In the dead of night I awoke with a strange sense of deadly fright. A crackling sound had aroused me, and
my unconscious faculties interpreted it. The base of the dead tree had caught fire, and it was falling upon us.
I yelled to Bierce as I stood up in the prison of my sleeping-bag, and had time to hop twice when the air
quivered above me and a deafening crash chilled the blood in my veins. Something lightly touched my hair, and
then there was again the perfect stillness of the Sierra night, and a pitchy blackness reigned. Moving my head,
I found the thing that had touched it was rigid. I put my hand up. It was a foot-thick branch of the fallen
tree. A few inches from my side there was another branch, and between Bierce and myself, who were not more
than six feet apart, there was another great limb; and Bierce was hemmed in by them, as was I. He had been
similarly awakened by the crackle, but not taking time to rise, shrewd youth, had rolled in his bag about as
far as I hopped, or about six feet from where we had lain. Two feet back of us was the giant trunk across
the canvas on which we had been sleeping. In the morning the tree was merrily burning, telling us plainly
that had we not perished at once on being struck by the trunk or impaled by its sharp limbs, a slow roasting
to death would have been our fate.
--Theodore Solomons, 1894
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The Sierra Nevada is a very popular and unique place. Thousands of people live in the Range and many more
visit it every year. Because of this and its unique nature, many newsworthy events occur, almost on a daily
basis. Some or all of these events are of interest to those of us who are concerned about the Range. This
page provides Sierra devotees a central clearing house for current information about what is happening in the
world that concerns the Sierra Nevada, its environs, and its people. It will also contain time-critical
information on important issues affecting the Range, with contact information for those who wish to provide
personal input.
A monthly newsletter will be produced on this page, and emailed to anyone who wishes receive a copy.
Back issues of these newsletters will be maintained on an archives page. Finally, an archives link will be
created to keep any part of each newsletter that might have time value. Space will also be made available in
an editorial section of this newsletter for anyone interested in expressing their viewpoint on any issue.
If possible, both sides of any issue will be presented.
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Sierra Nevada Chronicles, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
Unless otherwise noted, all material on this site is
© Leonard R. Daughenbaugh; Bishop, California 93514; 1984-2005
All Rights Reserved
Any Duplication and/or Reproduction of any Piece without the Express, Written Permission of its Author is Expressly Prohibited
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