The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-07-15
DOWN AN AV ALANCHE
EXCITING EXPERIENCE OF a
COLORADO MINER.
Mounted . Passing Log ana Made the
Journey In Safety ~ a Remarkable
Ride on tho Back Of Dsath-seconds
Seemed Minutes. s5. 40 Il s5* 81

--.Esaae ,-.,. I. q
George D. Williamson, now engaged
in mining near Lake City, Col, tells 4
thrilling story OF his experience in q
snowslide in the mountains Of Hins-
dale county. 5@.s 7. T Il 5, r-.5 n. !.
Mr.. Williamson and a companion
had been to look at a mining claim in
which they were interested and were
returning along the trail when they
came to a point at which there were
evidences of a movement, of a heavy
mass OF snow lying on the mountain
side. ~. ~, ss..z>S.. 81. :.
J II saw that it was liable to move
again at any time," said Mr.. William
son, "and started back with the remark
that it was much as a mans life was
worth Ito 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 movement of the
snow had stopped about fifty feet be-
low the trail on which we were stand.
ing. I thought that by going around
the trail carefully we could escape
and save ourselves long trip. I be-
gan clambering down the rocks on the
edge Of the slide. When I had reach
ed a point near the end of the slide
I looked back to where my friend stood
at safe distance and called to him
that it was all 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 be-
yond the end of the slide Instead of
going around the tree I sprang upon
the trunk, intending to leap from it to
the ground on the other side. The mo-
ment I touched the log knew I 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 noun
tain. AS the log began to move
dropped and fell astride it, grasping a
limb in front Of me with both hands.
I heard the scream of my friend as I
began to, move and then heard nothing
more except the terrible foaf Of al
aSyalanche behind me- There were
no trees in the way and the log went
as straight as a die down the mountain
side, fortunately for me keeping on
top of the snow. I don't know what
I thought. There was no time to do
much t thinking, and all my energy was
devoted to the maintenance Of my po-
sttion. 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 be-
fore could get off the pressure of the
snow behind started it again, and it
shot up the side of the opposite hill
with but scarcely little elimination Of
force.
''Gradually the avalanche spent it's
energy, and when the log came to a
standstill I was sitting on it, holding
the limb tightly more than 200 feet
up the mountain side, while behind me
the snow, timbers and rocks filled the
gulch to the level of my position,
forming bridge $50 feet high. The
whole thing was over in half a min
ute, and except for the scratches on
my face was unkurt. AS shook the
snow off and looked around 1 saw my
friend tearing down the mountain on
the other side of the gulch with the ex-
notation that he would find INV roop
gled body under the debris. Needless
to say, he was astonished when he
heard Of my remarkable ride on the
back of DEATH"