Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1890-01-18
THE AVALANCHE.
II Is scientifically Described
by Dan DeCuilie.


mountain avalanche. The followin
"a 10 the result of Dan Deputies stud
of it:
d The avalanches to be feared a
this season in the high Sierras ar
q the dry kind. These are composed
of fine snow SO frozen that there Is
, no adhesion among the particles
-sRow that il like dry sand and
which runs like bot ashes when
from any canse it is started. This
kind OF snow is generally found at
considerable altitude-on the
slopes of the high peaks that stand
like watch towers along the crest
OF the main ridge of the Sierra
Nevada range. 1t was probably an
avalanche Of this powdered snow
that rushed down into Sierra CITY.
Such Nh avalanche is frequently
started by the whirlwipds that play
about in the lee of a tall peak,
carrying aloft columns of snow re-
sembling somewhat the "sand-au-
gers" seen on deserts.
In an avalanche of this kind
there is not only the snow that runs
aleng on the ground, but the whole
atmosphere is also flled to the
hight of hundreds OF feet with the
snow powder. This powder soon
sufocates the person on whom it
settles down. With such an avail
anchs there is also sufficient con-
cussion of the atmosphere to over
throw an ordinary frame building.
These ayalanches of dry snow are
sufficiently terrible, but are not to
be compared With the swet enes-
those Generally occurring in the
spring wheE the first thaws come)
that are started by waters on the
GROUND beneath a great depth of
snow. Those are a mixture of
snow, soil, rocks and trees. They
not only overwheln but. also grind
in pieces whatever comes in their
way. The rocks and stones enter
ing into their composition serve
the same purpose as the bits of
gravel in the gizzard of foul, and
enable them to chew up whole trees I
n almost an instant. 1t
In valley on tho headouarters
u the Tuolunae river, California, i
to be seen the dsbris-the solid g
such an avalanche. It
ecsndsd the northern slope of
reat peak, and fer . distance of .
we miles swept before it every tree i,
nd rock, leaving the ground be- n
ind like plowed field. On either .,
loe stand pines and ether o.
vergreen trees, the appearance :
resented being . reminder of the 70
yclone paths in the timbered re- a;
ions Of the Atlantic States. those of
rmerly called "wind-falls." This il
left far cut in the valleys h,
cresent-shaped wall of rocks and N
lewed-up trees about twenty feet M
height. A man from . prairie
glen would be long in guessing tn
q nature of this striking object m,
ID would be likely to imagine it to RI
rude fertilization erected in or,
tediluvian times; or by old Chro- ev
. and other Notwithstanding tae
tans. ~,
But little less to be feared is the m.
nd of avalanche that occurs when MIA
the mountain peaks are covered 90
the depth of from one to three tn
It with moist snow. Anyone who for
ever seen a party of school
70 roll up . huge ball in wet !
w can readily comprehend the ESQ
inner in which this third kind Der
is formed. When the sell
w is in the right condition q l .
n standing on a high peak might cou
troy whole town below, SIM one
by rolling up and starting down ing
slope of mountain a ball of sale
y the size of his head. Such !.
lanchss are generally started by WV.
mp OF snow dropping from the
: of ahelvin~ rook r.