the water he was
still on top OF the log, and went under
with 1t, but when he arose to the sur
face he was alone and within a few
yards of the opposite shore. Withsofne
little difficulty he pulled himself out Of
the water, and after recovering to some
extent the use of his faculties viewed
with wonderment the scene OF his ride
and shudderingly thought of his nar-
row escape. In his descent he supposed
the entire trail of logs was following
swiftly after the one he was on, and
when plunged into the river he expect
ed to be ground to pieces with the logs.
Now. Us he stood on the bank Of the
SE1GC So