Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-08-30
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
A BowLDeR THAT WAS STARTED
ROLLING JUST FOR FUN.
The Senator's story OF !, Thoushtless
Act That Barely Escaped Resulting
I'm 81 Trn@edy-A Lucky Hound Into
the Air.


Act Thnt Barely Escaped Resulting
I'm 81 Trn.edy-A Lucky Hound 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-
lstence as have ever known, before
or 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 az
good as life ought to be this side of
the pearly portals. My work was not
so continng that could not get away
on mountain walks pretty frequently.
and one day l started out with my
dog for 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.
II had a particular object in view,
and with My dog wandered along up
the mountain, which was without vege-
tation except Il furry thic!Set in places,
and the surface was covered with
rocks of various sizes from n football
to a haystacll. After awhile, for some-
thing better to do, began to roll the
stones down the mountain side, and 1t
rapidly developed into a most exciting
sport, for the mountain was steep and
the rocks went down with a whoop
and hurrah that stirred the blood
to watch them as they bounded along.
l 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 essayed something larger. 1t
was a dandy, too, a great big, round
bowldcr that would have weighed n
ton If 1t weighed n pound. 1t was n
job to get 1t started, but by pulling
the rocks from under 1t on the lower
side and loosening it up all around I
got 1T going at last and stood back to
enjoy Its 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 q
restive horse from the post, and away
1T went, bounding Il dozen feet into the
air and jumping over gullies and rocks
rs If it We're rubber. About GOO feet
down, when 1t was going at tremen-
dous speed, 1t lcaped so feet into the
air, and was just going to let off n
Mhoop when ! saw 12 mule team In
the narrow road below and directly in
the track of the monster.
"Thc team was drawing two wagons,
as was the custom With the mountain
frcighters, and it was driven by old
Jerry Simpson, one of the best known
teamstcrs in the mountains. 1t simply
paralyZed me- for didn't see anything
but destruction for everything In the
way. There was no turning back or
whipping up to get out of the way, for
the load was heavy and the road was
rough and narrow. | stood speechless,
scared white, but the driver had seen
the rock coming, and, dropping off
the saddle mule, he broke back up the
road as hard as he could run. would
have run, too but my legs refused to
act, and stood fast and watched the
great rock so tumbling down toward
its victims. hadn't long to wait, Of
course, and just as gasped ut the last
bound of the bowlder it struck an OBJ
struction of some kind and jumped
clean ever the team and the road and
went crashing ON its way down into
the ravine below.
"Then l recovered my wits, and,
knowing that what had been doing
Was entirely ineScusable, l skinned off
up the mountain behind the rocks and
disappeared. trusting to Providence
that the old Jerry hadn't identified me.
Slipped around another way to town
and got in all right without having any
questions asked where had been, and
that evening | went over to the post.
office, which was Il general loaiing
place, and there found Jerry telling of
his wonderful escape.
"Dernca eff didn't think 1t wuz a
liaystacll comm down the hill,' he
said with somcthn alive in it,
Have you any idea who rolled 1t
DOWN. asked lnnocently.
"'In course l hain't. Eff 1 hadn't
been in sich a hurry and left my Win
chester in the wagon, I'd "a found out
mighty quick, fer seen him run, and
he had Il dog with him.
II was a little nervous, but kept on
asking questions.
"What did you have in your wag-
ons?' said.
Dynamite. Four tons NV It,
"'Good Lordv exclaimed. There
wouldn't have been much left of that
team, would there?
Nor me, NEITHER reckon he said,
shaking his head.
"'What did you think of as you We're
running up the road?
Not much Nv anything, guess,
but mostly ef they wuz goin to be able
to git enough Nv Jerry Simpson meat
out of that mule meat to have tuner
al with
II don't know where Jerry Is now,"
concluded the senator; dead, sup
pose, but l never told him who rolled
that rock down the hill, nor did 1 ever
tell anybody In that town who did it..
because 1t came altogether too near be-
ing a tragedy for it ever to be con-
sidcrcd a New York Sun.
Papered With Bonds.