The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1898-1978, 1916-08-11
k0LB, THE DAREDEVIL EXPLORER,
NARROWLY ESCAPES, DEATH IN GUNN|SON
Whirlpool Wins Battle for Chasm

Whirlpool Wins Battle for Chasm
Seven miles conquered--and four
men who staggered as they rose with
the dawn from the stones that had
formed their resting place for the
night. Seven miles conquered
Gods only estimate Of what lay be-
fore! But again they started.
And again they fought. Again
they babbled and roared and shouted
with the roaring, tumbling stream.
Stone fell. He rose again and stag
gered on. Again he fell, only to be
pulled to safety by the concerted eff
forts of the other three men. Sunday
night came. Five more miles had
been covered. Five more miles--but
| it was the end.
For before them there Numbered and
crashed the slathering, dashing wat
ers of whirlpool that was invulner-
able. Like four pigmies in the fail
like arms of giant, the explorers
were thrown back again and again as
they sought to fight their way along
its sides. Again and again they strove
to pass it. Again and again they
failed. Night came. They slept--or
tried to sleep. Stone was delirious
now. But the fever burned within
him; there burned also the narrowing
desire to fight on!
But it was impossible. Half a day
Monday they sat there and tried to
figure some way to conquer the meal
strom before them. But in vain. The
Black Chasm had won. There was
only one chance now--some place,
some way of escape. Back up. the
canyon? That was worse than the
downward path. Kolb looked up, up
the towering precipice that led $500
feet to the sky.
There's one chance" he shouted;
that's to climb out!"
He began his effort. The stones
and sharp lodges cut and tore at his
hands. Inch by inch, foot by foot he
went upward, every minute of the
way an hour of progress. Up-up-up,
while down below where the white
foaming waters plunged and churned,
three gray-faced men watched and
prayed for his safety.
Lost In Boats, Won In Climb
A hundred feet. His hands were
bleeding. Two hundred-he slipped,
grasped wildly, caught at an over
hanging ledge, wavered there in a
sickening way--then strengthened his
grasp and went on again. Thirst came
to him. But he went on. Up-up-up!
A thousand feet, thousand feet of
agony. Two-three. Three and half
while down below three figures,
their eyes staring, watched a pigmy
show, dot Of black against the sky
for second, then fade over the edge
of the cliff.
Kolb had won his climb. A short
distance away was a cattleman's
cabin. He sought his aid, and then,
with a horse and wagon waiting to
take the party back to Montrose, he
reconnoitered, found less perilous
way back into the canyon and return
ed for the others Of the party.
And someway, they, too, got out
to stand bleeding and torn on the
edge of the precipice hours after the
start. And thus it was that late that
night, a wagon bearing four half
dead men, found its way into Mont
rose. The expedition had ended-un-
til fall at least when low water would
lessen the dangers. The expedition
had ended, ended in memory of ter
ror and Of horror-while back, down
in the Black Chasm, the Mad Gunni-
son roared on-unconquered.-Denver
Post.
John Shields is son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. j. L. Shields of this city, who
went with Kolbs' party when they
left the Grand Canyon to make the
daredevil attempt to force the Gun
nison.