The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-07-28
VOLUME XIV.

| Eae It;iG tf.S ItGnb DSIcIS. 1t GaC Come
| down from above and lodged here; the
| SHOWS of the past winter hsd been cralu-
ally increasing its weight, and nov the
weather had become So warm that it might
at any moment slide over the cliff. We
therefore set down whore we were, un-
loaded our provisions irom the knapsscks,
and proceeded to lunch for which meal
our mornings climb had given Us a fGost
excellent preparation. After lunch, il
spite of the renonstrances Of the guide,
we resolved 10 go On as near as possible
to the fallen avalenChe-and so forward
VIC marched, the guide bringing up the
rear We had advanced so fax that we
stood close by the side OF the snowwhite
| pile when the guide shouted in :. voice OF
horror: Bdcki back I 1t IS moriag"
Round we wheeled, and double quick
| dashed away from cur perilous station
learing from rockto rock, tunbling down,
rolling and sliding down to escape the
threatened rush, until At length we gained
our former stopping place; and then with
painting breath we turned about 10 witness
she following spectacle:
Over thc edge of the cliff were tumb-
| ling great Jumps Of snow, and slowly FOL
loving ther, came the great heap behind.
Faster and faster it moved, and the cliff
was row hiddea by the cloud of snow
| which broke into pieces at its edge, and
argfily dashed Itself over into the abyss.
At length it's velocity became tremendous
and awe struck we stood speechlessly
| gazing upon the terrific scene Huge
| masses Of snow wsre hurled into the a;r
the tail frs were snapped IN two, and
went whirling along in the general chaos
amid a noise which reverberated among
the cliffs like the mingiing OF thousand
thunder-st storms. Our senses were con
fased-we became unconscious Of the
| lapse Of time, and, when the whole was
over, We could hardly form an idea OF
how long the phenomenon he'd lasted.
The noise gradually subsided; while HOW
and ;len . 5o0T2 d0Yn in the valley an
rouncec that pieces were stili falling.
| Eut after while silence TcigGed again,
ana we CcgaE 10 recover our scattered
senses. aGd 20 notice the wonderful change
| before us. Where lay tia: monster but 8
| little while bcfJre was now nearly level
field Of broken Snow, trunks OF broken
trees here and there pr0truding, and bowl
der3 which had resisted tie power Of the
avalanchc. 4 considerable distance eff,
at that part of the avalanche which had
been the last TO nCye, we noticed s0n.e-
thing which appeared like the ruins of p
building. As II wGs now perfectly safe 10
asTance, Tc =" "ont towards this sDot-aId,
! on reaching It, there sure enough we
| found a brOseG-aowG chG5d. 1t vas 3
small building, although very stoutly
built, and had probably bean used i'y the
chai1lois hunters as g sleeping place. 4
large rock stood just behind 1t, over
which thc avalanche &c the year before
had passed, completely buryinS the hut.
That It .gas not carried along by the snow
this time was due 20 It's situation. Had it
been Fifty yards farther Down the slope, il
must have been torn up snd its ehatlelei
beams hurled over the prec;picc but as
It Tyls, the snOW bad slid away and lett il
standing. TIE roof was stove in. ard the
upright beams forced apart in various Gi-
rections, and snow was piled in heaps
around It, completely blocking up the
! doorway. OF course we were filled with
curiosity as to wat might be inside, and
we vFadeG around il, endeav Jring 10 OBJ
tain view OF the interior. OEe at lcGs tn
succeeded II mounting to the top CT thc
snow bank, and pceped III through q Tift
il The side Of the building.
Anything there ?" We asked.
He turned without speaking, his face
pale and fuil of horror, and came stagger-
inS down to where We were standing.
W lat is i.?" we anXiously inquired
q" q corpse," lie whispered, ais sitting
tIeicr'
For {. mGr1en: or two we stood speech
less, with kind Of awe at the thought oi
that lonely prisoner dying there without
a human being near to hear his call for
| help, and now SO wonderfully exhumed
in our presence by the mighty power O!
\ ro.-+. 4
ical student, Gnd Injured 10 the c0mranon-
ship OF the dead, reused us by proposal
TO clear the snow from the doorway and
get inside. After the first shock had
passed away We agreed to his proposition
and e8gerl; set to work with sticks and
hands 10 get away enough snow to allow
Us passage; it was g long ani tedious
labor, but was az length accomplished
and the entrance stood partly open. With
| al indefinable sense Of horror We entered
the hut, Tom taking the lead. And there
sitting upon a rough stool, the head beat
down and resting upon an oakon table
was dead body. dressed IN q suit Of black
clothes. II was but very little decayed
and the features were perfectly distin-
guishable-EO much SO that when thc
guide looked upon them, he cried out
Mcin G0ttl come away the doctor =
But we Immediately began TO make prep
arati0ns Tor removing the body, and
while doing so made several discoveries
There was IN one corner about Il quarter
OF "a large Swiss cheese--in the fireplace
the remains Of a small fre-upon ths
table was an Old oil lantern, ana per
ceived under the table notebook
and the stump Of 2 lead pencil. This
book I instantly took possession
Of, in hope Of finding therein som,
PARTICULARS about the man; bu
there was no time to read i
then, as evening Was rapidly coming on
We made rough bier OF boughs, aud
placing the body upon it, descended th'
mountain. Or reaching the village th'
unusual sight attracted every one, and we
were soon followed by procession OF
men and boys-all, however, keeping 81
lence and behaving with due decorum
We entered the Gasthaus, shutting on
our numerous followers, and dcp0sitet
cur lifeless burden ii one OF the privat,
rooms.
Mine host was greatly astonished an;
shocked to hear our account lie ha,
been thinking the matter over all tn
winter, and had come to q firm Convc
ton that the man had been s0me,nin
more than mOTtal, and had vanished tha
day with u grand crash oi the elements
and in a flash OF snow instead Of fire. 1h
real feet gave a too sad ending 10 his mys
terious tale. He sent for The chief men G
the village TO come that evening and iorr
a sort OF cOr0ner's jury, smoke pipe, an
talk the matter over. Before they ar
rived, took the first opportunity to eA
anime in private the notebook | ha
found. 1t was written in English, tn
first part Of the book containing scientifi
notes, and the rest being diary, Of whic
more anon.
After supper the magistrates and som
: Of the most prominent burghers asser
bled in the pJ bic room; the doors wer
closed, aud 0Jr party called in to tell ou
story. After the others had spoken
came forward and produced the boob
stating where | had found it. Every or
was filled with curiosity, and amid dee