The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-02
MINER PoPE's PREDIcAMENr.
Three Days on . Marrow Ledge at
the Bottom Of q Deep Canon.

In a prison OF granite In box canon
In one OF the mountain streams OF the
Copper river country, Alaska, r. A.
Pope OF Mclean. ILL.,. spent three ter
ribie days and nights on narrow ledge
of rock. At his feet rushed the mad
torrent OF Low river, and above him
lowered the granite walls of q canon
for several thousand feet. with a mar
row opening at the top. through which
the sun fickered and gave an occa-
sional hope to the hungry, freezing man
below.
How Pope go. into this predic4ment
and how he finally managed to get out
makes an interesting story. He had
met reverses In the interior and hired
out to a government party as packer.
With six troopers he started out TO ex-
plore an alleged Russian trail. on
reaching the headwaters OF Low river
the party constructed long raft and
started down the stream.
without warning they entered a pox
canon and were unable TO lana. Inc
raft went over a waterfall and broke
In two, Pope was caught by the under
tow. and before he came to the surface
clinging TO them, were far away.
Pope managed to reach small ledge
OF rock about five feet long and wide
enough to stand on. The day was cold
dismal even for Copper river--and ne
was thoroughly wet with Icy water. Inc
granite walls lowered above MIN LOT
1900 feet, with hardly a foothold In tne
rock for the first 100 feet above MS
head. To plunge into the stream was
madness, and he did not see how ne
could climb the wall behind him. HIS
only hope was that his companions
would reach shore safely and come
back with ropes to get hin, out.
the stony prison. afraid to lie down. for
fear of falling into the torrent at ms
feet Each day made his hunger worse
and cold rain added to his misery.
Pope was wondering II II were not bet
ter to plunge to Certain and quick death
i'm the roaring stream than TO die slowly
by starvation ahd e4nosurs IN tne mtue
through an opening In the rock gave
him hope, and ne determined to try
once more 10 climb the wall. He had
attempted 1t time and again, only TO
fall back, bruised and bleeding, after
getting up q few feet.
Pope was driven TO desperation, ana
began hacking at the bushes, for which
!.
little soil on the rocky ledge. He hoped
| to make a sort of ladder TO which ne
could cling while climbing up the SIDE
| of the canon. H8 tore off 10 of tbe
| largest bushes, and with his suspenderf
dashed them together. He was weak
| from loss of sleep and lack OF food. The
| task before him WAS one that would
l try the nerves Of man In the bes,
conditions. For 10 feet the rock Went
up almost perpendiculariy.
In some way, Pope himself can
not explain how. he hung the LADDER of
! jutting points of rock and clamberec
i up. A single slip Of the ladder or
misstep, no matter how slight, mean
death. At times ne was forced to mak'
| frightful swings. but the ladder, mad'
with nervous haste, never failed him
| IT took him more Than an hour to reaoi
the top. When he finally got out n
was 40 weak that 1t was hours befor'
he was able to commence the SO-mii'
walk to Valdes.
On reaching valdes he found the sol
diers had managed to get ashore on On
| opposite bank and to climb out Will
some difficulty.-St. Louis Globe-Demo
L Graf