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Show H A COMMENSURATE PASTIME. H O HOOTING the Chutes in Zion Canyon, in an op- H " en frame astride a log chain, from the brink H of a ptrptndicular cliff 3,000 feet, high to the floor H of the canyon, is the latest thrill indulged in at, H Southern Utah's popular national park. Com- H pared with this looping the loop with automobiles H or aeroplanes seem tame and common place. In H this part of the world the country, the mountains H and everything it contains is so big, that nothing H but a sport in proportion to the surroundings is B deemed worthy of consideration. The first of this H week, five intrepid persons, led by Dr. A. N. LiOOtt H ard, tried this facinating and thrilling toboggan H slide from the clouds to the bottom of the gorge. H It takes five hours to climb the steep trail to the H top of the cliff and about two minutes to glide H smoothly and safely back. The labor of the climb H is slightly out of proportion to the time consumed H in the plunge through space, but it is said that BE the participant lives a long while in that two min- H utes of time. H The cable is a slender affair, cheaply eonstruct- H ed for the purpose of transporting lumber from H the top of the cliff to the valley below for domes- H tic purposes, and while it has been in use a num- H ber of years, only some three or four daring spir- H its have had the audacity to risk their lives in H the perilous trip, and this was some years ago. B A story was current some years ago, shortly H after Inventor Flanigan conceived the idea of the H cable and constructed the first one of baling wire, H three strands on one side and five on the other, of H a dog which was securely tied in a basket and I lowered over the cliff, to see if it was possible for H any living thing to endure the awful experience. H It. is said that when the dog reached the bottom H of the canyon its hair or fur was perfectly white. H and that the animal was a maniac, wild eyed and H frenzied, and that as soon as it was liberated it Hi took to the wilds and was never seen or heard of H again. It was a long time after this before any H human being tried the experiment, but when they H did the ordeal was taken more philosophically than H by the canine. Then two or three others tried it, B including one woman. Hut apparently the under- B taking was too harrowing for comfort and it never P became popular as a pastime. The workman in m charge advised the tourists strongly against the M risk, stating that he would not go over the cable for $50,000. EH Now that the ice is broken, and that Zion Can- Bj yon has come into its own as a resort for tourists, R there is talk of constructing a substantial passen- M gar Cable, with cage for from four to six persons, B to pass government inspection and be operated B under a government franchise or concession. If EH this is done it is sure to become a big drawing B card and immensely popular. In its present condi- H tion, however, only stout hearts will care to try H the nerve-racking ordeal. |