The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-31

Bright and clear broke the morning
for the last stage of our mountain
journey on foot, and before the sun had
thrown it's rays over Los Tres Dedoos-
the mountain of three flngers-we were
we'll ON our way.
BY 3 o'clock in the afternoon W. had
reached the summit OF Mount Bloron
and here the party halted. The guides
after a consultation approached Capt
Besley and told him that by sliding
down the mountalnside we could save a
wearisome journey of more than five
kilometers. They pointed away to the
left, where far down in the valley the
roofs of some iron buildings could be
seen, and said there was Juncal.
l viewed the terrific toboggan slide
they suggested with considerable MS
giving. but the Captain. who had ex-
perienced the thrill of the snow chutes
in Norway, seemed pleased with the
prospect and laughed at my fears.
Seated on their rawhide pack covers the
Indians in pairs prepared for the des-
cent. Firmly grasping their sharp
pointed STATS, which they placed be-
tween their legs. with a Laughing
"Adios," they let themselves go.
At the Juncal railway station Sec
tional Engineer Lance was awaiting rs
with the glad news that the snow
rotary with the handcars would arrive
the next day. We accepted the noun
tain engineers hospitality for the night
and heard with interest Of the grim
fight that he and his colleagues are
engaged in while combating the ele-
.ncrts IN AT a:tcTnp: 20 keep the rail-
way communication open.
Tho nOW familiar snind of tho rntnry
as 1t cut its way through the snow
banks awoke us early the next morn
ing. and in short time our baggage
was aboard of the two rear cars, the
fore one being reserved for ourselves
and Engineer Roper of Rio Blanco, who
was to see us safely over his div sion
About 1890 on Sunday morning We
climbed aboard the "Besley Expires
the sole driving power of which was
gravity.
From Juncal to Los Andes, dis
lance Of fifty kilometers, the grade
in most parts is a seven per cent.
one, and with push from the station
hands we We're on. Hold tight"
shouted the engineer, who controlled
the front brake, and his warning was
no idle one. Ahead lay the shining
metal track with show on either side
and as We gathered speed they seemed
to leap at us. Around sharp curves
and bends, then with a straight run
along the mountain side we flew at
over forty miles an hour.
Hold herr" beloved Engineer Roper
to his assistant at the rear brake. ana
our pace slackened as we approached
a tunnel cut through the solid rock u
was well indeed we had taken the pre-
caution, "Avalanches," briefly rcpl "a
the engineer when, / could get ms
breath to put the query, and as If in
answer to his words there was "a rgw-
bling noise, and but a few yards ahead
OF us the mountain side above tho ,r"
seemed to shake itself loose and come
tumbllng down.
The screw brakes creaked as 'h.y
twirled around, gripped by s'
hands; but the cars had too u.
speed to stop in time. AS tho ....
of the first one struck the debris a
rails II stopped short and as the
one hit it in the rear It turned
pletely over shooting the Capta..
brook and myself onto the ra.
covered the track. MINDED anil
stunned by the fan for a MON H.
could not move, and before ~.
gain the shelter Of the ovortur...
another avalanche Of stones Clut
bling down among us
Huge boulders weighing n... ..
tons, torn loose by the weigh of
smaller ones above falling uu .....
bounced over us and rolled ava.
the gulch. flying piece u'
struck the Captain on the cho..
gashed his face. For fully five m..
the car gang waited in fear Of au. -
Side, and then they hurricdly g.. .i
the line and righted the car. Not ..I
we were about to take our seats ID
we notice that one Of our compau..ue.-
our faithful little wire haired f.N ..r-
rier Swanky-had met his doom lie
lay alongside the outer rail of the 'r. 80
his head smashed to a pulp by o' ~
the gigantic boulders.
1t was a more sober minded party
| that reseated itself on the front o' He
car, for II was borne In upon us al
Swanky's end might well have been 'r
| own. From then on until We were ear
Of the snow line we proceeded win
greater caution. The mounta ,u"s
country opened up rapidly, and " A.
ton took the place OF rocky
| Swiftly We flashed through the man
mountain stations, and at 1850 p NJ
the cars came to q halt at Ia, .'s
| Andes platform.
We had completed our moun'1'n
| journey, despite many difficultics 'hu
dangers 1t was an experenc' me
would not wish for more than o..
a lifetime. We had achieved that wen
had been described as lmpossibl. we
had succeeded IN crossing the A'''S
on foot