The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-05-05
TERRIBLE LANDSLIDE.
Six square Miles of Ground In the Prov
ince of Quebec P=ecipitafed into n
swollen Stream.

QUEBEC, April 30.-About $50 O'Clock
Friday night the inhabitants of the quiet little
village of st. Alban, situated 45 miles from
here, in the county of Port Neuf, heard Il
terrific noise resembling the roll of thunder
in the distance. The soil commencing to vi.
brate, panic ensued. Farmers ran out of
their dwellings to avoid being buried under
the ruins, as they believed the ground was
going to give way beneath them. At the up
per end of the village, some three miles from
the parish church, is curve formed by the
river St. Anne, and close to the curve is
waterfall $50 feet high. The ground forming
the right hand side of the fall gave way, bury
ing the pulp wood mill, which was situated
right underneath, and blocking the course of
the stream. The stream, which was very
rapid, on account of melting snow over the
mountain and adjacent valley, spread over
the adjoining farms, and caused the badly
stayed or undermined embankment to slide
into the river, filling it up. Seven houses
situated along the river bank were carried
into the river. One of them was occupied by
n family named Gautler, of four persons, all
of whom persisted. Smoke was seen to ascend
from under the ruins, showing what an awful
death the occupants must hive met. The
ground which slid into the river measured
about six square miles. Whole farms have
been destroyed. The old bed of the ST. Anne
river is now levelled, and the river runs miles
from where it coursed before. Three bridges
were carried away, namely, the st. Alban
bridge, St. Cosimer bridge and the ST. Anne
bridge.
People in the neighborhood of the scene of
the disaster are still terror stricken. The old
est inhabitants of the place never witnessed
or heard Of such thing before. although sew.
eral land slides have occurred in the neigh
hOrhaOd he
of water from the Lauredtian chain of noun
taiEs is tremendous during the spring time,
owing to the melting of snow, and it is thought
by scientific men that the ground had become
honeycombed by the water, owing to the fact
that the lower strata of soil formation are
mostly clay. Large tracts of land, with trees
and vegetation, have been shifted without the
least disturbance. while in other places the
land was completely turned over. Booms
and wharves belonging to j. A. Rousseau
were carried away. The ST. Lawrence at
Quebec is covered with wreckage and car
cases of animals. Market boats were unable
to come down Saturday from the adjacent
parishes, owing to the wreckage floating on
the stream. The losses are estimated at $500,
00O
News reached Quebec Wednesday from St.
Alban that there is imminent danger of
another catastrophe there. A lake 80 feet
deep has formed, and if the dam gives way
the waters will sweep everything before them.
An unsuccessful search for the four persons
buried by the landslide has been made.
Rochester, N. Y, had a $4,000 fire on
Monday night.
Mrs. Elizabeth Goings, of indianapolis, Indiana,
died last week aged 1os her father lived to be Ill
years old.
Freddy Wilson was taken from the Jail at
Missouri Valley, Iowa, by mob of masked
men and hanged TO the steps of the City Hall,
on Tuesday He is alleged to have been a
notorious highwayman, and was implicated in
the killing of City Marshall Whiting on Satur-
day last.
The Marietta and North Georgia Railroad
shops at Marietta, Ca, we're burned Tuesday
night, with FIVE large locomotives and several
new passenger coaches and freight cars. The
was insured in the Atlanta Home
Insurance Company for 1927 900, which
covers the loss.
census Of the colored business men of |
Atlanta, Ca, just completed, shows that they |
are worth over $l,000,000. There are eight |
men worth $50, 900 each, while large mum
her are placed at sums between $40. 900 and |
$50, 900. The provision business seems to be
the one which they make the greatest success.
The Washington county commissioners will |
oppose the payment of moneys fur the cure
of hab;4nal drnnkards at reliable gold cures |
under the law recently passed by the Mary |
land Legislature. They claim under the law
500 habitual drunkards of The county could |
petition the court to be sent to a cure, and |
that the cost would be $4,000. to come from |
the county,