Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-06-26
MISC L L l. A N y.
A NIGHT UNDER AN AVALANCHE

,,o in the interiors native ofAcOsta whomean 10
, nc =, Marcny for The purpose ofIaversng the Urea
g. p,d At the exaggerated dangers OF which fasS ne
,Ll heartily Accidents he admitted, did sometimes
o,L travellers ia that part Of the Alps; but generally
I'll tho Pass of the ST. Bernard was open through
81. sx.ept during the continuance of snow-sorms
n. bad himself few years previously in another Pass
10 of which forget been overtaken by one ct these
r comu,nv with an English family returning from Italy,
,r haen witness of the way which the clemens some
times perform the Office Of sexton 1hey set out cary III
M manning and arrived little beme nghltall at part o
the pass which, owing TO the drliung o' tue So"' 10 y
.hotod nm The snow had begun to fall about an houf
and half previously and was now pouring COW" Tue raw
ues before the blast binding both horses and PosonS ano
brnono along withit premature night Ihey mao hoPea
% reach the summit before darkness set IN; ou: the hofseS
furnished them were weak and the snow or the last hou
~ ,eas, had gradually retarded their progress how ne came
IN he in the Englishman's carriage, ne dlo not eAP
fancy our had invited him out OF sheer
The nartv consisted Of five in althe husband a"u ""0'
and the nurse and the little baby
How it comes topass know nOtbu generally haPpe"S
that the English when overtaken by dangers display quar-
;es which asoush foreigners On the occasion IN question
u tho citnde of the husband seemed concentrated IN his
;c while all berswa ia the baby. Self seemed equally
b.or in the minds of BETH The nurse, for her part dis
,vsa the utmost socism except that as the cold increased
and the snowdrs beat and more against the carriage
windows she pressed the child recosey 10 hef ofeaS'
and protected from the Influence OF the air win greater
allowance Of shaws Our friend from AcoSa, who under
stood thoroughly the pers OF the position, Went on talking
10 the husband who while his eyes were liked upon MS
a and ch d appeared calm and collected, though, from
certain laundering noises above appeared probable that
the ayalanches were in notion At every ten yards the
eartiare was stopped by the accumulated snow.
J,ne said the husband at length TO his wife, "ue up
your throat carefully; we may have to walk presently
and vou nurse make the baby comfortable, and give him
70 me-"
The nurse Obeyed The mother, looking auxiOusly at
her child, inquired, with suppressed earneS'ness--
"William, is there any danger?"
Yes. tte, love- just enough impart an air OF ro-
mance to our adventure"
"Hark !" exclaimed the wife "whats that e
..Nv Godiu cried the nurse, 'the mountain has ial
en- on us''
Just at that Instant loud shout heard from the men
followed by suppressed struggle and groanand 'nen 'e
Host complete silence. All motion was at the same t'e
arrested in the carriage, and on applying the lamp TO 'he
carriage wndowt perceived that they were moedded
in thick snow.
rWbat is TO be done 2" exclaimed the Englishman
scan your experience suggest any means OF excag our
selves from this poson} Ii we force our way out DO you
think it possible could reach some place OF shelter
"No,n answered ne, ''that is impossible All we can DO
is to remain where We are they will dig US out In the
morning." =,
"And the drivers" observed the Eugshman' a sudden
though, flashing across his mind,"what VIII become
them they will die Of cold"
They are dead already" answered the Acos'an' "e
first stroke Of the avalanche exuguished life IN 'nem
what you have heard was their death groan."
"Impossole" cried our couutyman. 81 must orce my
uav out and endeayor to drag them hither."
The conRped space in which they had to beathe would
bavs rendered it necessary to let down the windows, at the