The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-05-09
IN TIE HOTEL LOBBlES.

"One of the most pathetic instances OF
self depril alton that ever came under
my personal notice., said l.. S. Hatha-
way, of Montre al, CaEada, at the Nc
Dermott hotel this morning occurred
seine years ago. when l was in the en-
pioy of the Canadian Pacific railroad
in the far tanned Selkirk, be it known,
men are employed when the snow flies
simply to observe and keep track of tn"
tleecy mass; to report where it lies on
mountain side. and to keep records of
the depth to which it falls. The snow
sheds of the Canadian Pacific in the
Selkirks are wonderful feats of engin-
eerng, and 50 fearful is the force and
impact of the avaianches that the sheds
are built, buttressed and strengthened
in a way that is a marvel and the like
OF which can be found on no other rail-
road on the western hemisphere or. for
that matter, probably in the entire
world
Il have myself seen snow slides there
Of such tremendous force and velocity
that they rushed down mountain side
crossed two miles of valley to another
mountain and assembled a half mile up
its bleak side before they came to
final pause. Another thing that is
unique in the Selkrk snow sheds is that
there is ore place where the shed can
recsive and throw Off snow from either
direction.
This shed is built where the Cana
dian Pacafic runs through narrow
gorge, SO narrow, indeed, that an ava
larche from either Tipping mountain
would bury the tracks fathoms deep.
To overcome this a shed was built that
looked at end on, lesenbled a wide spread
V. No matter from which mountain
the avalanche descends. this shed will
cast the snow and gather debris upon
the shoulder of it's opposing brother.
lone winter found two men, named
respectively McGurk and Ralston, oc-
cupying a lore.y cabin at the summit
OF the SellSirks. Their duties We're to
watch and keep track of the snow for
the company. They were plentifully sup
FLIED with food-prineipally air tights
as the westerners term canned things
clothes and literature. But from the
time when the SNOW first begins to fly
Ccnamunoa ton with civilization was
practically cut off.
The outer world could only be
reached with tie aid of dog sledges, and
the journey was one of great hardship
and very dangerous withal. But when
the coming of Christmas began to cast
felt that thew must celebrate the Christ
day, and that befittingly. And to this
end they drew lots as to who should
attempt the hazardous journey to the
nearest town and bring back the mater
ials for feast and celebrat ton. To Rails
ton did the short straw fall, and safely
did he ACCOMPLISH the journey.
'Of all the things which he had risked
his life for, the most carefully guarded
OF all was a key of whiskey. Securely
tied to the end Of the sledge and warm
~ wrapped in rugs. Ralston safely land
ed on Christmas eve at the lonely cabin
midst the Se'',irks' peaks. With the aid
of McGuirk the keg was brought in and
deposited in the place prepared for it
close bv the oren fire. After supner it
was with cue ceremony preached. a spi-
got was Introduced in the bunghole and
alternate toasts Wee drunk. That was
the hapriest evening the men had yet
had in the mountains. but even good
th'r~s have to come to an end.
with a final nightcap they turned in
and soundly slept the night through.
Christmas broke with a blizzard in full
swing. Nothing doing outside. they de-
c;ded to celebrate within. and McGuirk
started to draw roggin of whisl1ey.
The keg. alas. was dry. Whoever had
drawn tho 'ee+ drink tho ri~ht heeo~a
had not turned the snigot off and the
direful result was that that priceless
liauia rad wasted itself upon the UNI
era +eful cabin floor. The only thing
that r~evented murder was that neither