The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-10-23
A FIFTY-MILE SLIDE.

follow and, as I had learned, nearly
to the foot of the grade. With sigh
OF relief settled back and began to
enjoy my ride:
First noticed that my progress
was not in one continuous swift fight,
like that of sled, but in succession
of wild rushes. The boat, or box,
would. run faster than the stream ) till
the water backed up in the space un-
der the boards on which I sat. Then
it would check and settle, till itseemed
almost to touch the bottom of the
fume. Then the hurrying stream Of
water behind would force itself under
meath, lift the stern and send the craft
with o wild, dizzying rush down the
slope till another check came. 1t was
like sailing through the air. Above
me, on one side, lowered the cliff. On
the other I looked down into the
depths of the canon, and could see
the birds dsrting about far below me.
The stiffness was almost oppressive.
There are few song birds in California,
and the only sounds which came to
my ears were the ysdbdued roar of the
creek in its rocky bed far below, the
rushing sound of the water in the
fume, and the low murmer of the
pines, which covered the mountains
all around me.
But now was coming to the head
of the "big grade" about which the
foreman had warned me. I sat
erect, for T had been half reclining in
my boat, and looked anxiously ahead.
The grade is about four miles in
length, and only short half mile of
it is visible from the fume-tender's
ststiop at the top.
Frank Horn, the tender, was stand
ing on the platform in front of his
little cabin. as,Ilglided by. He assured
me the big timbers had all gone by
safely and the hume was clear.
"Then give me a full head of
water" called out; "I'm in hurry" "
He turned and ran toward the gate
which admitted the water from a
feeder into the fume. I did not turn
to see whether he obeyed my order.
for I was now fairly started down the
"big grade"
1t is we'll named. It seemed to me
that the narrow ribbon of water was
running down slope of fully forty
degreas. Before l had gone hun
dred yards the velocity of my boat
had grown to be something ap-
pallipg.
pulled my hat down over my ears
and sat crouched as low as I could in
the bow of the boat. The wind
whistled as the boat flew down the
slope. rocking and swaying and grind
Ing against the sides of the hune as
if trying to leap out into the canon
below. Almost before I could realize
it we shot around projecting point
OF the cliff, and then I had clear
view of the Aume for more than a
mile. Ny eyes rapidly ran over its
length, and at the first glance it seemed
all clear. had risen to my knees to
get better view, and was just settling
back when, far down the slope, I
caught CLEAN of yellow light, which
seemed to spring from the cliff and
stretch across the fume, out over the
canon. / realized in an instant what
it was, and what it meant to me.
One of the large timbers had jumped
from the hume, where it swept around
hollow in the cliff. The end had
been thrust by the force of it's
momentum into spot of shallow soil
and it had stuck there.
Just then I heard a rushing sound
behind me. The "full head" of water
I had called for was coming. The
next moment I felt the rear end of the
boat rise; it swung out over the edge
of the fume till for a moment I
thought it would plunge over the side
down to the depths of the canon.
Then the boat seemed to Jump forward
like frightened steed. The speed
was frightful; away went my hat, but
I did not notice it then. Ny attention
was concentrated on that yellow streak
lying across my path far down the
slope.
If the timber were not too near the
top of the fume I might lie down in
the boat and pass in safety. That was
my only chance. Itwas impossible to
stop the boat on such grade, even
with a moderate head of water; but
with such torrent as was bearing
me on, it was worse than useless tc
try.
In my anxiety and terror-for I
must admit I was thoroughly fright
ened-I had risen to my feet to get a
better view of the dangerous spot. =. 1t
was now close at hand and I saw that
there was no hope for me. The big
timber nearly touched the top of the
fume at one side, but its outward end
was down and the other end tilted up.
The boat might pass under, but any
thing resting on the boards on which
I stood would be swept off and sent
whirling down ON the rocks, two hun
dred feet below.
I felt that the end had come. Ire