Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-03-14
THE ALTA SNOWSLlDE.
1t Occurred Us the Victims were Waiting
for Supper-Othcr Details.
Salt Lake Tribune.l

Salt Lake Tribune.l
The slide occurred about half past
6 o'clock last Friday night. 1t was
the most fearful and destructive that
has ever visited Alta. 1t started from
the summit of the Equitable Gu)ch
and with the rapidity of flash made
it's way to the Rather Ravine above
Grizzly Flat. Continuing downward
it struck and carried away the boiler
house, blacksmith shop, boarding.
house and concentrating works, in
stantly killing II persons, who had
sought the place for safety. Leading
from the blacksmith shop is the tunnel
in which the men slept at night, it
being a much safer place, as they
thought, than their own homes in
Alta. The 10 men and two women
who were xii I'd wee just preparing
for supper, and were passing to and
fro from the boiler-room where they
managed to keep warm, and where
they were perhaps heating their tea
and coffee for supper. Intending no
doubt to 20 into the tunnel for the
night almost Immediately after their
supper, as was their custom, and be-
lieving the blacksmith shop and boil
er-house to be perfectly safe, they lit
tie dreamed Of the sudden death that
awaited them. Without a moments
warning, as may well be assumed,
they were hurled into eternity A
gentleman at Colbath's City Rock
House said that he did not hear the
slide at all, Notwithstanding the fact
that it passed within short distance
of that house and carried away the
ore house. He said it was dark
stormy, hideous nj ght, and Judging
from that, It is far to presume tina,
these II individuals at the New
Emma, who were no doubt busy talk
ing, had no intlnation of their imml.
nent danger and peril, till the full
force of the awful avalanche was upor
them. The condition in which they
were found was indeed terrible, ane
made the stoutest and bravest hear
quake. Most, if not all Of them, hat
limbs broken. and when it is state,
that but little, save broken fragments
remains of this extensive and we'll
appointed baildlng, the picture 0
those who were found amid the splin
tiers and ruins may be better imagine,
than described in language, howeve
graphic.
No sooner had the slide occurre,
than earnest and noble men we're o,
the ground intent on recovering tn
bodies of the victims. Mr.. Georg
Cullen, Superintendent of the Emm
, mine, was on the ground and rendere
, valuable assistance. The men worke
, with will all that night and tn
tierceness of the weather and tn
darkness that prevailed, served onl
t to incite them to renewed and vigol
f Gus efforts to get at those who had S
suddenly been torn from them. TIL
bodies were under from 10 to Is fe,
of wet snow, and it took hard and pc
sistent ork to get at them. BY
O'Clock Saturday afternoon 1 Of Il
bodies had been recovered, and
: each body was taken from the rui,
q and the snow, it was transferred
the COURTEOUS, where Mr.. Villa
Green, lessee of the mine, with
. corps of assistants, washed off Il
o bodies and dressed them. Several
= the ladies of Alta washed and dresst
those of their sex who had met such
9 sad fate, and after this was done Il
bodies Of the two women were laid
: tables, while those of the men we
II LAID on the floor, where they nov al
!. Next to Is