Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-21
dales a1lo $ketlkts.
Yaree BAR IN he snsU.
A FAMILY RESCUED FROM BENEATH An
AyALANCHL-

i Last evening John Engelbright. who
reached the CITY from Woodford's Station
brought news of the gallant rescue Of .
family of six persons found under a snow.
aide In Woodford's Canon The scene Of
/ the snov-slide was an old deserted shingle
mill about halt mile above Merk's toll
ho1se. and two miles above Woodford
station. Woodford's Canon is deep and
picturesque gorge in the mountains, 1ve
or six miles long, and leads into Hope
Valley. In the fall of last year family,
consisting of a man and his wife and four
children. came over the mountains and
cannped at the old single mill in the
canon. They had plenty of provisions,
and the head of the family spent most OF
his time in hunting and fishing. They
took possession of rude building on the
left, which had been used to store feed
and stable horses when the mill was run.
ming wears ago. The season was very
late. and although repeatedly warned BY
Mr.. Merk, the tOli-gate keeper, the fami.
ly, deceived by the pleasant weather, con-
tipued to remain. After the first snow
the man, whose name was Maxwell, came
down to Woodford's and made arrange
ments to have two horses taken care OF
| QuTl0U IDc WlutCl A1C Sni0 1O haN ho
money to pay for the feed at the time. but
would redeem them in the spring. He also
said that he had made up his mind to win
ter in the canon, 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 il
had given evidence Of standing good
many winters, he would risk it.
On Thursday last there was heavy fall
of snow in the canon followed by sun
ny day on Friday. During the day there
were several large slides of snow from
the rocks. which rise on the sides of the
canon 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 Merk heard
several of these slides, and the next day
the road up the canon was cboked with
snow. On Sunday he went up to the
shingle mill on snow-shOes. and found
that the place oc ;upied by the family had
been buried under the snow. The slide
had started on the steep mountain side
about 200 yards up the slope, and started
a number of boulders in its course. The
track of the avalanche was marked with
Frustrated pines, and the mass of snow
upon the log structure lay packed hard to
the depth of 10 or Is feet. Seeing he
could do nothing, Merk returned Ia
Woodford's and soon raised force oil
u dozen or twenty men, who went up
with shovels, picks, and other appliances
to effect a rescue.
The snow was packed SO hard thai
it was almost like a solid rock. and re-
quired picks welded by stout hands to
loosen it. BY night they had reached the
logs which formed part of the stable. and
found that that roof had been crushed in
by boulder. By this time the force had
been augmented by fresh men, and build
ing 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, anC
with plenty of food and stimulants the
men kept to their work steadily. During
portion of the time two shifts worked a
separate places.
men cleared away a place where they
reached one of the logs which formed g
portion of the wall Of the stable. They
hammered on this with an axe and waiteC
for an answering knock. While they
waited and listend with intense interes
one of them vowed he could hear fain
taps from within, but the others doubted
The log was again struck with the axe
and this time there came several distinc
knocks, and the outsiders broke into {
cheer that made the old canon ring. By
midnight they bad cut through the log
but it was hard work, as the snow was
packed close about it, and the hole made
was not over a few inches wide at the
lower end. When the edge of the axe:
went through they called at the aperture
) and were answered by voice. "FOr God!
sake push in something to eat; my chill
dren are dying" In moment, bread
meat, and small flask of brandy were
pushed through the aperture, and the
wearied toilers in the snow sprapg to the
work and made fresh attack upon the
log which imprisoned six people. They
cleared away the snow several feet above
and it was three O'Clock in the morning
before they cut through the log. about 81,
' feet above the first cut. Then there came
fear that the place between the two cut:
would fall inward and crush the family
The second hole. however, gave a better
, chance of communication, and Maxwell
, said that if they would get candle in t.
, him he would tell where the log woulC
; fall. A candle was taken from a Lantern
, and given to him, with matches tied to it
In few moments the glow of the ligh
was seen from the outside, and this ligh
; must have been very welcome to the
Maxwell family. as they had been in total
darkness since Friday night, when the
avalanche struck the stable. He soor
called out to push the log inward. but i
was fast and required considerable prying
with crowbars before it yielded.
Those nearest the aperture followed the
log and climbed in through the opening
with lanterns. There. in space about II
feet square. was Maxwell and his family
His wife was lying on mattress and some
blankets. with young child in her arms
and three others clinging to her and cry
} ing bitterly. When the lantern shone OF
their faces they put their hands to theil
eyes and turned away in fear. The woman
was hardly able to move, and Maxwell
who had kept stout heart all through
the long days and nights of darkness, gave
out at this point and cried like child
Chester. the oldest boy, who is but eigh
wears of age, had worked with his father