Arizona republican., 1903-05-01

Frank, n. w. T, April 30.-It is
definitely known that fifty-slx people
lost their lives here before daybreak
Wednesday morning, when the rocky
top OF Turtle mountain rushed down
upon the sleeping village of Frank
1t was undoubtedly the worst dis
aster ever known in the community
Besides killing fifty-six persons, it de-
stroyed the plant of the Canadian-Am-
erican Coal and Coke company, did a
vast amount of damage to the mine
and completely devastated about ten
square miles of the finest and most pic
turesque section Of Crows Nest pass.
Many of the bodies of the dead will
never be found. Some cabins are buried
under $50 feet of rock. Although Or
ganized efforts were made last even
ing and today to search Tor bodies,
only nineteen so far have been recover
ed. Most of the corpses were mangled
almost beyond recognition.
The disaster happened at 2 quarter
past four. when the sleeping inha BIZ
tants of Frank were suddenly awaken
ed by tremendous crash, followed by
a shaking of the buildings 1t was
still dark and for time the greatest
confusion prevailed. AS soon as day
dawned it was seen that the whole side
Of Turtle mountain had fallen away,
and the valley for distance OF two
miles was entirely choked up by rocks
and debris piled to an average height
of sixty feet. Simultaneous with the
plling Of the rocks from Turtle noun
| tain there opened an immense fisure of
the earth on the northern sida of the
| mountain. This fissure extended for a
n Is-+1
and many feet in width.
In the downward rush O. the debris
and ether material that was thrown Up
by the upheaval. the entire operating
plant OF the nch-Canadian Ccal
company was carried away. The
buildings demolished included the
boiler house, engine house, electric
light, railway repair house and a row
of coke ovens. Seven houses, also
owned by the company, were smashed
into kindling, six of them being en-
tirely obliterated and their occupants
killed. while ten other houses, which
were situated in the valley east of the
town were also smashed into match
wood. The people living in these houses
were also instantly killed as they were
sleeping.
y
/ ceed a million and a half.
| The scene of this awful catastrophe
I was originally one of the most pictur-
esque valleys in Canada. Through the
center OF the beautiful valley ran the
Old Mans river. which has its source
on the eastern slope of the Crows Nest
pass. The total width of the valley
was little over mile and it was
bounded on the southern side by Tur-
tie mountain, sheer wall of rock,
which rose to a height of $500 feet
above the level of the town. The town
of Frank lay in the peaceful valley.
now a scene of dessola ton and chaos,
which was bounded on the other side
by g range OF foot hills of the Rocky
mountains. The Old Mans river, which
flowed through the valley followed the
side of Turtle mountain. close uI
against the foot of which the town of
Frank was built.
TIE mountain wall was, before this
terrible catastrophe, so high and pre-
cipitous that even on the longest day
in middle summer the sun set in the
town of Frank at 8 o'clock in the after
noon. and after that twilight ensued
until the usual hour of sunset. The
material from the slide or upheaval
came down in almost a vertical wall OF
rock and crossed the valley, distance
of over a mile, and went part way VI
the foothills of the opposite side of the
valley to height above the highest
building in the town.
Where once existed cozy homes fer
tile farms and stock ranches there is
now nothing but high chaotic piles OF
debris from the mountain which has al
the appearance of having been torn by