The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-09-13

Allen, who, il appears, from
the situation in which he was found,
was endeavouriug TO save the life OF Mrs.
w. as they were but few feet apart.
Neither the bodies Of the children, or
that of Nicholson, had been found on
Friday night last, and little hope was
entertained of their ever being found.
The place is most awful-past describ-
ing by any one, If should say the
mountain had fallen on either side, per-
haps should not say too much. The
sides of the mountains have come in
contact for nearly two miles in length,
which has raised the bed of the river
many feet. From the best calculations
we could make, the slide which swept
off Mr.. Wiliey's family,was the last that
came from that part of the mountain
it started directly back Of the house,
two hundred rods up the mountain, and
came down in body within fouror six
feet of the house it then divided and
one past went few feet south and the
other north of the house, and took wills
it about thirty feet of the stable the
TWO wings Immediately closed in front
of the horse. In all probability the
most Of the family if not al Of them
were in bed, for most Of Their clothes
were found lying as is usuaon retiring
at night, AT this awful moment, amidst
thunderings Of rocks, the crushing of
trees, and rushing of mud land water,
these nine souls fled on of the house
for refuge. But, alas destruction was
their lot; for when thy had come 10
the door The two wingf of the slip were
ready 10 receive them--a horrid sight
an awful scene-who can think OF il and
not sigh-whose eyes could look upon
the spot aud not overflow with tears.
Mr.. Crawford, tfefather of Ethan A.
says, that the rain fell in torrents, and
heavier than was ever known in that
part of the county, and ceased at his
house, (6 miles from WilIey's) about /
o'clock at night.
The Wiley family had probably af-
ter the rain had ceased, retired to rest;
but awakened, andalarmed by the crash
of the barn, they rushed out of doors.
and while flying fiG the Camps (which
Mr. Wiley, afterthe slide of the 28th
June last, had built as place of ref
uge. in the extreme darkness, they ran
directly into one OF the avalanches, ard
were swept into the flood below, to in-
slant destruction.
Mr.. Wiley was worthy mao, and
Mrs. Wiley an amjable and comely wo-
man. They both were from respecta-
BILE families in Conway, where they are
TO be re-interred.
This Camp was entirely destroyed, and in
! fact The house, and few feet of land in front
of it, the only spot where they could
have been safe. Death was every where a.
| round them.
The following is extracted from a letter in tho
Boston Courier.
on will picture to yourself from /
10 so Of these slides coming down from
the top OF the mountain, some SO, some
100 and from so to 800 feet in width,
and extending from to 5 miles, carry
ing trees, huge stones, sc. with the We
locity Of lightning. Wiley when found,
bad both of his legs and arms broken,
and was otherwise bruised His wife
vas most horribly mangled-nearly half
her head, from the forehead to the back
part was gone, literally torn off! and
there she lay naked, with her brains
scattered around, most hideous spec
tacle. The water rose in the river
shout Is miles from the Notch, 5 feet
an hour, and was 25 feet higher than
usual. 1t is impossible 10 make, or clear
out the road again. Some Of the stones
that came from the mountain are as
large as some two Story dwelling houses.
and piled on top Of each other for miles,
On this subject, the Boston Courier, has the
following APPROPRIATE and feeling remarks.
The house OF Mr.. Wiley, was about
two miles below the Notch. The de-
file below his dwelling and thence up to
the Notch was very narrow, and the
mountains on either side oEsuch height,
that one could not look at their tops
many seconds without painful seusa-
ton. The slide which fell from the
mountain on the 26lh June, lodged with
in few rods of his house. The editor
passed through the Notch, on the 9Th
OF July, and spent about two hours at
Mr.. Willey's, where we dined in COM
pany with two or three friends, and re-
celved shelter from heavy thunder
shower. We nave seldom seen more
interesting family. All appeared re-
markedly intelligent, well-behaved,
contenied, ard happy. The mother
was their instructor, as mothers should
always be, To our inquiry whether she
was not terrified when the slip came
down, she replied Yes-and bad caught