The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-07-02

did guess. l came to my conclusion
through experiences in Idaho noun
tains and observing the mountains
here. About half past IL o'clock m
on April Bird, few hours after break
fast, a terrible calamity befell the plod-
ding throng of prospectors. A very
heavy snow storm has been raging all
night, and small snow slides had been
frequent all the morning, two or three |
were caught under one at about III |
o'clock a, m, and while willing hands |
were at work with shovels TO extricate |
the poor ones, and as crowd of return
ing packers had neared the spot when
the awful calamity occurred, a huge
avalanche of a ponderous mass Of snow
caue laundering down the mountain
side, devastating streets and shacks,
which were numerous in its path, and
burying untold numbers of men, horses,
oxen and dogs. 1t is estimated that
upwards of 200 people were caught and
buried under the mass of snow and ice.
Hundreds of people are working with a
will. Shovels, picks and pans have
been brought into use to extricate the
unfortunates. Every man in Sheep
Camp and the Scales hurried to the
rescue of the disaster, and the excite,
ment increased as the bodies were un-
covered. There were brothers anxious
ly searching for brothers, fathers hunt
ing for sons and friends digging for
friends. The bodies of the victims are
being taken to Sheep Camp and those
living are made as comfortable as cir
cumstances permit. The search for
victims will be kept up all night and as
long as there is chance to recover a
body. The ponderOus mass of snow is
difficult to handle on account of being
mixed with chunks of ice. The ava
lanche was caused by the heavy fall of
wet snow. So far so dead bodies are
lying in large tent on the snowy floor.
All more or less disfgured. One man
from Baker City Oregon looked the
most natural of all. His name is
Weidlein: All day yesterday, April 4th,
a string of hand sleds was coming from
the foot of Chilcoot Pass and each one
of them carried the body of an unfOr.
tunate. helped dig out for two days
and dug out six bodies myself, ono OF
them has not been identified yet. 1t is
thu most awe inspiring calamity l ever
witnessed. One man lost his six part
ners and has not found one Of them
yet. One woman lost her life. The
crew of the Chilcoot Pass Tramway 20
persisted, one and all. Thousands and
thousands of tons of provisions, tents
and outfits are buried under tons OF
snow, never to be recovered again. God
only knows how many bodies lay bur
led 1t will never be known. Every
hour since April 3rd dead bodies art
recovered. You can see collins (rudt
boxes) everywhere, every hour in thu
! day you see sleds loaded with the dead
] All business has stopped, all traffic il
i at standstill The morgue is crowded
with people from morning till nigh
looking for dead friends. Some of Ida
hos men are dead. All of our boys ant
i those of Mr.. Ralph Cowden escaped b.
i a chance. AS l stand amongst tn
dead and gaze upon their cold, deform
}. ed faces, my heart is chilled to the core
T my thoughts wander over oceans
g prairies and hills, to the family heart
o of the deceased. Many a dear oil
e. mother, many true good wife, many
J. young sweetheart is looking for the re
d turn of the beloved one, who lies her
0 Oh the cold snow at my feet. Man
o hopes was crushed many young lif
q cut down when the heart was DeaCin
II at fever heat with excitement an
} fondest hopes, hopes which will neVe
b be realized. Our tOwnsman Mr.. Ralp
d Cowden was heartsick at the though
T, and sight. 1t is so great, SO awful, 6
Is tremendous, my mind can't grasp a
NJ nor can my pen describe it. l hay
ID been the eye witness of many a catal
IS trophy and my book of memory hi
P. pages written in accidents, adventur,
a but this new page will be one deaf
W alone can erase. l would write colum
lg after column reciting of what hay
I'd seen. All l have to say, did m
T. duty as a man, by giving my aid
r rescue work and financial aid as far |
m my purse would permit. Chileoot Pa
IS. will be password for me through Il
re rest of my life. 1 will do all in n
n power to find out who was killed fro
lg ,,.,.,z ooot,u, 0raoo, ,,5 ~.