Show ZEBS EXPERIENCES No 1 Taking a Wesson in Snow Slides The spring and summer of 1866 bid fair for building while there was very little lumbt in the yards I was foreman for Mr Joseph A Young at the time He was the largest dealer in the city Seeing the situation he asked me if it was possible possi-ble to get 2hors8 power saw mill out of what is called the head of the lakes in City Creek canyon I simply told him I will try This was in the winter of 65 and 66 The object in getting out this particular mill was to place it in another canyon with a heavier growth of timber We had to fight with soft snow snowdrifts snow-drifts and snow slides every inch of the way 1 had five men and teams doing the work One morning we arrived at a point facing a side canyon or gulch and I came to a stand still for during the nicht after we had passed a snow slider slide-r nad come down buryiug our road under I about twenty feet of snow and near 125 yards in length Knowing it would take the men most of the day to reestablish the road I set them to work Mr Young had eighteen men in the head of North Fork cutting logs by contract con-tract for another mill It had been a little lit-tle over eight weeks since we had heard from them so determined to go over the mountain and try to find them After climbing the mountain for about a mile through trees brush and snow the face became more open to the action of the suns rays for the day was clear not a cloud in sight it was warm work Seeing a broken tree protruding through the snow I made myway to it sat down to rest and take in the situation for the snow was getting soft I would often sink to waist armpits and my position was becoming serious Looking downward I 1 traced my zigzag trail far below Turning Turn-ing my eyes upwards I saw plenty of room for another zigzag trail in the next mile and threequarters1 But I startea again had gone but a few hundred yards the snow was so soft I found it would he folly if not suicidal to continue Looking around I found by making a detour of about half a mile I could reach a ridge free from snow most of the way down I chose this course because be-cause the snow was getting too soft and sensitive even my weight was liable to start it down the mountain with me as a I passenger Twas not a happy thought The ridge was gained in safety In homing a drift I stopped and drew back gently as nossible for 1 had passed the ridge and stood on the cone of an overlapping I over-lapping drift ready to start down the I mountain side Any moment the suns rays might release it Getting around and below I could look under the hanging hang-ing mass While sitting and thinking my eye wandered down the long slope below me In a moment my mind was made up I would have a minaturo snowslide to see how they acted at this I end of the line as I had viewed them with fer and quaking at the other Cutting Cut-ting two stout sticks I sharpened one end of each so I could drive them in the I crust for support I began digging the end lines they were down about three feet commenced on the main line the end lines were cut down about eight feet The main line was about twenty feet long By kicking and tramping the snow back and forth the trench grew deeper I realized i real-ized the danger and risk I ran in my experiment ex-periment but i wanted a snowslido and a snowslide I was going to have The sticks were kent secure on the land side and moved as required The trench was down near to my armpits while the quivering quiv-ering mass told me to be on my guard Climbing to the surface sitting on the edge placed my feet against the detached portion I began pushing It began to yield farther up I repeated the test until un-til the entire length had responded Returning Re-turning to the centre with a strong steady shove I supposed my joy was full for the huge mass of many tons quivered then swayed an instant seeing this I sprang back more firmly grasped my stick In doing so my body dropped partly in the cut With a catlike spring I gained a firm footing just as the body gave a lurch and started on its fearful journey a mile below Grasping my sticks more firmly I Ileaned forward gazed with open eyes and mouth at the moving snow At first it was a sliding shove then an angry grating j cracking twigs and brush as heft was added to heft and speed to speed the mountain side was swept clean Massive rocks torn from their beds joined in the chase Huge pines quivered for a moment as with surprise they fell were engulfed in the angry mass when seen asain were broken and splintered mists of snow followed in its wake as down it tore in its mad career The mingled cracking crashing and roar it made sent vibrating echoes through ravines craigs and trees that could be heard miles away There I stood spellbound spell-bound and speechless until the last echo had died away in the distance I had seen the Herculean power of a snow dlide it surpassed all terrific sights I ever ba held In time I reached the road tramping three and a half miles through the crisp and crackling snow and arrived at our cabin as one or the men used the term chock lull of snow slides |