Year: 1859




We are indebted to Langton Cos. EN-
press for the following Extra from the ofhce
of the Sierra Democrat:


On Monday evening at about sun down;
the inhabitants of Monte Cristo were startled
by rumbling noise like that of an earth
quake, and upon the people rushing out TO
ascertain the cause, it was found that ianu
slide had occurred on the lower flat Inc
earth parted at the lower road leading from
Monte Cristo to Poker Flat; a large mass
about twenty five feet in width and of great
bulk was precipitated down the mountain
side distance of about four hundred feet,
carrying away three dwelling houses


There was great CONSERVATION among the
inhabitants in that part of the town. 1t was
soon ascertained that four persons were miss
ing; Mrs. Howe, and two of her children,
one an infant, another, little girl between
| two and three years of age, and also the little
son of Mrs B. Wright, aged between~three
and four years.


The citizens turned out Immediately after
the accident in search of the missing, ana re
covered the dead bodies of Mrs. Wrghts boy
and that of Mrs. Howes infant, that night
about nine o'clock At that hour there came
another avalanche, which made them to ty
for the night.


Early next morning the search was renew
ed Mrs Howe's body was found at about 8
o'clock, havinga large beam resting upon her
neck. She must have been killed instantly.
The body of Mrs. lis little girl was not found
up to the time our informant, Mr.. A. Coch-
rane, left Monte Cristo.


Another child of Mrs. Howe a bright girl
of about seven years, was carried on the top
of the avalanche, and was saved, though con
siderably bruised and scratched. The life OF
Mr.. Howe, husband of the lady above men
toned was saved by one Of those mysterious
chances which are SO common In events oi
such calamity. He had but moment OF
two been out of his house, where Mrs. Howe
and the children were and was talking with
u near neighbor about the probable danger o
a land slide, when the crash came Three
miners living in cabin next to the house o
Mr. Howe had Just finished supper and left
their cabin, when it was crushed to atoms
and they had barely time to flee from impen
ding death


On the Friday evening previous to this sad
occurrence, there was a slide, which took
away the dump car" of the West Point Co.
and left fifty feet of their tunnel with bare
timhers. Parties living in that part of the
town had been warned of the danger of re-
naming there, and on Monday, we under
stood, Mr.. Howe had been searching for a
house intending to remove, with his family.


During all Monday night fragments ofrock
and earth were heard tumbling down the
mountain side, and another slide is looked
for. A large fssure in the earth, foot OF
more in width and upwards of a quarter of :
mile in length, exists still higher up the noun
tain, into which all the water from the melt
ing snow above discharges itself The fissurC
extends through the grave yard, leaving, il
places, the cofiins of the dead exposed. Pre-
parations are being made for disintering the
bodies


The flat underlying the impending slide
on which good portion of the town stands
is entirely deserted The loss is beyond est
nation


! Work in the tunnels has been suspended
the miners being afraid to venture into them
since the terrible calamity