Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-02-18
UNDER THE SNOW.

was coming out Oh I've mountains 10
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 n month some one took the
letters down and returned with any mail
found at the p"stotiice. was on snow
shoes. The winter had been severe, and
the snow was five or six feet deep on the
level. The 2'th OF january had been
very balmy DAY, with warm sun and
win |, aud On the morning Of the 18th
started.
had to make my way along the base
OF q range known to us then as Bills
Thumb. and for this twelve miles there
was only one settler. He was an old
bachelor. who had built himself . snug,
stout cabin under the caves OF the Thumb.
He was hunter, miner, prospectOr, tax
idermist. naturalist and l don't know
what else Some Of the boys who had
met him had an idea that he had soured
on the world. and hal come out there to
live he.mit life, but he was chap who
kept to himself aud would not allow any
one to question him. got along very
well for the trst five miles, but then re-
allied that l was In danger from snow
slides. The thaw had continued through
the night, and 1t needed only a JAR 70 send
the grea; masses OF snow lying on the
mountain rushing down the slope with
force which nothing could stand One
took place behind me which brought down
hun'kests OF tons, and as l pushed my
way forward all my senses were on the
alert for the hrst signal OF danger.
When l had approached within pistol
shot OF the hermt's cabin saw the man
himself about mils down the valley.
He was coming toward the house, but had
. burden on his shoulder and was moving
slowly. Therefore, Al l reached the cabin
l stood at the door to wait Tor him. think
Ing he might wish me to take letter or
do some errand. He was still half mile
away when l heard . dull, heavy fall
away up the mountain above my head. l
knew II WAS mass OF snow tumbung on
the rocks, and that Il was the seed OF an
avalanche Tho sound had scarcely
reached my ears when wheeled TO the
door, lifted the latch, and the next in
stant vas inside. was none TOO soon.
Almost every pound o! snow on noun.
tain side, l.OOO feet high aud quarter OF
mile long, was In nooon iot tho oase.
II cams WIN . tsra0se foaf ana success
sion OF crashes q roeks ana tFees were
caught up, ana head my breath tor wnat
WIS to happen Ths house tremoled and
rocked, tnoosano empty wagons seemed
to rush over tho ROOF, and then Al WAS
midnight darkness, ana tne st1iness OF
the grave sestAed down upon me!
Inc mouse nan oeen ouIieo unoef an
evalsncne. IL was 1ods mercy tnst u
had MOI oeen swept away anu 1osn iog
from log Ihere WIS oniy smal nre on
the heaItn, ana oeiose moseo stlucN
msten 70 see my way. AAtes looAAng sooot
. oit loond candie, ana 'oen : oeean
% investigate tne s'tuation. on opening
the door Iouna the snow packed sondly
In front- Goang 70 the single WINDOW l
found every ray OF nent smut OUT. In tne
room WAS oandie OF roos ABOUT a large
a. my nnger and nine feet long ihere
were SIX OF tnem. seizes' one ana thrust
IL up~aru from tne ocor, out IL dio noe go
through the driit Iashed announcer 70 IL,
and YET the length was not sumcienI l
lashed on sec"nd, aud VOW had az least
twenty-five clear teet OF poie 70 prooe
with. and ! believed the upper END FOUND
daylgnt. In front OF the caon' ana ABOUT
sOO feet away, was-a great mass OF bare
rock forty rods long ny n.ty ieet high.
more thah iikeiy tnat . soiu mass OF snow
forty rois long ana '"ea'y -tour tee' oeep
lay above me
y" NAT hso become on 'ne ne hermit inere
was not one chahce IN i,VV tnat ne hah
escaped, Inc aVaiahche would oiock tue
trail Tor weeks, ana a. the very oest IL
"ould oe some Gays DeioIe any one Al our
camp woaid Gho" tnat was IN the nut
hefYllI
news, IL ne was ouried uhoer tne snow
might As wen make up my mino 70 TO
maip prisoner until spring "s IN
DAD oox, ana tof tne nrst naat nou.
quite ioSt my courase. men, naVihS
every reason 70 oeneSe 'nAt must Dc
Wisoner ior many long Gays, l oesah 10
take an inventory OF STOCK. as u were.
,rhcre was so"d oed OF SKINS ana Dian.
Eets, several cooking utensas' a taoie and
several rough STOOLS, CLOCK dozen or
more books' ABOUT tn'r'y cAnaies' Win
tea, coffee, sugar, pork and hour IN quaa.
not have been better provided for had
planned for the avalanche TO come. There
was leauto at the back end OF tho
hut. and looked into this to fnd it full
Of fuel felt much more hopeful after
! had taken the inventory. for could not
help but feel that 1t would be long before
I saw daylight again
Forseveral hours after the accident the
cabin sent forth suspicious sounds. Tho
snow was settling and packing above it,
and rafters and logs cracked and srapped
in way to keep me on thorns. II the
weight on the roof proved too great l
should be crushed or smothered the mo
ment it fell In: 1t was after y o'clock IN
the afternoon before felt safe But very
little snow had come down the chimney
reasoned from this that It had been
by rocks or limbs. II such was