Semi-weekly herald., 1916-01-17
DETAILS OF SNowSLIDE
IN TELLURIDE DISTRICT

The following account of the snow
slide which killed four miners is tax
en- from the Telluride Journal:
Four miners, Joe Bendetti, better
knows as 'Pinkey joe" John Moser
Guiseppi Simone and Louis Fandron,
were swept to their doom last evening
about $3.50 o'clock by an avalanche OF
snow near the Carbonero mine work
ings above Ophir. There were five
men in the party. the fifth, Edwino
Carlin, managed to escape, walking to
Ophir Loop as soon as he had recover
ed and giving the alarm. A search
ing party has been digging in the
snow since last night but up to late
hour this afternoon had not succeeded
in finding any of the men who were
swept down and killed by the snow
slide.
From information given the Journal
these men were working on con-
tract on the Shofly Tunnel on the Car.
bonero property for Geo. p. Pickett.
Benedetti was in charge of the work.
being the boss of the crew. He went
to Ophir Loor several days ago and
attempted to get man to go with
him to the property, desiring another
mans labor on the contract. He was
unable TO find one, but finally per-
suaded John Moser, an old time miner
Of the Ophir section to go with him.
They secured some supplies yester-
day morning from the Ophir-Ames
Supply company at the Loop and
left there about l o'clock. They reach
ed the town of Ophir at about 2
o'clock, stopping there for half an
hour to rest, following which they
at a - 1a F,t. tba mi, A.
gulch. Contrary to all custom in
the winter time the men took what
is known as the summer trail,
which runs up the gulch and which
section is always swept by snow
slides all winter long. 1t is not
known why the men took this trail in
preference to the trail along the
ridge which is always used in winter
and which is safe from all slides.
When Benedetti and Moser were
within about ten minutes walk of
the Carbonero the three men there
seeing them and wishing to assist
them by breaking trail and aiding
them in carrying the supplies which
they had, started down the summer
trail to meet them. The story of
Edwino Carlin, the blacksmith, who
was at the edge of the slide and man
aged to escape, the three met the two
others at a point only about three to
five minutes walk from the bunkhouse
when the slide broke and carried them
down the hill hardly before they knew
what had happened.
II was then about $3.50 according to
The story he told at Ophir last night.
lie was carried down the hill short
distance and partly covered up with
snow, but being in the edge of the
slide managed to get out easily, but
had lost his hat and one boot. In
that condition he made his way TO
)phir and spread the alarm there and
at the Loop, telling that he had seen
nothing whatever of mis- comrades
following the slide. A searching party
was organized and at once 10 or 20
Of the residents of Ophir and the
Loop made their way to the gulch and
searched about for several hours with
lanterns, but found no signs of the
men. As bad storm was raging at
hat time, the members of the party
returned home.
This morning early half dozen
men were sent over the ridge trail
TO the Carbonero property to see If
oy any chance the men had gotten out
Of the slide and made their way TO
he bunkhouse. Upon arriving there
they found no signs Of anyone about
the place and could sec no signs of
anyone in the gulch. The party re-
turned to Ophir about noon today and
reported that they had been unable
to find anyone.
Another large searching party was
Jhen formed and started out immedi-
ately to attempt to find the bodies
If the men, who are now undoubtedly
dead. Up to late hour this afternoon
they had been unable to locate any of
the bodies.
The slide is said to have been a
very large one, being. more than 80
feet across. 1t swept far down into
the gulch, and in all probability il
VIII cause considerable trouble for
The searchers in locating the bodies,
IL even being feared they may have
% abandon the search until the
spring.
All the men swept to their death are
well known in this section and all
bear splendid regulations for being
Industrious, hard working fellows.
They had scores and scores OF friends,
not only among their countrymen,
but also among all of the people whom
they knew, and these friends were
greatly shocked to hear OF their un-
timely end. All of the men swept to
the bottom Of the gulch by the ava
lanche of snow were Austrians, only
one Of them being married. Louis
Fandron is reported to be a married
man, with a wife and family in the
old country.
This is the worst snowslide which
has swept down any mountain here
in number Of years, more men be-
eral years past,