The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-02-15
Mountain Girl Visits Louisville


chett of Yatesville, this county. aud Is
teaching school in Elliott-co. She went
as representative from that county
TO the meeting Of the War Conference
In Louisville.
From Sandy Hook. KY, to Louisville
Is a very tircsome journey when the
weather Is normal. But imagine pref
~ girl, about 20 years old, making the
trip on a bobsled in the kind Of wealth
er that Louisville has experienced for
The past few days. This was accomp-
lished by a party OF which Miss Min
ME Burchett, a school teacher of San
dy Hook, was member. She arrived
none the worse for the experience.
Miss Burchett in relating her exper-
ience said: "The first thing we did was
TO get the bobsled out and fl II up for
the Journey. Before starting nearly ey-
erybody In town came 10 advise us not
10 start, telling us we would be sure to
lose our way. II was showing hard and
rain did not look improbable. We tray
eled at fairly good clip until we came
TO Redwlnc. This Is a small mining and
numbering town and about the only
things in ii are a few buildings and the
we'll known spring.
.Redwine is the last place one meets
when travelling toward the mountain as
we We're. The mountain is known as
Redwipe Hin and when the weather Is
good is not very dangerous, but the
weather we were having at the time
we started for the mountain made II
look as II we were 10 have a very ex-
citing journey. We started up the hill
and after going half way had to stop.
The horses were sliding and wind was
blowing snow in our faces. As luck
would have IL. we stopped near an old
buggy. As necessity is the mother OF
invention we went over TO look at the
buggy and see II in some way we could
form shelter for the sled. One OF the
members OF our party suggested that
we make curtains for the sled. This
was hastily done and was a great re-
lief. Snow was so thick In the roads
that runners OF our sled stuck and this
made IL harder on the horses that were
blowing and sweating from their pull.
Tied Trees To Runners.
This was another hardship for us for
we all knew II the horses broke down
we would be lost on the mountain. An
other OF our party suggested that we
fashion larger runners for our sled.
This was done with the aid OF an ak
that we carried with us. He chopped
down about eight small trees and Sc
cured some wire with which he fas-
tened the sapllngs to the runners OF our
sled This took great deal of strain
from the horses as the runners, instead
- "a GnASt90
smoothly above.
Before very long we were on our
way down the mountains. This was
probably the most dangerous part OF
the Journey. The horses tried with all
their power to hold their burden from
slipping. but without avail Seeing that
riding might prove disastrous, sug-
gested that we walk. Most OF the party
were against this. pointing out that
was a girl and might get hurt. lmag
inc that | promptly told them that
could take care of myself and to pile
out OF the sled and start walking. Down
the hill we started. sliding about two
feet for every one we walked. and the
poor horses politely sat down anc
coasted. In about half an hour we ar
| rived at the foot of the mountain
asked what time II was and on beinl
Informed found that we had been thre'
hours coming over the mountain.
| "our next stop was to be Morehead
which was not very far, but in journey
ling there we had some very bad road
TO travel. Large drifts had been formed
lby the wind sweeping around tn
mountain, and we had about thre
4 creeks to cross. We were going aloni
well until we struck our first creek
our horses were trough shod," blu
leyen this did not seem TO help then
when they struck the ice. They skid
ded and fell several times. We manag
ed to get them up by putting a blank
ct under their feet 20 they would hav
La foot hold" Seeing that the horse
could not make very good time over IN
lslippery ice again suggested that W
get out and walk. managed to max
lthem understand that | was able
walk a few miles and insisted on gel
ting out. This made 1t much easier
the horses and we proceeded at IA
walk. on reaching the other creeks
repeated the performance and got
lMorehead in time to catch the trai
for Louisville.
Let me explain what sort of a ira
this is. Ii is n one-coach train ana
very, very slow. recall now when
was boarding the train the conduct
said You better take the upper sid
because we might leave the rail at al
time, and you will have a bett
chance by being high. looked arouI
| the train, discovered that sleepii
Quarters were better on the lower si'
than they were on the upper, went
a berth on the lower side and was 500
asleep. We left Morehead about for
minutes late. which is not unusual
THAT train, and our first stop was
the familiar spring. The conductor g
out as usual and filled jug with wat
for the passengers. We then started
our way as soon as the engine to-
water: you know that this train did n
take water as your trains do. IN
have a hose lying near the spring Al
lin some manner get the water to I
engine. / think they call 1t a siph
system.
1--WE were at last on our way to Lo
Iisville with no probable stops ahead
us. The Journey from Morehead
louisville tired me more than the cir
over the mountain. We had to stay /
side all the time. it was showing
hraa of fresh n