Morris tribune., 1900-07-28
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
A 6oWLDER THAT WAS STARTED
ROLLING JUST FOR FUN.

In Tragedy-A Lucky Bound Into
the Air.
'More than 20 years ago." said the,
senator in reminiscent mood, II was
doing clerical stunts at Hamilton, New,
and having about as enjoyable an ex-
tstence as I have ever known, before
Dr since. The blue skies, the big noun
tains, the invigorating air, the whole
some food and the interesting people
all around me made my life about as
good as life ought to be this side Of
the pearly portals. My work was not
80 combining that could not get away
On mountain walks pretty frequently,
and one day I started out with my
dog ior turn up Mount Tom, just be-
yond the town. The main highway
leading into the town from the west
passed along the side Of this mountain
and on over a gap into the valley be-
yond. SsSsE sss sssss,4~<<s-~'>r 'r-'-'
II had a particular object in view,
and with my dog 1 wandered along up
the mountain, which was without vege-
tation except a furry thicket in places,
and the surface was covered with
rocks Of various sizes from a football
to haystack. After awhile, for some
thing better to do, began to roll the
stones down the mountain side, and it
rapidly developed into a most exciting
sport, for the mountain was steep and
the rocks went down with a whoop
and a hurrah that stirred the blood
to watch them as they bounded along.
I never thought Of the road passing
along about 1000 feet down the hill,
and, as nobody happened to be going
by, my attention was not called to it
In that way, and kept on.
Naturally enough, my success with
the smaller stones made me ambitious,
and 1 essayed something larger. 1t
was a dandy, too, great big, round
boWlder that would have weighed a
tontif it weighed pound. 1t was a
job to get it started, but by pulling
the rocks from under it on thu lower
side and loosening it up all around I
got it going at last and stood back to
enjoy it's progress down the mountain.
1t went slowly at first, as if in doubt,
but it struck steep place about SO feet
down the hill, and it leaped out like a
FESTIVE horse from the post, and away
1t went, bounding a dozen feet into the
air and jumping over gullies and rocks
as if it were rubber. About 800 feet
down, when it was going at tremen-
dous speed, it leaped so feet into the
air, and was just going to let off
whoop when saw II mule team in
the narrow road below and directly in
the track of the monster.
'"The team was drawing two wagons,
as was the custom with the mountain
and it was driven by old
Jerry Simpson, one Of the best known
teamsters In the mountains. It simply
paralyzed me. for didn't see anything
but destruction for everything in the
way. There was no turning back or
up to get out Of the way, for
the load was heavy and the road was
rough and narrow. stood speeches.,
scared white but the driver had seen
The rock coming, and, dropping off
road as hard as he could run. would
have run, too, but my legs refused to
let, and I stood fast and watched the
great rock go tumbling down toward
is victims. hadn't long to wait of
course, and just as gasped at the last |
pound Of the bowlder it struck an OBJ
'truction Of some kind and jumped |
lean over the team and the road and |
vent crashing on it's way down into |
he ravine below.
'"Then recovered my wits, and, |
that what I had been doing
vas entirely ineXcusable, l skinned off |
lp the mountain behind the rocks and
trusting to Providence
hat the old Jerry hadn't identified me.
slipped around another way to town
nd got in all right without having any
Questions asked where I had been, and
hat evening ! went over to the post
flee, which was general loa6ng
lace, and there found Jerry telling Of
lis wonderful escape.
"'Derned ef didn't think it wuz a
aystack comm down the hill,' he
aid, with somethin alive in it.
Have you any idea who rolled it
own? I asked innocently.
"'In course | hain't. Eff / hadn't
cen in SIGH a hurry and left my Win
hester in the wagon. I'd "a found out
nightly quick. fer seen him run, and
e had dog with him. !
h17f I l
skiing questions. Ii
what did you have in your wag- |
MS? said.
"'Dynamite. Four tons Nv it. {
"'Good Lordv l exclaimed. There t
couldn't have been much left of that
.a1n, would there? t
&c Nor me- NEITHER reckon he said, I
baking his head. IL
Z" What did you think of as you were I
inning up the road! Q
" Not much Nv anything, l guess, 6
ut mostly eff they wuz goin to be able {
git enough Nv Jerry Simpson meat s
1T of that mule meat to have funer- b
with a
81 don't know where Jerry is now" f
Included the senator; dead, sup +
use, but never told him who rolled '
lat rock down the hill. nor did L ever 4