New-York tribune., 1901-04-20

THE PASSING THRONG.

zone Of the most pathetic instances Of SELF
deprivation that ever came under my personal
notice." said l.. S. Hathaway. of
WONDERS Montreal. Canada at the Fifth Ave-
OF EN- Hotel yesterday. occurred
GINEER1NG- some years ago. when was in the
employ of the Canadian Pacific
Railroad. In the far famed Selkrks. be it known.
men are employed when the snow flies simply to
observe and keep track of the feecy mass; TO re-
port where it lies on mountain side and TO keep
sheds OF the Canadian Pacific in the Selkirks are
the force and impact Of the avalanches that the
sheds are built, buttressed and strengthened in
be found on no other railroad on the Western
.i a.e.iiIsphere or fer that matter probably in the
of such tremendous force and velocity that they
rushed down mountain side. crossed two miles of
up its beak sde befop ahe 1hey ea 10
pause pause Another thing that is unique in the Sell
the shed can receive and throw off snow from |
ets,. either DIRECTION This shed Is built where the
canadian Pacific runs through a narrow gorge |
so narrow. indeed. that an avalanche from either
T this 0ary hes ,se s
looked at end on. resembles wide spread V. No
scends this shed will cast the snow and gathersd
debris upon the shoulder of its opposing brother.
"One winter found two men, named respective
ly McGurk and Raston, occupying lonely cabin
at the summit of the SeIkrks
MURDER Their duties to watch and
NAhROWL1 Keep track of the snow for the
AVERTED- company. They were plentfuliy
supplied with food-principally air
tights as the Westerners term canned things
clothes and literature. But from the time when the
snow hrst began to fly communication with civ
ihzation was practically off The outer world
could only be reached with the aid of dog siedges
anu tne Journey was one of great hardship and
very dangerous withal But when the coming of
NnrlStmaS began TO cast it's shadows DER their
nlilds both men felt that they must celebrate the
Shrlst day, and that befttiugly And to this end
b ttey 9 grew lots as to who should attempt the
nazaro0us journey to the nearest town and brins,
PACK the materials for feast and celebration To
ffaiSton did the short straw fall and safely did he
accomplish the journey. OF all the things which
ne had risked his life for the most Carefully
guarded or all was keg of whiskey Securely
.led 10 the end of the sledge and warmly wrapped
IN rugs, Ralston safely landed Christmas Eve
az the lonely cabin midst the Selkrks' peaks With
Ile aid or McGurk the keg brought in and
deposited in the place prepared for it close by the
open ilre After supper il with due ceremony
oroached, spigot was introduced In the bunghole
ana alternate toastS drunk. That was the
happieSt evening the men had yet had in the noun
tdlhS, put even good things have come TO an
emo. WITH final nishtcap they turned in and
soundly slept the night through. Christmas broke
with blizzard in full swing. Nothing doing out
Gulrk started 10 draw noggin of whsSey The
keS, alas, was dry. Whoever had drawn the last
drink the night before had turned the spigot
OH ana the dfreful result that that priceless
nquid had wasted itself upon the ungratefuI cabin
Hoor The only thing that prevented murder was
that neither McGuirk Ralston could remember
VINO mad drawn that last drink