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Show Worst Snow Slide Known !n Provo Canyon Sends 50 len In lace for Life Two men were killed, three seriously injured, and a score of others less badly bruised and injured Saturday morning in one of the worst snowslides ever experienced in Provo canyon. The missing and who late Saturday were believed to be dead were: Don Allred, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, residing at Lake-view, Lake-view, a son-in-law of Peter Madsen. Mark Hyslop, Grandview, formerly employed as a teamster for the Provo Ice and Cold Storage company. Those most seriously injured: Leonard Sutherland, 19 years of age, 768 West First south street. Ben Carter, 60 years of age, 950 West Second South. Spencer Madsen, 28 years of age, Lakeview, taken to his home, but later returned to the slide to aid in the search of his brother-in-law, Don Allred. The slide occurred at 9:30 o'clock Saturday morning while 55 men from Provo were at work clearing the railroad tracks of the Denver & Rio Grande Western, Heber branch line from snow which had covered the tracks in the slide occurring at Bridal Veil falls in Provo canyon Friday morning. morn-ing. The slide, several feet deep and more than 150 feet wide fell from the top of the Bridal Veil falls to the bottom of the canyon, more than 1200 feet below. It covered the rail-rock rail-rock tracks, the river and extended to the other side of the canyon, a distance of more than 1000 feet. As the snow struck the bottom, it went in two directions, part going up the canyon and part down. To guard the lives of the men removing re-moving the snow from the tracks and to warn them from other slides that might come, Everett Backman, living at SSS West Sixth South street, had been placed on the north side of the canyon. Before he saw the slide coming over the top of the falls, Backman fired the two shots from his shotgun shot-gun to warn the other men to get away from the slide. The men left their shovels standing stand-ing in the snow and rushed away, but so rapidly did the slide come down the 1200 feet distance from the edge of the fall that the great majority of them were caught in the onrushing snow. Hats, caps, shoes and boots were lost in the rush for safety. Many of the men were knocked down by the slide and were rolled a considerable distance, several of them falling into the river. Through their own effort many of those who were caught in the s'ide pulled themselves out of the snow, while others received assistance assist-ance from their comrades close by them. Several were buried to their armpits arm-pits and had a great deal of difficulty diffi-culty in getting out of the snow. Only 20 of the 55 men who were working for the railroad were not caught in the slide. Thirty-five men were more or less covered over with the snow. "This was worse than hell," said Oscar Vogel, 58 North Fourth West street, who was one of those lucky enough to get away without being caught in the slide. "To see the Lynch, Salt Lake City, trainmaster of the D. & R. G. W., and Charles Anderson of Provo, section foreman of the road. In the hands of Everett Bachman the foreman of the men had placed the lives of all of the men who were digging the snow away from the railroad tracks. Backman had been placed on the north side of the canyon to watch the top of the Jiridnl Veil falls for any new slide I that might come down. Two shots from a shotgun were the signals for the men to clear away from the snow and to warn them of the on-rushing on-rushing snow. For several hours Backman had been looking steadily towards the top of the falls. He realized that should he give the warning too late perhaps the lives of all of the men niay be in danger. To add to the hardship of keeping watch a heavy snow started to fall S o'clock in the morning. A strong wind was also blowing and it was with difficulty that the top of the fall could be seen from the bottom of the canyon. But Backman never faltered. In face of the strong wind and the heavy he kept a steady watch. For a long time there was nothing to break the monotony of tbe watch. Then all of a sudden, Backman heard a terrific noise. It sounded like the rolling of heavy timber Xhe wind was sweeping the snow from the tops 'of the crags. The sound increased in volume and clouds of light snow was seen above fellows falling out of the snow here, there and everywhere, was one of the worst sights that I have ever seen. "Seeing them falling around like that, was bad enough, let alone being caught in the slide. The fellows fel-lows looked like a bunch of snowmen snow-men as they crawled out of the snow. Their hair and face, as well an their clothing were completely covered with snow. "I hope I don't have to see anything any-thing like it for a long time to come. This experience is enough for me. "Everywhere you could henr the boys screaming for help as they were caught in the snow aud had succeeded in getting their head out in the open." Vogel was the timekeeper of the crowd of men who had been taken up to the canyon early Saturday morning to clear away the Friday slide under the direction of J. W. the falls. |