The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-02-08
Ride: U..aZ) THRILLS
KeW ZaaiandeT Probably EroEe
Many e.:ed Raa0TGs.
Fortunate to Live TO Write Of Mad
journey Across PTeciPicc, and
Night OF Terror.

A thrilling adventure in the timber
lands Of New Zealand is related by
SIr. David Blake. VINO met with It as;a a
result OF a quarrel with q nan named
Snertz. Do you know the great divide
on Mount Siberia? asks IL. Bake in
the Wide World Magazine. L had the
contract for cutting cut and sending
down tie timber from the upper
slopes. Across the grlch, ta2t as q
bow-string, a steel cable stretched for
eight hundred feet. The kauri logs,
slung to an undeGhung trolley running
on huge sheayes, were sent over the 7
wire TO the other side. 4 guide rope,
hooked to the trolley, served TO check
the run and ease the timber to the
landing stage below.
Rod Mckenzie, Duncan and SnieTtz Z
worked in my gang. It WIS the END OF
the Cay in late autumn. The last sas
"a monster twenty feet lorg by thirty
ia girth-hung r aGJ for launcMng.fI
was on the point OF giving the si&Spal,
when, fancying I noticed slackpess
in one Of the sings, mounted the
log. 90
This was Smertzs moment for de- >
ferred vengeance. AS quick as light
ming he swung his Ak and sprang the.
hook Of the guide rope from the SOCK :
ct. On the instant the huge log gath
cred headway down the taut wire.
Some one screamed, "Jump Dave,
jump" But there was no tirae.
All this happened in a fash. threw
myself face down upon tie log and :
gripped the sling chains with a grip
of death. Bushes, ground and tree
stumps few backward beneath me in
a mad blur OF speed! The racing
sheayes, in their iron block casing.
screamed and sliri!led. Fire flashed
from them. Fire ran along the Wire.
Showers Of sparks few out upon the
wind. ,f:c
Suddenly there was a Jar, the grind
and Shrek Of metal on metal.
screamed and closed my eyes. There :,
was jerk that wrenched my arms
in their sockets, and the mad rush (
stopped. The strained wire above
sprang, bent again and hUGred like
twansed bowstring. The log, hang
ing beneath, leaped up and down. up
and down. I was jolted from my hold
and, for horrible minute, with enc
hand clutched in the chains, hung ever
the abyss. Slowly, painfully, dragged
myself up again. NY nerves were in
rags, my limbs shook, and my teeth
chartered. I took off my belt and,
reeving it through a chain lins, shift
ed position; then rebuchled, the
strong leather round my waist.
This is what had happened. The pin
in the lower block had worked loose.
The wire had jumped the groove in
the sheave wheel, becoming jammed
between it and the iron casing, and
the log had braked itself by its own
weight.
A stiff. wind had blown during the
afternoon, and with night it hardened
into a gale from the southeast. Il
roared, swooping through the dehie.
Rain and wind-driyen hail Kissed
across the darkness in fierce gusts.
Flannel shirt and trousers, which rep-
resented all my clothing, were little
protection against the fierce cold. I
could not move to ease my position.
Ice formed on the chains and on the
wood: my clothing froZo hard and stiff:
The night was as dark as the'mouth,
OF a pit. A single big star broke at
intervals through the wrack sof flying
scud. I watched it idly as I'lay In a
sort Of trance.
I awol;e in a warm bed. It was.
Dick, my c'ose companion, that had,
come out along the wire in the morn
ing after the storm. Ha had broAghty
with him sort OF chair Of stronS
rope running on pulley; but how he
had managed On that sway;ng. slippery
log to get re, helpless and unconz
scious. into the chair do nAt Know.
SInertz? The boss got him away
from the boys. locked him Inside his
Office and stood guard oTer him until
the police came. Otherwise they
would have killed him.,