Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-05-18
TALES OF PLUCK
AND ADVENTURE.



George u Williamson, now en-
Gagged II mining near Lake City. tells
thrilling story OF his experience III a
s1o.s!lde n the mountains Of Hins-
dale County. III Colorado.
Mr.. Williamson and a companion
Lad been 10 look a. a mining claim in
-.cL they were interested and were
returning along the trail when they
cane u a point = which there were
evidences Of a movement Of the heavy
mass Of snoT lying on the mountain
side.
II say that'i was liable to move
again at any time" said NJ. William
s94. land started back with the re-
mark that It was as nucl as a mans
lie was wolth to attempt to cross the
snow that had poured across the
| trail. From where We stood TO the
bottom Of the gulcA was about 1000
feet. and We could see that the move~
1aeut OF the snow had stopped about
fifty feet below the trail on which we
| were standing. thought that by 60
lag around the snow carefully we
could escape and save ourselves IA long
mp i b[-AA 11i1DtliIie tD& L tIc
rocks on the edge Of the slide. When
| reached q point near the end Of the
slide ] looked back TO where my friend
stood ~ a safe distance and called to
him that il was ali right. 4 big deal
tree had been brought down by the
slide aHl rested OF about three feet OF
snow. packed quite solid. The top Of
the tree projected about twenty feet
beyond the end Of the slide. Instead
Of going around the tree | spranp
upon the trunk. intending to leap
from ii to the ground Oh the other
| side.
The moment I touched the log |
knew ! was gone Whether tire slide
started Of its own weight or whether
my weight starteilt Twill never kuow,
but in an instant was flying down
the mountain. AS the log BEGAN t.
move | dropped and fell astride it
grasping q limb u front of me with
BON hands. | heard the scream Of
my friend as | began to move and then
heard nothing more except the terrible
roar Of the avalanche behind me.
There We're no,trees III the way, AMI
the log went as straight as a die down
the mountainside, fortunately for NE
keeping on top Of the snow.
i Cont know what | thought
There vas no time to do much think
ing, and all my energies were devoted
TO the maintenance Of my position
We passed some dead bushes. tho
broken tWigs FROM which were dashed
INTO NY face, cutting the. skin. and
the wind almost stopped my breath.
At the bottom Of the narrow gulch the
tree stopped for an instant. but before
/ could get OFT the pressure of the
snow behind started It again, aud it
shot up the side Of the opposite hill
with scarcely any G%iminution of force.
"GraoIually the avalanche spent lis
energy, and when the log came to q
~standstilI ! was sitting on it holding
the limb tightly more than 300 feet M
the mOuntainslde. while behind ms
the snow, timbers ana rocks filed thc
sulch to the level Of my position, form
ting Z bridge fully 15O.feet high.
The whole thing was over III hat
a minute, and except for the scratches
on ny face | was Dnhurt. As [ ehoob
the snow of ana looked around T saw
my friend tearing down the mountain
on the other side Of the gulch Will
the expectation that he would fad my
lnangIed body under the debris
Needless to say, he vas astonisne,
when he heard Of ny remarkable ride
on the back u Death"