The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-08-02
The Great Land Slide at Jefferson.


Oscar Stanley, one OF the lido residents OF
Jefferson, N. H.. lost his dwelling house by ire last
spring. He at once bought lumber and material to
nulld anoiher. HaylnR time was at hand, aud the
work was rusbed 30 he could be able to occupy It az
800 soon a. possible. A few rooms were finished, and
before O'clock Mr.. Stanley, ACCOMPANIED by three
OF his hired men, arrived ut his place and went TO
work ON the house. There had been very heavy
streams swollen ana muddy. While the men were
engaged about the honse they were startled by
shook the house. On rushing outdoors aud looking
Ing TO the south 1t seemed as II the whole OF Owls
head-a steep spur on the side OF Cherry Mountain
was coming down upon them, bearing trees, rocks,
and helds along as easily as q stream bears drift
wood. Far up the aide OF the mountain, about 1000
twenty rods Wide, and over a mile long Not MY
mass o. All and trees and coming them
all the thunder showers they had ever heard. il IL
needless to say that they ran for their lives Stanley
monster avalanche 90 roaring past them. Now It
would slip along over even space heapinR nm and
driving thousands Of tons Of earth before H. llke
gaining In sze as il went During s Tine Of roll
pines that had been torn from their roots on the
mountain side would 60 over and over, turning
s9s caaa ana P,ohpolg 80 RAPIDLY that The
tall pine would be riding on top OF the
current; IL another second It's branching roots
Wouiu DC ioitJ icct III tnt WINE liz green
would be grinding In the mud. II looked AZ II all
Inc trees on tue side OF Owls Head had been en-
lowed with locomotion. The noise was deafenlng
In addition TO the cracking timbers that went
crashing into the valley there was the Jar
and rattle OF the quaking earth and the din OF large
bonlders striking against one another. The new
house, all ready for its tenants, Knocked out OF
shape, and the barn Of Mr. Walker, with its cows
and hogs, was smashed. Nearly half of MIR. Stanleys
farm was either driven on the land OF neighbors be-
low or covered by that OF those above him. When
the avalanche WAS finally checked II was on the level
land fully two miles from the place OF starting, ana
lts track was marked with bouders and fallen Trees
Near where the slide started the rusty lodges are
stripped bare OF dirt and trees. AZ u went on and
me loan grew deeper, Instead OF g0uging out path
ike brook II built up long ridge Ike turnpike,
leaving In several places ten or fifteen feet high
AND nearly AZ Wide as the Slide II Ia estimated that
more than million tons OF debris hurled into
the plains IN less than quarter OF an hour. The
iand slide devastated the farms OF John BOudreau
aud Oscar Stanley. Donald Walker was milking his
cows 10 the stable aud was buried In the debris. He
WAS rescued with fractured leg aud other Injuries,
which were not fatal. Mr.. Stanley aud the
carpenter, VINO were ut work In the house, had mar
row escapes. Boudreau's house was NOT touched,
the sIlde coming within twenty feet Of It. The
place where the slide occurred Ii about five m!les
east u Whieneld and short distance from the
JEFFERSON station OF the Jefferson a Whteaeld Rail-
road. Those who remember the Wiley slide say
this III fully AZ large. Others think II bears strong
resemblance 10 the Cold Brook slide that happened
below In the summer Of 1888. This was The same
year that q slide cleaned out the lume