Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-05-25
TALES OF PLUCK
And ADVENTURE.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
His Ride on an Avalanche.

george ID. Williamson, now en-
gagged IN mining near Lake City, tells
thrilling story of his experience in a
snowslide in the mountains of Hins-
dale County, in Colorado.
Mr.. Williamson and companion
had been to look at mining claim in
which they were interested and were
returning along the trail when they
came to point at which there were
evidences of movement of the heavy
mass of snow lying on the mountain
side.
81 saw that it was liable to move
again at any time," said Mr.. William
son, "and started back with the re-
mark that it was as much as a mans
life was worth to attempt to cross the
snow that had poured across the
trail. From where we stood to the
bottom of the gulch was about 1000
feet, and we could see that the move
ment of the snow had stopped about
fifty feet below the trail on which we
were standing. 1 thought that by go
ing around the snow carefully we
could escape and save ourselves long
trip. 1 began clambering down the
rocks on the edge of the slide. When
I reached point near the end of the
slide L looked back to where my friend
stood at a safe distance and called to
him that it was ali right. A 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
beyond the end of the slide. Instead
of going around the tree I sprang
upon the trunk, intending to leap
from it 20 the ground on the other
side.
1.-The moment I touched the log 1
knew 1 was gone. Whether the slide
started of its own weight or whether
my weight started it will never know,
but in an instant was flying down
the mountain. AS the log began to
move L dropped and fell astride it,
grasping limb in front of me with
both hands. I 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 were no trees in the way, and
the log went as straight as die down
the mountainside, fortunately for me
keeping on top of the snow.
II don't know what I thought.
There was no time to do much think
ing, and all my energies were devoted
to the maintenance of my position.
We passed some dead bushes, the
broken twigs from which were dashed
into my 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
I could get off the pressure of the
snow behind started it again, and it
shot up the side of the opposite hill
with scarcely any diminution of force.
Gradually the avalanche spent its
energy, and twhen the log came to a
standstill was sitting on it holding
the limb tightly more than 200 feet up
the mountainside, while behind me
the snow, timbers and rocks filled the
gulch to the level of my position, form
ting bridge fully $50 feet high.
''The whole thing was over in half
minute, and except for the scratches
on my face was unhurt. AS I shook
the snow off and looked around I saw
my friend tearing down the mountain
on the other side of the gulch with
the expectation that he would find my
mangled body under the debris.
Needless to say, he was astonished
when he heard of my remarkable ride
on the back of Death"
One of the Bravest Deeds of the War.
The same day that the Winslow,
the Hudson and the Wilmington were
having their action at Cardenas,