West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-02-23
UNDER AN AVALANCHE.

was coming out Of the mountains to
me north OF irginia City with lot OF
miners mail strapped on my back. There
was no reSu.ar NAL route there then,
but about once a month some one took
the letters down and returned with any
mail found at the Postoiiice. I was on
sIow shoes. The winter had becn
severe, and the snow was five or s;x feet
deep OH the level. The eth of January
mad been very balmy day, with n warm
sun and wind. and on the morninc of
the 2Sth started
had to make my way along the base
OF range known to us then nc RiIl's
Thumb, and for this twelve miles there
was only one settler. lie was an old
bachelor who had built himself snug
stout cabin under the caves of the
Thumb. He was hunter, miner. pros.
pector, taxidcrmist. naturalist. and
don't know what else. Some of tho
boys who had met him had an idea that
he mad soured Oh the world. and come
out there to live n hermit life, but he was
chap who kept TO himself and would
not allow any one to question him.
got along very we'll for the first five
mil,s, but then realized that I was in
danger from snow slides. The thaw had
continued through the night. and il
needed only Jar TO send the great
masses of snow lying on the mountain
rushing down the slope with n force
which moth NC could stand. One took,
place behind me which brought down
hundreds of tons, and as | pushed my
way forward all my senses were on the
alert for the first signal OF danger.
When had approached within pistol
shot OF the hermit's cabin l 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 Ireacbe1
tho cabin stood at the door to wait for
him, thinking he might wish me to take
q letter or do some crrand lie was still
malt mile away when I heard q dull.
1all away up the mountain above nv
mead. / knew it was a mass Of snow
tumbling off the rocks, and thar IL was
the seed OF an avalanche. Tho sound
had scarcely reached my ears when
wheeled 10 the door lifted the lat h and
the next instant was inside WAS mono
too soon Almost every pound Of snow
On a mountain side thousand feet hiph
and quarter Of a mile lonQ was in mo
ZION Tor the base. 10 came with ter
TiDle roar and n succession Of crashes os
rocks and trees wee caught up. and
held my breath for what was TO hannen
he house trcmbled and rocked, n thou.
sand empty wagons seemed 10 rush Over
the roof, and then all was midnipbt dark.
ness, and the stiffness Of the grave settled
down upon me.
The house had been buried under an
avalanche. IL was Gods mercy that II
had not been swept away and torn loo
from log. There was only n small Gre on
the hearth, and before ] moved struck
match TO see my way Ancr lookipo,
about bit found n candle. and then I
began to investigate the situation. ON
opening the door J found the snow
packo solidly in front Coinp 10 the
single window found every raw Of liobt
shut out. I'm the room was bundle OF
rods about as large as my finger and nine
teet long. There were six OF tbcn
seized one and thrust 10 upward from the
door, but it did not 90 through thedrift
lasbed another TO IL, and yet the length
was not sufficient. I lashcd on n second
and now had at least twenty-five clear
fcet Of pole 10 probe with, and believed
the upper end found daylight In front
OF tho cabin. and about 200 feet away.
was q great mass Of bare rock forty rods
long by fifty feet high This would stop
the ava anchc, aud it was more than Iikclv
that solid mass OF snow forty rods long
ana w uty-iour feet deep lay above me.
what had become Of The hermit, There
va. not one chance in n thousand that
he had escaped. The avalanche would
block the trail for Weeks, and attho vcrv
best 10 would be some days before aov
one at our camp would know that was
in the hut. lf ihc hermit escaped bo
would carry the news If hc was buried
under the snow, might as well make up
MY mind TO remain n prisoner until
spring. Twas in q bad box, aud Tor the
RFst half hour quite lost my courage.