New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-07

tains seem. in some places. to have cut their
way through. leaving the sheer precIpIces Oh
either hand to mark their pathway me ilios1
famous Of these gorgcs is the Au Sable ChaSn,
which is not far from where the Au SABLE River
ilows into Lake Champlain. The galleries.
caves and castcllated columns attract thou-
sands Of tourists yearly; but seventy years ago
II was comparatively unknown. In those early
days the PERCEPTIONS cliffs were spanned py a
wooden bridgr. over which the farmers haG 10
pass on their way To Au Sable Forks. Inc Dot
tom of the chasm at this point was sheer
descent Of hundred and twenty-five
feet. In those early days the pioneers
were NJ. skilled in the art OF DrldSe-
building; and 50 one night when fierce storm
Numbered through the mountains. the prldge
was swept away. with the exception OF the
main strnger a beam about eighteen inches
SQUARE The bridge was never rebuilt, and
another road to the little village Of Au Sable
Forks WAS utilized. The old stringer. however,
still stretched across th' cllllS ABOVE 'He Au
Sable Chasm.
one pitch-black night. about ten years after
the storm that had demolished the bridge.
stranger drew up his horse in front OF the
tavern AZ Au Sable Forks. it about 10
o'clock and the taproom we'll filled with
villagers. drinking. smoking and playing CARDS:
The entrance of a stranger caused the usuai
commotion. AMI as he sat in one corner eating
hastily prepared supper he was the cynosurc or
all eyes After the meal the host. as was the
custom engaged the stranger in conversations
Dark. nasty night outside. SIR
Yes pretty black"
Have any trouble in finding your way
"Oh no: l usei to live in this neighborhood
twenty years ago"
so? Well. you'll find things pretty well
changed since you left"
Yes / expect so: the old bridge is still stand
ing. though, and am glad of that. for helped
to build it,"
The old BRIDGE" questioned the tavern
keeper and every one in the room looked up in
amaZement.
across the chasm down the road half mile
What, are you craZy2' shouted the host.
There Is no briige across the Au Sable:
there has been no bridge there for the last ten
years"
but you are mistaken. my friend: rode my
horse across it not three-quarters OF an hour
ago"
impossible. sir | tell you that the bridge blew
down ten years ago.
Again tell you my friend. that rode across
it this very night was the mperturbable answer.
1T was too dark for me to see. but heard the
ciatter Of my horses feet the planking ana
the noise of the water in the chasm below
The argument waxed warmer and warmer
until the stranger said that they would wait
until next morning when it could easily be set
tied IL there bridge or not He made
wager with the landlord that it was stu stahu-
ing across the ChaSm.
The next morning every man. woman anu
child OF Au Sable Forks at the chasm SURF
enough. in the soft sand Of the road there were
footprints of a korsc. and the trail led from tne
stringer across the chasin up 10 the 'a'. -
porch One young daredevil walked across .ne
narrow stringcr and made starting ulse a,,
There was similar ira on the other si SUI,
The stranger had told the truth. In 'ie "a" ,Sa
ness Of the night his horse had crosSeu ~
chasm single beam or. ~ tho
Rut that was not the strangest part Oh tne
story. When that forenoon the stranger aoer
down to the Au Sable chasm to set'e he Saw the
ui,b tho keeper of the tavern ana ne say S, the
VII nv natb oyer which he had travelled tne
p pIrht BEFORE fore" it is said that he was stricken
with trembling that never LEFT ms sx ts seconds
death and that within the spa , ~ the color Of
his b9 IF tur.ci from jet BLACK " 'i' .' -
The driven snow.