Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-04
The Alta Avalanche.

Inc A1t8 Av818uCAts
From the Salt Lake HerdlTs account
of the snow-slide which recently de-
scended with such terrible force upon
the little mining town of Alta, Utah, we
take the following:
After the first shock was over, which
lasted but q minute, the frightened
senses of the people were partially re-
stored to order and useful activity, and
with one object in view all rushed up the
street to the elevated bench on the north
side of Alta, some carrying lanterns,
others shovels, and Others with staffs,
poles, or anything that could be used in
digging through the snow. About fifteen
rods from the business center of the town
wild scene of chaos presented itself.
The snow was piled up to the depth OF
packed surface were large powders.
heavy mining timbers and mere and
there portion of what had once been
frame dwelling house Even the bare
contemplation of the wreck sent thrill
of horror through the frames of
the hundreds of spectators; then
what must their feelings have
been when they realized that from
the location of the slide some of their
acquaintances-their friends, and per-
haps relatives-were certainly beneath
the mighty mass of snow and debriss In
less time than it would require to relate
it scores of hardy miners were actively
at work digging away the snow from
where had stood houses occupied by
human beings. While thus engaged a
faint cry of "Help" came through the
snow; again it was heard, and again, but
growing more faint and weaker at each
successive cry. 1t did not take long to
ascertain the direction from which the
voice proceeded, and when once the men
on the surface had found the location
there was Lively shoveling of the snow
for few minutes. Short as those min
utes were, each must have been an age
to him underneath the snow and whose
sands of life were SO near run out,
but the quick strokes of the shovels
grew more distinct to the ears of the al
most doomed man, and finally he was
lifted from his snowy bed and the light
of dozen or more lanterns shone full in
his face. The fortunate, unfortunate
man was George Tomlins, an old gentle
man who has made Alta his home for
several years. By his side in the
bed on which he had been lying
was the body of Michael Kelly
"Old Mickey" who was known to
every resident of Alta and vicinity
The snow had done it's work for "Old
Mickey" He and Tomlins had retired
early, but were not asleep when the ava
lanche came. Before they knew what
was the matter, or, had they known, be-
fore they could even have got out of bed
the building was crushed and the two
men buried under at least six feet of
snow. "Mickey's" back was broken,
and it is thought he died instantly, but
Tomlins was more fortunate.
While Tomlins and his mate were being
uncovered there was busy scene at an
other part of the snowy wreck. The res
idence of Mr.. James Carey was in the
course Of the slide, and had been either
carried away or crushed. Above the site
of the location the men commenced
working with their shovels, and soon sue
ceeded in finding what had been the in
terror of the frame house, though the
building was broken to pieces and some
of it carried away. A little more SHOW
cling discovered heart-rending sight.
and one which caused many OF the stern,
hardy miners to shed tears. Seated In
an easy chair, and cIasplng to her breast
her infant babe, sat Mrs. Carey-mother
and child both dead. Near them was the
lifeless remains of the husband and
father, and in another part of the
room was the corpse of an adopted
daughter, a bright little girl about
six years old, named Laura Will
son. None of the bodies exhibit
ed bruises of any kind; hence they
had all sufiocated. The expression on
the mothers countenance was one of
mingled anxiety and despair, as if she
had hoped that her dear ones might yet
be saved, but had finally died realizing
that all must perish. The snow around
the husbands body showed that he had
struggled hard to extricate himself
In another place the dead body of an
old miner named Vanderleen was found.
There were apparently two slides, each
of immense proportions, which started
about the same time; and though they
headed at different points and did not
travel the same route they united imme-
diately above Alta, the whole force and
mass entering and crushing through the
town.