St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-02-16

:
rope, up very big slope. and a hundred
feet above the ground. The wind
seemed fairly to whistle as it swept
over us, though we had thought the
breeze light one before we started.
"Well, up we went, and as the incline
grew sleeper, the platform began to
creak. the pile of lumber at the upper
end got uneasy. and the table and
chairs shifted about at every swing.
You see, the angie of. inc,ination of
the platform corresponded to that of
the cable, and after awhile it became
SO steep that we were afraid to stand
up, so lay down on our breasts and held
on to cleats on the floor. sfssss
ut got worse and worse. The pile
OF boards and the stove appeared to bs
right over us, and it seemed impossible
that they should not slip down and
either crush or push us off into space.
What with their slippings and creaks,
the careening Of the car, theswhistling
Of the wind, and the awful conscious.
ness of being far in the air above the
trees, it was enough to scare braver
men than we were. Besides there was
the possibility of the wire rope break.
ing and letting us take the down track
with all the speed gravity could give
us.
"We could look back over our course
at the dip of the cable and its length,
and imagine the frightful rate at which
we would go down. and the awful
smash there would be at the other end.
Ugh! it makes me cold now to think
of it.
but to our great joy. we were ap.
preaching the top. l stood up, hold
ing the corner rod, and could see the
landing place. It WAS a platform,
built like wharf. the air in this in.
stance taking the place of water, and
rails were laid from the camp to it.
and the lumber run out on hat tram
cars.
'.Well, as ill-luck would have it, one
Of those cars was standing on the
very edge. with its load of plank stick
ing ont still further. Of course, our
way was blocked. 1t looked as if we
were going to be dragged right
against the obstacle, and in that event
we just knew something would go.
81 could feel my hair creep when I
thought of the way that drag-rope
would part under the strain and we
would 60 spinning down. We both
did the most natural thing under the
circumstances-wey yelled like wild 1n-
dians. in the hope of making the en-
gineer stop the drum.
at the noise, a man appeared on
the lumber car, and, taking in the sit
uation. began to shout and wave his
arms to the engineer beAind him. We
stopped just as our PIE of boards
touched the other one. Another. half
minute and something would have
happened.
"Perhaps you think that our trials
were over, but they weren't. They
Let us down a few feet, and dragged
the obstructing car back out of the
way; then they tried to draw us up
the rest of the distance, but they
couldn't. The old engine was not made
to haul such load as ours anyhow,
and was just able to keep it going
when once in motion. It was beyond
its power to start it on such an in.
cline.
The gentleman who had appeared
% opportunely in our time of need
now explained at the top of his voice
that it would be necessary to lower
us to q point where the grade was NOT
50 steep. in order to give the engine
/ q chance.
1--WE didn't relish that idea much.
We told him SO, and said we wanted
to get out, but as we were 35 feet
above the rocky ground. and as many
from the platform, that wish could
hardly be gratified.
$50 down we went-backward-and
this time we had our front seats, and
could have let our feet dangle if We
had wanted-which we didn't.
.The car swung. the lumber shifted
and the wind whistled just as on the
mn trip. and we felt just as unpleas'
ant. When we had backed about 300
feet, our friend at the top waved hi.
| arms and we stopped. He waved them
again. and with a creak of the cable
that sent cold chills all over me, w
| started up. 4u
1--WE went more slowly than before
almost came to stand
still. 1 tell you, the suspense was aw'
full.
"Rut this time we made tive were
hauled right to the wharf. and lost nc
time in getting our feet on solid
gronnd again. The man in charge
Shook hands with us as if we had
heen old friends, and made the com
forting remark:
..Ef that rope had a-broke! Myl
my
1--WE stood around-after we had re
covered control of our nerves-and
saw the process Of unloading and re
loading. When all was ready for the
down trip. we were politely asked il
we did not want to go along. But We
hastened to reply that walking wal
good enough for us.
"We went down that mountafr
afoot. and mighty thankful to have
the chance, too; and since then steer
clear OF aerial journeys. Colder
Days.
she Had to De.
.You are verbose" he said, BY way
OF criticism.
Unfortunately" she said. Il have "a
be-
Naturally he was curious.
..One must live up to ones reputa.
tion," she explained. "and you know
/ the reputation of my sex. 1t is very
trying to have record to maintain.
Chicago Post.
No Accident.
Foreman (coroner's jury)-Wal, We
brought in . verdict that Bill come q
his death from natural causes.
Citizen-I thought he blew down
rnn-barrel to see if it was loaded?
Foreman-He did. But Bill was such
\ natural-born dunn fool it was only
natural for him to die some sech way
ax that!-Puck.