The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-14
RIDE ON AN AVALANCHE.
The Survivor Tells Of HIS Frightful
Descent of Pixies Peak.

Joe Bradley, a miner and prospector OF
Cripple Creek, was brought into the city from,
Cascade yesterday In a halt-frozen condition,
after undergoing series OF hardships and ac'
cidcnts ON Pixies Peak In W hich he nearly lost
HIS life. He was caught in snowslide, or
avalanche, together with companion whose
name he does not know, and was carried down
the mountain at the rate Of fifty miles an
hour until he was hurled against a large
stump Crippled, severely bruised and nearly
frozen, he rem aimed unconscious for several
hours, and was finally rescued by prospec-
tor who lives in a cabin on the mountain side.
Bradley's companion could not be found after
the fearful plunge, and IL Is thought that he
has perished.
Lying in his bed, with hands and feet ban
daged, Bradley told the story OF his awful ex-
perienoes while endesvoring to reach tins city
from ripple Creek by way Of Pixies Peak;
"I started out from Cripple Creek for Colo
RADIO Springs last Friday noon" said Brad
ley, "and as I had some business at the Strick
Ter tunnel / thought l would climb over
Pixies Peak and then walk down the crag.
road into Msnitou. At Gillett met man
whose name do net know, and as he said he
wanted to SECURE work ut Lake Moraine, in
vited him 10 accompany me on my journey.
The day was a beautiful one and did not an
ticipate any trouble.
I'VE climbed the Peak from Gillett and ex-
perienced no difficulty In reaching the wes-
tern end Of the Strickler tGnnel. We then
climbed on nearly 20 the summit, but as we
did not know the trsl ana the snow was so
deep, we wandered away from H. We climbed
10 the top Of an eminence and were discuss
ing the best way 10 proceed, when suddenly
ID seemed as IN the entire side of the mountain
was falling. We realized that snowslide had
occurred and we were caught by IL. but we
could do nothing. / lost sight of my partner
in the blin ling snow, and though 1t must
have been a very short time before / struck
the big stump, yet it seemed an age
"The avalanche shot down the mountain
side at terrific rate of speed. and when I
struck lost consciousness. When regained
my senses. which must have been several
hours later, / saw n small cabin short dis
tapce away, and started toward il. ! found
that could net walk, but managed to crawl
TO IL and summon assistance.
81 was taken in the cabin, bruised, bleeding
and half frozen. must have lost a gallon OF
blood by hemorrhage, and was too weak to
walk. l remained in the cabin all day Satur-
day and was kindly treated and cared for by
the prospector, who searched faithfully for
my companion. but his body must have been
buried under the mass of snow, as no trace Of
him could be found.
"The proSpector went to Gillett for ASST T.
nee, ana returned with MIR. Fred Harding,
the marshal Of that place They started with
me Sunday morning for Case ade, and there
found DIR. White, who brought me to this city.
~ suffered terribly from the biting cold,
and thought that could never reach the pros
pector' cabin If er regained consciousness.
AT one time prayed that might die"
Bradley talked at random and seemed like
one whose mind was affected by the suffer
ings which he had evidently undergone. His
hands were swollen and his ears and tees
werc entirely devoid Of feeling. DIR. White
ays he will recover, but he may lose some OF
his rreu,l,ars -Cplora 10 Sprinus Gazette.