The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-08-07


Death Almost Certain on the Floor
of the Rocky canyon Far Below, He
Took Desperate Chance and Won.
Some persons have more than their
fair share of adventure OF this fortu-
nate-or unfortunate-class is Mr.. w.
G. Gilbert, the hero of an extraofdi-
nary experience told by Mr.. r. D.
Strong in the Wide World Magazine.
Mfr. Gilbert had been exploring an
unfrequented cave high up in the side
Of a deep canyon in Yellowstone park
when he suddenly came upon huge
silver up scar that showed unmistak-
able signs of displeasure at being dis
turbed. The man dashed out of the
den, with the snarling bear close at his
heels.
The face of the canyon was almost
sheer precipice. To try to run down 1t
was certain death, for If he did not
make misstep and go tumbling to the
bottom before he had gone a hundred
feet the bear would almost instantly
overtake him. Despairingly he looked
about him.
A short distance away was the plat
form of an old aerial tramway that had
been used to carry ore across the can
yon to the other side. One of the big
iron buckets in which the ore had been
carried still swung on its two little
wheels from the rusted wire cable eight
or ten feet out from the platform-just
out of reach. 1t offered the only avail
able means Of escape, however, and
the hunted man took the chance
With a shrill cry, for the bear was al
most upon him, Gilbert sprang for
ward and, with every muscle set, leap
ed out from the platform toward the
bucket, the edge of which he just man
aged to grasp with his fingers.
He struggled hard to raise himself
and climb In. but for a long time the
swinging bucket thwarted every effort
Finally he got leg over the edge, la
boriously clambered In and sank ex-
hausted to the bottom.
Baked of his prey. the angry bear
began to claw and tear at the slender
cable In some way the animal touch
ed the big wheel over which the cable
ran. The wheel began to turn, and, as
1t turned, the bucket, with its human
freight, ran rapidly down the cable,
swaying and swinging as If about to
turn over.
Suddenly there was a tearing, snap
ping sound. and several strands OF the
rust eaten, weather beaten cable part
ed. The bucket sagged downward
sickeningly.
Looking out, Gilbert saw that only
half dozen strands now sustained
the weight of the bucket If they
should part he would be dashed down
upon the rocky bottom of the canyon.
fully 200 feet below.
1t was a serious predicament. The
cable might part under his weight at
any minute. or the bear might strike
the twisted wires a hard blow. which
would almost certainly break them.
He could not pull the bucket along.
for the guide cable overhead had dis
appeared years before. Although there
was little hope that any one would
hear him in that remote and lonely
region, he shouted aloud for help
Fortunately for Gilbert a party of
men passing near by heard his call
and hurried to his rescue. But when
they saw his plight they were at
loss how to save him. At last one of
them jumped on his horse dashed
back to the outfit wagon and returned
with several long fish lines and all
the rope he could find.
In a few minutes he had whitfield
out a rough bow and arrow. After
tying the fish line to the arrow he
shot the latter up and over the bucket.
Then Gilbert pulled up the rope which
had been fastened to the line and tied
1t to the cable
1t was a desperate chance for life,
but 1t was his only one Carefully,
without a single unnecessary motion,
he stood up in the bucket, grasped the
rope, clambered over the side and be-
gan to lower himself
Slowly. foot by foot, he came down.
The hearts of the men below almost
ceased to beat as he covered quarter
of the distance, then half, then
three-quarters. then all! AS he reach
ed the ground they gave hearty
cheer that woke the echoes far and
wide. but Gilbert did not hear 1t. He
had fallen In swoon the moment
his feet touched the earth.