The Nevada Democrat., 1859-04-27
Dreadful Caiamisy-Land slide az AEonse
81 Cristo--Four Persons KILLED.

tFrom the Sierra Democrat Extra, of April l9th.1
On Monday evening, at about sun down, the
Inhabitants Of Monte Cristo were startled by a
rumbling noise like that OF an earthquake, aud
npoa the people rushing out.to ascertain the
cause, It was found that land slide had oc-
Cured on the lower fat. The earth parted at
the lower road leading from Monte Cristo to
Poker Flat; alaf &c mass about twenty-five feet
in width. and of great bulk, was precipitated
down the mountain side .. distance Of about
four hundred feet, carrying away three dwell
ling houses +&@As
There was great CONSERVATION among the
inhabitants in that part of the town. II was
soon ascertaned that four persons were mis-
sing; Mrs, Howe, aud two of her children, one
an infant, another, . little girl between two
aud three years of age, and also the little son
of Mrs. b. Wright, aged between three and four
years. ts,t
The citizens turned out Immediately after
the accident in search of the missing, and re-
covered the dead bodies of Mrs. Wright's boy,
and shat of Mrs, Howe's infant, that night
about nine o'clock. AT that hour there came
another avalanche, which compelled them to
| fiy for the night am as fIH .&osl&e
Early this morning the search was renewed.
Mrs. Howe's body was found at about o'clock,
having large beam resting upon the neck.
She must have been killed almost INSTANTLY
The body OF Mrs. Fl. e little girl was not found
up TO the time our Informant, Mr.. II. A. Coch-
rane, left Monte Cristo.
Another child OF Mrs. Howe. bright girl OF
about seven years. was carried on the top Of
the avalanche, and was saved, though coneid-
erably bruised and scratched. The life of Mr..
Howe, husband Of the lady above mentioned }
was saved by one of those mysterious chances
which are so common in events Of such calam-
ity. He had but moment or tive been out Of
his house, where Mrs. Howe and the children
were, aud was talking with O near neighbOr
about the probable danger of q land slide, when
the crash came. Three miners, living in cab
in next to the house Of Mr. Howe, had Just tiD-
ished supper and left their cabin, when il was
| crushed to atoms, and they had barely time to
fee from impending death. ae.4 a.i
On the Friday evening previous to this sad
occurrence, there was slide, which took away
the "dump car" Of the West Point Company,
and left fifty feet of their tunnel with bare tim
bers. Parties living in that part Of the town
had been warned of the danger Of remaining
ttere, and on Monday, we understood. Mr..
Howe had been searching for a house Intending
TO renRve, with his family.
During nll of Monday night fragments Of
| rock and earth were heard tumbling down the
mountain side, aud another slide is looked for
large fssure in the earth, foot or more in
width and upwards Of a quarter Of a mile 10
length, exists still higher up the mountain, into
which all the water from the melting snow
above discharges itself. The fissure extends
through the grave yard, leaving, in places. the
coffns of the dead exposed. Preparations are
being made for disintering the bodies.
The fiat underlying the impending slide, on
which good portion of the town stands, is en-
tirely deserted. The loss is beyond estimation.
Work in the tunnels has been suspended, the
miners being afraid to venture into them, since
the terrible calamity.