Evening star., 1898-05-13
FROM DEATH TO LIFE.


Avalanche OF snow and Ice.
| From the Portland Oregonian
| From life to death and back again to life
| was the experience Of A. Miller of Port
land in the recent Chilkoot catastrophe.
Mr.. Miller arrived in Portland yesterday
! feeling fairly well, yet he has not entirely
recovered from the effects of being buried
| beneath tons OF snow and ice. He suffered
internal injury that for a time gave the
physicians doubt as to the ultimate turn
Of his case, and looks back to the loss of
many pounds of flesh as one of the least
| regretfu features of his narrow escape
| Mr.. Miller was caught under the large
slide that extended over a mile along the
| trail at the Scales. being at the time with
| over 100 men and women. fleeing from what
was known to becfmminent danger After
| more than two hours of unconsciousness.
| during which time Mr. Miller was thought
by many to have taken a permanent abode
| In the shadowy realm, he was finally re-
vfved through the good offices of his
friend, F. b. Holbrook of Portland, and
DIR. Maple, the government physician who
rendered such valuable services to the un-
fortunates.
About II am. Mr.. Miller, with Mr.. Hol-
brook and party, of over 100, left the
Scales, a long rope being used by the party
IN the same manner as by mountain climb
ers, This was mainly for the protection
OF the women, Although some of the men
found 1t valuable in clambering dawn the
steep treacherous trail. Shortly after IL
Mr.. Miller says he was suddeplv made
aware OF the great avalanche by a terrific
rumble and roar from above No one could
see it; in fact, the driving snow made IT
impossible to more than see the trail be-
meath their feet From the time the first
roar was heard until the avalanche enpulf-
ed the party was only a moment. Most of
those holding the rope were struck while
still bending forward to protect their faces
from the blizzard, the mass of snow simply
crushing them down to the trail Mr. Mil
ler started to turn for a backward look
when caught, and was pressed down on
ms side In cramped position. When mar
rating his sensations at that time he said:
1T is hard to tell how T felt 7 realized
our danger first. before seeming to contem-
plate that 1 was facing death. Knowing
now now we mad rescued many during the day
from smaller slides, my first thought was
the chances for being rescued NV chest
felt like 1t was fitted into cement tomb,
permitting no expansion. My fingers,
hands. arms and limbs were pinioned so
that it would have required great exertion
to move either Rescue l knew must come
soon or never, and thought of the line
before. and of any that might have been
ahoVe the slide. as the only ones from
whom We could hope. MY breath grew
shorter l tried to blow against the snow
| to enlarge the little place where breathed
Each slight exertion warned me that I
would rapidly suocumb if / did not remain
perfectly quiet. Then I was terrorized
with the thought of suffocatinp IT occur
| red to me that this had always been man
ner of death for which 1 held peculiar
horror To be pnioned rigid. crushed by
tons of snow, slowly dying. while life and
| happiness were few feet above nv head,
As felt weakness growing my thoughts
! turned to my wife and children I saw
them in their home all happy and content
ed. ana then as they were thrown into
mourning for me in that very position in
| the snow. My mind then reviewed their
| financial condition, and as 7 realized that
| they would be provided for 7 felt sense
4 ffy,<r Synft T
| them. yet happy to know they would be
well. left them to think of the final pang.
| A stupor grew on me. without pain. until
II was as though "a physician held to my
| face an anaeSthet4c tisat took away CON
| SciouSneSS and life
| when I revived Mr. Holbrook held me
by the collar ana was vigorously chafing
me. NY surprisei was great to know I
| had again come t& life. and it required mo-
| ments to reassure myself that there was
no mistake But then the pain began. It
was easy to die. bft life came hard After
one impulse to kf How what had become OF
| the money in my pocket. part of which
| belonged to another. my time was occupied
WITH sharp. pricking pains through my
| llmbs and oppressive feelings in my chest
| AS the blood staptAd through the veins and
| arteries my agony became SO great that
almost regretted that they had broken my
| peaceful sleep. In due time I began to re-
cover. thanks to the considerate work of
| Dr. Maple, and .fiaally was able to get out
| again.
| w I'u tHe TescuerS dug Mr.. Miller from
| the seven feet of snow burying him he was
thought to be dead and was laid out Mr.
stolbrook recognized him and commenced
the resuscitation that restored life after
more than two hours' work Mr. HoIbrook.
being nearer the rear of the partv was
covered I'D only to about his shoulders
| from which nosition he succeeded in get
ting to the surface. Others at different po-
sitions We're covered deep. and will not be
brought to the light until the sun melts the
snow Mr. Miller and his party were about
three. fourths of mile below the Scales
when caught, the trail at the place being in
the bottom of a gully.
"A peculiar condition. and one which NAV
be Instructive to others similarly placed
was that of the number rescued shortly
after being buried those showing evidence
OF struggling violently We're the ones that
could not be revived. Many of these had
scratched their own faces in a terrible
manner. and one had torn eyebal from
the socket. Those who kept quiet We're
the only ones revived at all One or two
when they came to life We're raving mani
acs for a few minutes, which DR. Maple
explained to be a Weakening in the same
sense of fright in which they sank to un-
consciousness.