Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-05-05

press upon our company the necessit,
of being prepared, as we know no
what day or even a moment ma,
bring forth. It will be weeks befor,
all the facts are related and some o
them only the day OF God will reveal
DEATH. FROM A SNOW SLIDE.
What is the manner of ones death
caught thus under a great avalanche
of snow? This is an interesting ques.
ton. When You view, as have done,
LAID out in line the bodies of AZ mer
You will pause and contemplate.
Your first thought will be that these
men were smothered. Bat the fact
is, that death occurs from the fact that
one cannot even make the effort to
breathe. Breathing ceases Instantly
and the power of breathing also
instantly. Calculate the immense
weight pressing the bodyand extrem-
tiles equal on all sides and you have
tho whole body as pressed in a vice.
The weight of the SNOW from above
makes equal pressure below and
so on all sides. The effect of this
upon the nervous system is such
as to utterly suspend action of
the nerves and consequently the
muscles. The chest is so COM
pressed by weight thst the lungs can
not expand and bresthing is impos-
sible, even If air wers accessible. This
is evidenced by the fact that man
was found but a few minutes afGer the
slide covered up to the shoulders and
to the neck, his head being in the open
air. He was dead. Breathing had
been suspended by the heavy weight
on his chest. a mtn was found with
his lower limbs fasened in the snow.
He could not exricate himself; had
no power to move muscle below his
waist. Hence one incased as in wise
in snow can not make a particle of ef-
fort to get out. Cne would think there
would be struggle, but there is none
whatever. 1t is almost instant and alb
solute suspension of physical life. The
mind may lapse Into dreamy state and
inconsistencies ensues. I talked with
a man who was engulfed who was taken
out unconscious and restored to life.
performed religious services at the
grave of two Of his companions and
for many others killed. This man said
Che was in his tent asleep, "I first felt
great pressure all over me; I only
had the use of the tips of one hand;
had short and labored breath, but
went to sleep without any great pain
or suffering" 1t would seem from
this case that sensation is suspended
and that the death after all is an easy
one. One poor woman at the Scales
had been caught in q snow drift by
being behind and begged when the
rope company started down to have a
place next to the leader. Her body
was the second one recovered. Her
husband was out of danger and sur
wives. The interesting incidents OF
this awful calamity would make a
volume, bnt I must close for the pres
ent.
To relieve the minds of our friends at
home who may fear for our safety in
the future, wish to state the fact that
this fearful scene could have been
avoided by the exercise of a little
prudence. No one had any business
out of their tents that day. No one
was compelled to camp in those mar
row mountain passes. We move with
the utmost caution. We remain IN
camp in time of storm and go into
camp when q storm is approaching.
Others break the trail, lead and test
everything. We profit by their sad
experiences. We can avoid danger.
We can anticipate it. So our good
friends must not be alarmed for our
safety. We move very slowly, safely,
take our time and have had no acct
dent. The old miners all tell us to ego
slow" and "never be In a hurry"
those who were killed were all in a
wna,, working on the Lords day
sra --.;s;r.hotlld have been resting
vatior Of ne. Lord for the preser-
and protection. n the future a0
1 have performer.
over the dead, have sdeeou9 services
weep as little children whe2ng men
speak of the wife and childre9id
home soon to hear the sad news OF
death. All in camp are well and as
soon as all Is safe, in few days, we
win move over the pass and down to
Lake Linderman. Love to all my
friends. ]. A. HEADINGToN.
P. S.-We can be addressed at Dyea
for weeks yet. Mail will be for
warded.