West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-01-19
AN AVALANCHE OF SNOW
Rolls Down the Mountain Side Into
The NarrOws OF Cheat River.
Special to The ARGUS.

Special to The ARGUS
RowLEsBURG. w VA, Ian. Ia ieos.-
What might have been a virtual deluge to
Rowesburg, Dunkard Bottom and Al.
brightsville was timely averted by the cool
action and promptness OF ike" Whetsell.
OF the Whetsell Settlement. by blowing out
a gorge OF ice snow and logs that had
rolled into what is known as THE Mar.
rows" of Cheat river located about four
miles below Rowlesburg, but which later
proved to be a SNOWFALL that had been
started some distance back in the noun
tains.
Whetsel, who lives near there. and In
almost a direct line with the course taken
by the rolling mass OF snow, ice and rocks,
was startled from his afternoon nap by a
loud and ear-spiittlng noise, and upon in
veStigation il was found that Cheat river
was filled with what looked like snow for a
hundred feet high aud wide enough to turn
asix-horse team on. Realizing the danger
TO Rowlesburg and the towns below, he at
once mounted his heetest horse. crossing
on the dam, and rode 20 Ear Hagans', where
he told his story. securing some dynamite,
and was accompanied back by Hagans and
his son Hugh. and with their help he set off
several large charges of the explosive.
and gave the water an outlet through
which IL madly rushed. However. before
this was done the water, filed with large
ice hoes-the river was then breaking up
bad backed up for distance OF a mile or
more. and would have reached Rowlesburg
IN at least hfteen minutes. and had il been
left until the force Of water broke through
the result might have equaled that OF the
Jamestown food
The story, as told by party Of fox hunt.
srs from this place that were spending the
day hunting on the mountain side and came
near being run down by the monster. GER
tainly was appalling. They saw II about
mile higher ia the mountain than where il
went into the river, and say that IL would
then measure more than a hundred feet
across, and gathering everything in ITS
grasp that il came In contact with. Preston
county has had about SIX feet Of snow fall
IN the past two weeks. and in the noun
taIns the fall was much heavier, which goes
to show with what rapidlty the ball would
increase in size.
Mr. Whetsel, who has since gone over
the ground, says that the ball was started
AZ what is known as the No AZ school
house. East Side, that is situate on a mar.
row plateau just on the verge Of the noun.
tain that runs up from the river almost per
pendicular for several thousand feet
children starting the ball in play. not think-
ing tie danger that might result from such
an act. lie also says that the track over
which the monster snow bali passed looked
as II wind storm had swept Il Tor a dis.
lance Of about two miles and that the
track varies from one hundred TO three
hundred feet vide Oak trees measuring
I've feet over were torn up By the roots
twisted and broken like matches Boulders
the size Of house we're wrenched from
their resting place and embedded into the
sides OF the ball aud carried on down the
mountain side Saw logs hay.stsck and
part Of portable saw mHI. were also gath.
cred BY 10 Boz its mad rush Of destruction.
The amount Of damage done has not set
been learned butit Is said that it will reach
the thousands.
The river 40 thc point where tie ball
rolled in is very narrow and rapid and IS
banked 1y mountains on either side almost
straight up for several hundred feet high
l. N