Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-06-14
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
A sowLoER THAT WAS STARTED
ROLLING JUST FOR FUN.


Act That Barely Escaped ReSulting
In TrnRedy-A Lucky Dound 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-
istence 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 as
good as life ought to be this side of
the pearly portals. My work was not
so continuing that could not get away
on mountain walks pretty frequently,
and one day 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 gap into the valley be-
You'd.
Il had particular object in view,
and with my dog wandered along up
the mountain. which was without vege-
tation except furry thicket in places,
and the surface was covered with
rocks Of various sizes from football
to haystack. After awhile, for some
thing better to do, began to roll the
stones down the mountain side, and 1t
rapidly developed into 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 1t
In that way, and l kept on.
Naturally enough. my success with
the smaller stones made me ambitious,
and essayed something larger. 1t
was a dandy. too. great big, round
bowlder that would have weighed a
ton II 1t weighed pound. 1t was q
job to get 1t started, but by pulling
the rocks from under 1t ON the lower
side and loosening 1t up all around I
got 1t going Mt last and stood back to
enjoy its progress down the mountain.
~ Dts
but 1t struck steep place about so feet
down the hill, and 1t leaped out like q
FESTIVE horse from the post, and away
1t went, bounding dozen feet into the
air and jumping over gullies and rocks
as IL 1t were rubber. About GOO feet
down, when 1t was going ut tremen-
dous speed, 1t leaped so feet into the
air, and l was just going to let off a
whoOp when saw IL mule team in
the narrow road below and directly in
the track of the monster
1.-THE team was drawing two wagons
as was the custom with the mountain
freighters. and 1t was driven by old
Jerry Simpson, one of the best known
teamsters 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. l 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 MS lie could run. would
have run, too, but my legs refused to
act and stood fast and watched the
great rock go tumbling down toward
its victims. hadn't long to wait, Of
course, and just rs gasped ut the last
bound of the bowlder 1t struck an OBJ
struction Of some kind and jumped
clean over the team and the road and
went crashing on its way down into
the ravine below.
'"Then I recovered my wits, and,
knowing that what had been doing
was entirely inexcusable, skinned off
up the mountain behind the rocks and
disappeared, trusting to Providence
that the old Jerry hadn't identified me-.
l 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 general loafing
place, and there found Jerry telling Of
his wonderful escape.
'Derned eff l didn't think 1t wuz q
haystack comm down the HILL he
said, with somethin alive In IT.
Have you any idea who rolled 1t
DOWN. l asked innocently.
In course l hain't. Ef l hadn't
been in sich hurry and left my Win
chester In the wagon. I'd "a found out
mighty quick, fer seen him run, and
he had dog with him.
Il was little nervous, but kept on
asking questions.
"'What did you have In your wag.
ons?' said.
Dynamite. Four tons NV IT,
"'Good Lord! I exclaimed. There
wouldn't have been much left Of that
team, would thereY
"'Nor me, NEITHER l reckon he said,
shaking his head.
"'What did you think of US you were
running up the road?'
"'Not much NV anything, guess,
but mostly eff they wuz goin to be able
to git enough Nv Jerry Simpson meat
out of that mule meat to have q funer.
al With
II don't know where Jerry is now,"
concluded the senator; dead, sup.
pose. but never told him who rolled
that rock down the hill. nor did ever
tell anybody in that town who did 1t,
because 1t came altogether too near be.
ing tragedy for 1t ever to be con.
sidered a joke."-New York Sun.