The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-11-16
FEARFUL TOBOGGANING.
Thrilling Sensation of Sliding Down
an Icy Slope of One of the
Canadian Rockies.

Thrilling Sensation of Sliding Down
| an Icy Slope of One of the
Canadian Rockies.
Henry G. Bryant, president of the
Philadelphia Geographical society, late
ly arrived home from long exploration
of the Canadian Rocky mountains.
Said Mr.. Bryant:
''We succeeded in finding a new pass
over the Central Divide, which is just
south of the Canadian Pacific railroad,
by way of Healley creek and Simpson
pass. We reached our objective point
Mount Assiniboine-in three days
and u half. The only travellers who
ever entered this region before us had
taken seven days in making the jour-
ney. They were six white men. We
therefore felt that we had accomplished
something in finding much shorter
route to this famous mountain. Its
height? 1t is ,s76 feet high"
Asked whether or not he had suffered
much from the cold when in the camp
and during the trip Immediately after
ward, Mr.. Bryant smiled and said that
he had made two previous journeys to
the arctic region in company with
Lieut.. Peary, and he supposed that be-
cause of his cold blood experience dur.
ing those trips the temperature in the
Canadian Rockies did not disconcert
him much.
when did you attempt to make the
ascent of Mount Assiniboine?"
I'VE had hoped that we would be able
to make the first ascent of the noun
tain without hesitation; but a single
glance at the smooth, pyramidal sum-
nit of this great peak, which is the
Mattcrhorn of the Canadian Rockies,
convinced us that an ascent from our
side of the mountain was out of the
question. In company with Mr.. Steele,
the experienced Alpinist, l did, how
ever, succeed in making a partial as
cent. We reached the northwest ridge
of the mountain at height of 10000
feet"
"Were you the first explorers who
ever reached that point?"
I'VE were the first human beings who
ever obtained from that point the grand
view of wilderness of snowclad peaks
tt. the south. That region is probably
the largest unexplored area in British
Columbia
"The descent from that awful height
was not journey full of fun, sup
pose?"
Indeed, it was very far from a merry
trip. The descent was most exhaust
ing work. Just as we had begun to
move on our downward course we saw
a furious storm approaching. 1t be-
came, therefore, out utmost endeavor
to reach the lower levels before it burst
upon us. All went well for some time
FINALLY, while on the snow slope,
cautiously and slowly and with great
care cutting steps for our safety in the
hard snow and ice, we suddenly came
above a projecting rock buttress. AT
that very moment my companion, Mr.
Steele, slipped. 1t was moment OF
life and death. If we were dashed down
to the rock we would have been crushed
to pieces.
II had just time to strike my ak te
the hilt into the rock-like snow, and
thus secure a better anchor. But the
force of the tug on the rope when Mr.
Steele fell was so terrific was instant
ly hurled down the slope. By quick
skillful movement of my companion hi
reached an opening where the snow had
melted owing to the heat radiated from
an adjacent rock. The stable footing
which we here secured arrested oul
, descent. We were able after that te
, continue our descent at leisure.
"The last tour of the descent, about
$50 feet, was made by our sliding dowr
, the face of the mountain. Oh, dear
no, it was not sliding as we see boys
| sliding on the ponds and rivers in thu
| winter time hereabouts. The mountain
slide is called glissading. This is th'
way it was done: When we got he.t
in our ax-made steps where we coult
come to a stop and lie down on our
+ backs we did SO. Each then put hi
! feet close together. With the ak tight
ly held under the right arm, with it
razorlike sharp blade cutting deepl.
into the ice, we slid swiftly alone dowl
, the steep slope.
The ak acted as sort OF nelm, ant
! by slight shifting of the handle WI
, could pilot ourselves out of the wa!
: of things apparently not smootl
, enough for our comfort"
$50 you reached the foot OF the noun
! tains without injury?"
I "Yes; and the journey down is one
, will always remember with pleasure
dangerous and thrilling as it was."-
! Philadelphia Times.
2 Not Pedal Extremities.
e She-This paper tells OF man VIII
!, stepped off a cliff and dropped 300 feet
5 He-Huh! That fellow. must be
, regular human centipede. - Chicag
), Evening News.
Should Have Seen That.
Mrs. Lightly-Why, Dick, that great