Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-07-09

Journey in Safety A Remarkable
 Ride on the Hack or Death-seoohds
 Seemed Minutes.
 George D. Williamson now engaged in mining near Lake City, Col. tells thrilling story of his experience in a snowslide in the mountains Of Hins- dale county
 Mr. Williamson and a companion had been to look at mining claim ln which they were interested and were returning along the trail when they came to point al which there were evidences of a movement of heavy mass of snow lying on the mountain side.
 T saw that t was liable to move again at any time, said Mr William son, @and started back with the remark that t was much as mans life was worth to attempt to cross the snow that had poured across the traf. From where We stood to the bottom of Ihe sulch was about 1000 feet and we could see that the= movement of the snow had stopped about fifty feet be- low the trail on which we were stand ing l thought that by going around the trail carefully we could escape and save ourselves a Ions trip l be- gan clambering down the rocks on the sdge of the slide When had reach ed a point near the end Of the slide looked back to where my friend stood at a safe distance and called to him that it was all right 4 big dead tree had been brought down by the slide and rested on about three feet of snow. packed quite solid The top of the tree projected about twenty feet be- yand the end of the slide Instead of going around the tree spraag apoa the trunk, intending to leap from 1t to ehe ground on the other side. The mo- ment I touched the log ] knew l was gone Whether the slide started Of it's own weight or whether my weight started 1t I Will never know but in an instant I was flying down the noun tain As the log began to move E dropped and fell aslride it. graspiag a limb in front of ne with both hands I heard the scream Of my friend as I began to move and then heard nothing more except the terrible roar Of aa avalanche behind me There were DO trees in the way and the log went as straight as dla down the mountain side. fortunately for me keeping 8H f9p of the snow. don know what thought There was no time t5 d9 much thinking and all mEeaetgE was devoted to tbe maintenance e Hg pc sitiaa Ne passed some dead bushes the broken twigs from which were dashed into my face, eattiag the skin. and the wind almost stopped my breath. At the bottom of the narrow gHlgh the tree stopped for an instant, bat be- fore l could get off the pressure Of the snow behind started it again. and is shot up the side of the opposite hf4f with but scarcely littte illumination Of fprce.
 Gradually tbe avalanche spent it's energy. and when the log came 10 ! staRdstia was sitting oa #. holding the limb tightly more than 215 fee. up the mountain side. while behind ne Che snow. tfmbets and rocks filed the gulc6 to the level of my position forming a bridge 10 feet high. The whole tbias Was ever ia half a min ute. and except for the scratches on ss5 =isat5t aas aaa8ta. 8sI shook tae snow of and looked around I saw my friend tearing down fbe mountain o1 the ether side of the gulch with the ex- peetation t8at he would 6ad my maa- gled body under the debris. Needles. to say. he was astonished when h. heard Of my remarkable ride on ths back of Death.