The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-13
SAVED By An EARTHQUAKE.

fat Beyond the canon was very narrow.
and we knew further advance was iupos-
sibIe. Still the way we had come was now
npassabie. 50 our fear OF attack in that
direction ceased. Getting close under a
projecting mass of rock Ne sat down and
waited for the tempest to break. The
whole sky had become black. but scudding
vapor or dark gray unged with copper
few overhead. A strong gust OF wind
sent leaves and. small branches flying
through the air. A great stiffness fol-
lowed Then. with appalling suddenness.
the tempest broke loose Streams of zig
Gag fire tore the cloud apart. Thunder
crash on crash shook the air like the con-
cussion of mountains dashed from their
base into huge metal plates below. Then
with a loud kissing noise the hail descend
Cd so thickly we could not see more than
a few feet in front of us. In fifteen min
utes the storm had expended itself A
snort and heavy shower of rain followed
dissolving the haiistones thickly covering
the ground As the rain ceased the sun
saone brilliantly, but the usual fresh cool
ness that comes after storm was absent.
The moisture was in steam and hung
about In thick mists
Look there" said Pete pointing across
the fiat: If any Of those red devils are in
the canyon where it is narrow they will
be good Indians ever after"
As / glanced in the direction he fnd,-
n
great river covered fully third Of the fat
Tprooted trees and large stones were roll
ing In the food I was ahaut 20 reply
bat establishment checked nv words A
mass Of water was fairly squirting from
between the rocky walls. accompanied by
booming roar
at is the dam above that has given
way" observed Pete. at Is mercy;
hnllo. what does that mean,'
There was n sudden cessation OF noise in
the ravine below US and on looking that
way we saw floating mass nf trees niling
themselves up in wonderful manner.
pete. we are lost,' I cried: 1T Is an
other dam: the fiat will be under water
In half an hour"
We tore frantically along the base OF the
Cliff to find some place where we could
climb M. II only few feet. Any project
ing rocks were. however. inaccessible.
With tie strength of despair Pete raised
re 10 his shoulders where I tried TO stand
and reach beyond the curve OF the rock
that had sheltered us 1t was still too
high. and losing my balance. came to the
ground with such a force that for an in
instant l was stunned.
Pete helped me TO my feet: then folding
his arms. he said calmly: Nothing can
save US now. Jack. II Is all over" My es-
innate of the time it would take to food
the open space had been too small Most
OF IT was already submerged. and we
moved a few feet TO higher ground I
triod 10 remember some prayer of my
childhood as the water reached us, but
fear put the words TO flight Gradually.
inch by inch our limbs were hidden in the
brown flood AS II reached my waist a
sudden thought flashed through my mind
and | said eagerly, Let us strike out for
the dam
You can but try replied the partner.
with intense sadness in his voice, ''but you
are almost certain TO be sucked under it,
Scarcely needing his words I threw off
anything likely to cucumber me. and had
commenced to wade into deeper water
when noticed Pete had made no prepara-
ton. AS his inability to swim came into
my mind, the brave fellow extended his
hand TO me an said. grasping my own:
hand to me and said, grasping my own:
man,
The words had no sooner left his lips
thar sudden and deathly sickness came
over me. The ground rolled under my feet
with a sullen roaring noise. The water
rising and falling spiashed and swished
against the bluffs. Great masses of loos-
ened rock fell amidst the flood throwing
fountains high IN the air.
Trying TO steady one another. we looked
around on the awful scene The sickening
motion ceased. and with ii the earthquake
roar
by heavens exclaimed my partner.
the water is going down, the earthquake
has let Ii loose"
Eagerly we glanced towards the dam.
1t was moving Then, with a roar and a
crash. like some mighty beast breaking
from its cage the great pile OF trees
rushed out OF sight
The sudden reaction was too much for
me- I burst into tears while Pete shout
ed and danced in the receding waters like
river god gone mad.
When We reached the settlement we
learned the Hualapai Indians had found
their chief murdered amongst the forests
OF Mount Hope. Blaming us for the deed
cost the lives OF our comrades.