Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-04-28


For a moment we stood paralyzed-I
speechless.
Ny first impulse was TO rush TO the
street, and to drag my companions with
me but there was no street. Even inc
garden had disappeared in a foam OF
snow and ice. We thought OF The back
window at the cmbankment. but as we
tore it open, a single glance toward the
mountain told US the horror was but
beoun. The forest y 1e all shouted
in a breath. 1t was gone, all gone, as
if mown by mighty reaper and mass'
es of other snow seemed ready to slide.
The white brow of the mountain still
cleaned in the sunshine. aud seemed
to laugh at the desolation. Another
wbizzine, q roar, and with our own eyes
we saw the side of the mountain start.
Instantly and together we sprang down
the steps into the lower room. There
was roll of thunder, mighty crash,
and then all was darkness. We were
buried alive beneath an avalanche.
What my first thoughts were l am un-
able to recall. | only remember our
fearful cries for help; how we shouted
separately. and then united on one word
CRYING together again and again, our on
" answering the silence of the grave.
81 Every soul in the village, probably
had been killed. or, like ourselves, bad
been buried beneath fee snow and ice
Of the mountain. 1t was only alter we
had exhausted ourselves with vain cries
for help thut we meditated on helping
ourselves. We had not been injured.
We remember that we were IN the
little sittlng-room down stairs, the win"
dows only of which seemed broken in,
and filled with snow, ice and stones.
The stairway was also filled with snow
and the debris of crushed walls. Above
us all was desolation.
The furniture in the room seemed all
in its proper place. We could move
about. but it was becoming terribly cold,
and we felt the sleepy chill, that dread
ful precursor of death by freezing, over
coming us. Oncc we were certain We
heard voices above US, and again we
shouted 20 try to tell them we were still
alive. We listened; ; the voices were
gonc-wc we're abandoned to our fac.
-Four hours we had alternately shout
ed and listened. Until Wc sank down IN
despair. It must have been midnight
when, iu our groupings about the little
chamber, our hands came on wax can
die. In few moments we had light
light to die by.
Hours went by. l don't know whcth-
er we were sleeping or freezing, when
started at hearing voice cry, n light!
a light = | sprang to my feet. and
again the voice cried, "A light" In
ten minutes three half-frozen, hali-in-
sane human beings were lifted from the
grave into the gray ligh. Of the morn
ing. A hundred noble souls had labor
ed the long night through, seeking the
buried.
Every man and woman, from every
village in the whole valley, had hurried
to the scene, and was straining every
nerve TO rescue those to whom life
minht still be clnsing. We were
among the lost taken from tic snow
and rocks. which had lain upon Us thlr'
ty feet in depth. Did those brave res
cuers wonder that We kncl, to them ano
kissed the hens OF their ragged gar
menls
Beautiful Blelbcrs is no more. Hall
of those whom we saw dancing aion1
in this procession OF the carnival, IN the
bright sunshine, sleep among Tie uolei'
on the hillside. The snow aud the
ice and the blacl; powders from the
mountain. and the dark frtrees, still
lie. in this SKINNER of 1879, iu ore mass
in the valley. We all left as soon al
we could travel. 1 went home t
| L.
Nv chief has resigned, and l am no"
acting consul in bis place. Should th'
Senate confirm all the new appoint
nlents, I expect to remain as consul
Miss Shelton thinks also Of remaining
and when Americans Wander to Z
they will find the latch string of on
/, home at the consulate on the outside Q
the door.
One word and | am done. Mrs. Shel
ton has lost part of her pcnsion--s'
much of il rs was allowed for m'no
daugher. have so reported it to IN
, commissioner at Washingtoh'-- mar
l pers Monthly.
!. Home Education
G l. From you- children's earliest IN
If fancy inculcate the necessity Of ins'an
II obedience.
d Q. Upite frmness with gen'l'heS'
II at ,onr children always understan
,,At YOU mean what you say
Il 8. Never promise them anything un
e less you arc quite sure you can CIV
G them what you say.
1 sri INf 4