By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Historian
The recent weather reminded me of a snowstorm from 1919, when Samuel Dillin (De-Lynn) had an unusual snowstorm experience. Dillin had a fatal respiratory illness diagnosis in 1917 and came to the mountains to peacefully die, surrounded by forested beauty.
Skyland Heights Postmaster Samuel Dillin had many adventures in his life and on this mountain. (Historical photos from the collection of Rhea-Frances Tetley)
Upon arrival, he discovered the Mormon Spring, which he claimed was “an elixir of life” and cured him. After recovery, Dillin walked everywhere, becoming the Skyland Heights post office postmaster in 1919. He lived in Burnt Mill Canyon in a log cabin he built himself, eight miles from the post office.
Twice a week the stage delivered the mail to the stage-stop at the old Arrowhead Reservoir Company cement shed, located in what is now Top Town Crestline. Dillin would walk it up to the Skyland post office where the 18 postal customers would get their mail.
While walking home one day in the snow, he saw two sets of mountain lion footprints. The next week, after the mail delivery, he began walking home, looking forward to enjoying his warm fireplace. Snow on the ground was in drifts, so he took his jacket and flashlight with him, stopping at the Squirrel Inn for dinner.
After dinner, he reached the stone pillars at Pinecrest as the rain began falling. By the time he’d reached the new 101-mile Rim of the World Road monument, it was dark, sleeting and snowing. But he continued, knowing it was only four more miles to get home. Soon it was a blizzard and he couldn’t see where he was. Suddenly he came upon a huge tree that had fallen across the road. He tried to climb over it but couldn’t and decided to go around it. As he reached the roots, he suddenly fell into the cavern where the roots had been.
Dillin was awake and shaken but, after self-reflection, he decided he was not injured and was out of the storm, just embarrassed at himself for this situation. Until he realized he was NOT alone in the cavernous hole – the two mountain lions had also sought refuge in that same protected location and were startled at his arrival and not happy about sharing. They began snarling at him. Dillin was instantly frightened at his predicament; he’d come to the mountains two years before to die, but not this way!
Turning on his flashlight, the hissing cats began to strike out with their paws. Instantly, the flashlight seemed like a dumb action, but then the cats suddenly shrank back against the opposite wall, still loudly screeching.
He desperately looked to escape, as staying wasn’t a wise option. He inched his way toward the roots, hoping to climb out, but instead fell into the mud. The cats were startled; they screamed and rushed toward him… leaping over him into the back of the cave.
The Arrowhead Reservoir Company cement warehouse building that was the stage stop where Dillin had the mail delivered. It later became the Crestline post office.
Keeping the flashlight shining in their eyes, Dillin quickly climbed the roots out and ran, getting lost in the storm! Somewhere around Daley Canyon Road, around midnight, he saw a stone chimney, just as his adrenaline rush crashed. He crawled to the house.
The house was empty but unlocked. He entered totally exhausted from the storm, exposure and mountain lion encounter. He didn’t care if tomorrow he was arrested – tonight he had survived! He was relieved he was inside and alive. He believed he could explain that he had no evil intentions, as he was the postmaster. After a freezing but lifesaving night in that cabin, Dillin got home the next day and rested for another two days.
When returning to the post office, he saw the hole at the base of the fallen log that had caved in and he wondered about the mountain lions. He hoped they survived but never wanted to see them again.
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