Daily national Democrat., 1861-02-17
nallp 9lational qemutrat
Dreadful Avalanche.
ST.. LOUIS, SIERRA Co., Feb. IS, 1861.

ST.. LOUIS, SIERRA Co., Feb. IS, 1861.
TptroR DEMOCRATS have doubtless
heard of the lamentable catastrophe, near
Pine Grove, by which two men were killed.
Moses Iitsman, brother of one of the par
ties killed, relates the following particulars ::
On Monday last, during a violent storm,
Robert. Moses and Marshall Hetsman, and
Peter Johnston were at work in q tunnel at
Drum Hill, d miles above Poker Flat. Mo-
ses and Marshall Hitsman were at work
1900 feet under ground while the others were
running the car. About o'clock the men
in the tunnel heard terrific report winch
so stunned and terrified them that they were
compelled to sit down. one of them remark
ing that something dreadful had happened
"probably the powder keg had blown up ana
killed their companions outside" On ma
king their way to the mouth of the tunnel,
thev were amazed to find all dark-"proba-
blv they had mistaken the time; it was
night!" But having struck light they
found the timbers broken in, and the tunnel
blocked up with snow. Three acres OF snow
six feet deep, had slid down over the tunnel,
burying the two men outside and destroying
the dwelling which stood over the entrance
Fortunately an axe was found among the
broken timbers by the two men thus cntomb-
ed; with that they broke away the rubbish,
and after six hours frantic labor they dug
through the snow, emerging at II o'clock at
night, and during a terrific snow storm
They were three miles from any habitation
and having been overheated with Labor and
excitement, began to chill. They attempted
TO reach deserted cabin on the hill side,
one pushing the other while the foremost one
broke down the snow, Lut after struggling
three hours, they had advanced only $50
feet
Returning to the tunnel they procured
shovels and during the night, or rather morn
ing, dug to the old cabin and made fire.
There they constructed snow-shoes made of
clapboards, and about u o'clock heNt day
reached Pine Grove--no more than three
miles Thence 100 men went on snow shoes
&c the place of disaster and after two hours
dug out the buried men when found Robert
lIitsman was dead-crushed under broken
timbers and snow; Peter Johnston was yet
alive, but died Immediately on being lifted
from the place where he was found. The
falling timbers of the building had left him a
small nlace TO breathe in and in that dread
ful sepulchre he had lived some is hours.
The remains were brought to Pine Grove,
and were buried today, the Rev. Mr.. Dick
inson came from La Porte. on Snos' shoes, to
preach the funeral sermon. The lIit-man
brothers formerly resided at Warrington,
st. Lawrence county, New York. Peter
johnson was native of Copenhagen, Den
mark. The father of the llitsman brothers
died three months ago. Affections fall heav-
lily on the survivor, Moses, who, fathorless
and Lrothcrlcss, resides at Pine Grove.
have not time tonight to add additional
particulars of this terrible disaster. Some
seven years ago two men were killed in their
cabin near the same place by an avalanche ;
some Of the timbcrs were thrown fifty yards :
and have heard that when found the eyes
OF the frozen corpses were open, staring in
terror, like pictures representing people at
the judgment day.
My light is going out, and must leave the
picture for YOU to complete.
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