Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-02-18
UNDER THE SNOW.

the north of Virginia City with lot OF
miners mail strapped on my back. There
was no regular mail route there then, but
about once II month some one took the
letters down and returned with any mail
found ut the lostoillcc. l was on snow
shoes. The winter had been severe, and
the SHOW WAS 1--we or six feet deep on the
level. The 2.th Of January had been u
very balniy day. with warm sun and
win !, and on the morning Of the 2Sth
started
had 10 make my way along the base
OF range known To ts then rs Bill's
Thumb, and for this twelve miles there
was only one settler. lie was an old
bachelor, who had built himself n snug,
stout cabin under the caves Of the Thumb.
lie was hunter, miner, prospector, tax
idcrmist, naturalist and ] don't know
what else. Some OF the boys who had
met him had nm idea that le had sourcd
on the world, and had come out there to
live hermit life, but he was II clap who
kept TO himself aud would not allow any
one To question him. got along very
well for the first rivc miles, but then re-
allied that | was In danger from snow
slides The thaw had continued through
the night, and IL needed only u jar 10 send
3 =
mountain rushing down the slope with n
force which no;hng could stand. One
took place bchiud me which brought down
hundrcds Of toms, and rs ! pushed my
way forward nll my senses were on the
alert for the iirs; signal III danger.
When | had approached within pistol
shot uf the hcrinit's cabin saw the man
himself about \ mile down the valley.
lie WAS coming toward the house. but had
burden on his shoulder and was moving
slowly. Therefore, as l reached the cabin
stood NJ the door to- wat for him, think
ing he mi .sht wish me to take letter or
do some crrand. lie was still half mile
away when heard dull, heavy fall
away up the mountain above my head. |
knew |, was u mass VI SHOW tunbling OF
the rocks, AMI that II was the seed Of an
avalanche. The sound had scarcely
reached my ears when wheeled TO tho
door, lifted the latch. and the next In
stant was inside. was none too soon.
Almost every pound of snow on noun
tain side. LOO feet high aud u quarter Of
mile long. was IN motion for the base.
II came with u terrible roar and n success
sion of crashes us rocks aud trees were
caught up, and held my breath for what
w..s to happen. Tue house trcmblcd and
rocke'l. II thousand empty wagons seemed
to rush over the roof, and then all was
midnight darkness. and the stiffness of
the grave settled down upon me.
The house hnd been buried under an
avalanche. II was Gods mercy that IL
hal iut been swept away and torn log
from log There was only small fire ON
the hearth. and before moved struck
match IL see my way. After looking about
bi; | forul II candle, and then l began
to investigate the situation. On opening
the door ! found the snow packed solidly
In front. Going Ia the single window l
found every ray oi light shut out In the
ronm was u bundle Of rods about ~ large
ns my m:cr and nine feet long. There
were six uf them. seized one and thrust
IL upwar'l from the door. hut II did not 70
/ thrc,,sh the drift laShcd another TO II,
and Yet The length was not sufficient.
lash,tl nu !, second and how had at least
twcnty.hvc clear feet Of pola To probe
with. an'i believed the upper end found
Daylight. In front Of she cabin. and about
200 feet away, WIS u great mass of bare
r,ck forty rpls long hy ilfty feet high.
This wouli stop the avalanche, aud II was
more than likely that sold mass " snow
forty rolls hong and twenty four fec. deep
lay abnyc me.
What hnI become of the hrrmiis There
WIS nui enc chance In l,UD that he hal
escaped. The avalanche would block the
trail for weeks. and nj the very Lcst 1;
would b.. snfir days before any one at our
camp w,,i.i know that was IN the hut.
II the hermit escaped hc would carry the
news Il hc was buried under the SHOW
mi:h, HS veil make up my uin'l Ia re-
main "A Prisoner until spring was in u
had lloX. anl for the first half hnur
quito lu-t my COURAGE. Then, having
every reason To believe that | must hc u
prs..n"r fnr many lnns days, bci-l. Ia
take AN inventory nf stock. as Il wcrr.
Tucrc wa~ g,ssl brl ~ skins and i,lan.
Leis. several cnrling utensils, u table anl
several rnugh stn0ls, ~ clock, dOIrn or
more b"oSs, alou, thirty candles, with
tea. eui.c'.. SUGAR, pork and Hour ia guam
titles - last ~" several weeks, ] could
not have hcrn better provided for had
plannctl for the avalanche 10 come. There
was lcautp nt the back cnl al the
hut. and lp1kel into this To find II full
of fuel. felt much more hopeful after
had taken the inventory. for could not
help hut feel that Il would he long before
saw daylight again
For several hoilrs after the accident the
cabin scnt forth suspicious sounds. The
snow wns sciiling ash packing alOve II.
Rni raficr aud logs cracsci aud snapped
IN way to keep me on thOrns. II the
weight as the roof proved too great
shOuli he crashed or smo,hcred tho mo
ment Il fell In. u was after > O'Clock In
the afternoon l,efIrc felt safe. But very
little snow hal como down the chimney.
I reasoned from this that Il had been
covered by rocks or limbs. II such was
the case aud the flre refused Ia burn.
should hc hard pressed with plenty 81
raw provisions nc hand. felt all the
gravity of the situation as ! threw on
some light wOod and made blazc. IL
wis n hnrsl hght for half an horr. some
of the smoke certainly found way t0
escape. hut some was driven ls.cE. How