Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-03-24
SNOW SLIDES IN UTAH.

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THE TOWN OF ALTA DESTROYED ny AN
u AvALANcuE--A wnoLErAMIIY suoru.
| Erred IN THEIR uoME-orurn rArAL
4 CASUALTIES.
/
On Tuesday night the people of the
thriving little mining town Of Alta, at
the head OF Little Cottonwood Canon,
were startled by the dread cry of "Helpl
show-slide" in the distressing tones Of
awoman from an elevated part of the
burg. Simultaneously was heard a
sharp rumbling as of quick and near
thunder, and then followed deaiening
roais, the crashing and swapping of
dmbers, and the general rushing and
brushing of mighty matter. Scarcely
had the echo of the female voice ceased
before the "whole town had turned
out Trembling women were run.
ming hither and thither all searching
for place Of safety, no one knowing
where TO 60 to get away from the
dread destroyer. A snow-slide had
descended ON the camp, and though
the bulk oi the avalanche had rested
at the upper part of the town, in their
wild fight the unhappy denizens of the
place half expected that at the next
moment they would be buried and
crushed in bank of treacherous snow
After the first shock was over, the
frightened people, partially restored to
useful activity, with one object in view.
rushed up the street 10 the elevated
bench on the north side of Alta. some
carrying lanterns, Others shovels, and
Others with slaves, poles. or ANYTHING
that could be used in dirpinr through
the snow. About fifteen rods from the |
business centre of the town wild scene
presented itself The snow was piled
up TO the depth OF thirty feet, and pro.
jecting from the packed surface were
large powders, heavy mining timbers,
and here and there portion of what
had once been frame dwelling-house.
They realized that from the location
of the slide some Of their acquaintances
their friends, and perhaps relatives
were beneath the mighty mass of snow
and debris, and scores Of hardy miners
went to work digging away the snow
from where had stood houses occupied
py human beings, While thus engaged
a faint cry of qHelp" came through
the snow again il was heard, and
again, but growing more faint and
weaker at each successive cry. IL did
not take long to ascertain the dircc-
uon from which the voice proceeded,
and when once the men on the surface
had found the location there was lively
shoyeling OF the snow for few min
utes. Short as those minutes were,
each must have been an age to him
VINO was underneath but the quick
strokes oil the shovels grew more dis
unct TO. the ears Of the almost doomed
man, and finally he was lifted from his
snowy ped ana the light OF dozen or
more lanterns shonc full in his face
Inc iortunate-unfortunate man was
george Iomlins, an old gentleman who
had made Alta his home for several
years. by his side, in tho bed on
which he had been lying, was the body
OF Michael helley-"Old Mickey
VINO was known to every resident of
Ana ana vicinity, The snow had done
iIs work Tor "old Mickey" lie and
Iomiins had retired carly, but were
not asleep when the avalanche came.
before they knew what was the mat
tcr the ouilding was crushed and the
Two men buried under at least six feet
Oh snow "Mickeys' back was broken,
an ana ~ Is thought he died instantly, but
iomhhs was more fortunate. True to
ms FORMER sell, alter beng resurrected,
the ora man called for whisky
straight, ana IN quick successionpoured
gown several drinks OF his iavoritc
leverage ne had been very dry
cuflng the aay and as the whisky ran
lreely, iong before the excitement had
ccasea the ola man was on u Jolly
spree
Whiie Iomilns and his mate were
oeng uncovered, there was a busy
scene at another place. The residence
oil Mr. james Carey tvaQ In tha aourua ,