Gilpin observer., 1899-04-27
WILD RIDE ON a sNowsLIDE.
George wini.mson's Half-Miuuts's Trip
Down . Mountain Side. <

1ecrge Williamson's Half-Miuuts's Trip
Down Mountain Side.
George d. Williamson, now engag-
ed in mining near Lake City, tells
thrilling story Of his experience in
snowslide in the mountains of Hins-
dale county. Mr.. williamson and
companion had been to look at min
ing claim in which they were inter-.
ested and were returning along the
trail when they came to point at
which there were evidences of a move
ment of the heavy mass of snow ly-
ing on the mountain side. Il saw that
it was liable to move again at any
time" said Mr.. Williamson, "and
started back with the remark that 1t
was as much as mans life was
worth to attempt to cross the snow
that has 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. l thought that by going around
the snow carefully we could escape
and save ourselves a long trip.
began clambering down the rocks on
the edge of the slide. When 1 reach
ed 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 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 thirty
feet beyond the end of the slide. In
stead of going around the tree l
sprang upon the trunk, intended to
leap from it to the ground on the 9TH
er side. The moment / touched the
log l knew 1 was gone. Whether the
slide started of it's own weight or
whether my weight started it I will
never know, but in an instant I was
flying down the mountain. AS the log
began to move l dropped and fell
astride it, grasping a limb in front
of me with both hands. l heard the
scream of my friend as 1 began to
move and then heard nothing more ex-
cept 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 mountain side, for
tunately for me keeping it's position
on top Of the snow. l don't know
what l thought. There was no time
to do much thinking, and all my en-
ergies were devoted to the mainte-
nance 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 l
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 when the log came to a
standstill was sitting on it, holding
the limb tightly, more than 800 feet
up the mountain side, while behind
me the snow, timbers and rocks filled
the gulch to the level of my position,
forming ridge across the gully fully
$50 feet high. The whole thing was
over in half minute, and except for
the scratches on my face 1 was un-
hurt. AS shook the snow off and
looked around l saw my friend tear
ing down the mountain on the other
side of the gulch, with the expecta-
tion 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."-Denver Republican.