Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-05-08
9flistellaueams &eadiug.
TERR0Rs OF A SNOW SLIDE.

TERRORS OF SNOW SLIDE.
John Engelbright, who reached the city
brought the news of a gallant rescue OF
family of six persons found under snow
slide in Woodford's canyon. The scene OF
the snow slide was an old deserted shingle
mill. Woodford's canyon is a deep and
picturesque gorge in the mountains, hve OF
Six miles long, and leads unto Hope valley
In the fall of last year family, CONSISTING
came over the mountains and camped at
the old shingle mill in the canyon. The
season was very late and though repeatedly
warned, the family deceived by the pleas
ant weather continued to remain. After
the first snow the man whose name was
Maxwell came down to Woodford's and
made arrangements to have two horses
taken care of during the winter. He said
he had no money to pay for the feed at the
time, but would redeem them in espring.
He also said that he had made up his mind to
winter in the canyon, as he had provisions,
and game was abundant. He was advised
not to take the risks, but he said the place
he was in was strong structure, and as 1t
had given evidence of standing good
many winters he would risk it.
On Thursday there was a heavy fall OF
snow in the canyon, followed by, sunny
day on Friday. During the day there were
several large slides of snow from the rocks
which rise on the sides of the canyon, In
some instances as high as 300 feet. Heavy
bodies of snow toppled over from these
heights, and in their descent carried away
large masses of rock, which felled the pines
at the bottom of the gorge. During the
night Mr.. Merk, the toll gate keeper, heard
several of these slides, and the next day the
road up to the canyon was choked with
snow. On Sunday he went up to the shlngle
mill on snow shoes, and found that the place
occupied by the family had been buried un-
der the snow. The slide had commenced
on the steep mountain side, about 2OO yards
I'D the slope, and started number OF bou!d-
ers in it's course. The track of the avalanche
was marked with PROSTATE pines, and the
mass of snow upon the log structure lay
packed hard to the depth OF ten or fifteen
feet. Seeing he could do nothing, Merk re-
of dozen or twenty men, who went up
with shovels and picks and other appliances
to effect rescue
The snow was packed so hard that it was
almost like solid rock, and required picks
welded by stout hands to loosen it. BY
night they had reached the logs which
formed part of the stable, and found that
the roof had been crushed in by boulder.
By this time the force had been augmented,
and, building rousing fire in the snow,
they worked in four shifts of six men each,
each shift working an hour. Woodford's
Station was drawn on for supplies, and with
plenty of food and stimulants, the men kept
to their work. During a portion OF the
time two shifts worked at separate places.
At little after IL o'clock the workmen
cleared away place where they reached
one of the logs which formed portion of
the wall of the stable. They hammered on
this with an axe and waited for an answer
ing knock. While they waited and listened
| with intense interest, one of them vowed
that he could hear faint steps from within,
but the others doubted. The log was again
struck with an axe, and this time there
came several distinct knocks, and the out,
siders broke into cheer that made the old
CANYON ring. BY midnight they had cut
through the log, but it was hard work, as
the snow was packed hard about it, and the
hole made was not over ten inches wide at
the lower end. When the edge of the axe
went through they called at the aperture,
and were answered bya voice: "For God's
sake push in something to eat my children
are dying" In a moment bread, meat and
a small flask of brandy were passed through
the aperture and the Wearied t0llers IN the
snow sprang to the work and made fresh
attack upon the log which imprisoned SIX
people. They cleared away the snow sever
al feet above and it was 3 o'clock in the
morning before they cut through the log,
about six feet above the first cut. Then
came fear that the place between the two
cuts would fall inward and crush the fami-
ly. The second hole, however, gave bet
ter chance of communication, and Maxwell
said that if they would get a candle in to
him he would tell where the log would fall.
A candle was taken from lantern and CIV
en- to him with matches tied to it. In a few
moments the glow of light was seen from
the outside, and this light must have been
very welcome to the Maxwell family, as
thev had been in total darkness since Fri
day night, when the avalanche struck the
stable. He soon called out to push the log
forward, but it was fast and required con-
siderable prying with crowbars before it
yielded.
Those nearest the aperture followed the
log, and climbed through the opening with
lanterns. There, in space about ten feet
square, was Maxwell and his family. His
wife was lying on a mattress and some
blankets, with young child in her arms,
and three others clinging to her and crying
bitterly. When the lantern shone on their
faces they put their hands to their eyes
and turned away in fear. The woman was was
hardly able to move, and Maxwell, who
had kept stout heart through all the long
DAYS and nights Of darkness, gave out at
this point, and cried like child.
Chester, the oldest boy, who is but years
of age, had worked with his father to get
out, and was worn out with hunger and eX-
haustiOn. There were two loaves of bread
within reach after the roof of the stable fell
| in, and the little fellow refused to touch a
morsel, giving all to his mother and sisters.
This was all the mother, baby, and the two
daughters-Mary and Callie--aged and
6years, respectively had to live on since
Friday afternoon, when they took dinner,
until about midnight on Sunday. There
was plenty of flour and some game on the
place, but the logs of the roof, which were
crushed in, cut off all communication from
these, although Maxwell and his son had
vainly endeavored to cut away through
a three-foot log with a jack-knife. The in
mates of the terrible prison were taken in
sleighs to Woodford's where they were
soon as comfortable as warm fires, good
provisions, and kind attention could make
them. When Mr.. Engelbright left for
Woodford's on Monday afternoon they were
all doing, we'll, and were the recipients OF
all the attention that the little camp could
bestow. Mr.. Merk, the honest old German
who keeps the toll gate, and who first found
the Maxwell family, is now the biggest man
in the canyon.-Cdrson Appeal
A BEAUTIFUL DEATH.-"Doctor, is got
'Aunt Liza, there is no hope for you, d"
ssBress the Great Master for His goodness.
Use ready"
The doctor gave few directions to the
| oolorod women that sat around 'IiZa'S bed