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Show THE FATAL AVALANCHE. Miraculous escape of all but two unfortunates, who perish in the fleecy? caress of death. One of the most appalling disasters which ever occurred in this part of the country happened on Friday last; and the frightful fatality has made sorrowful the hearts of all in this community. The facts of the affair, which have all been learned, are as follows. ON Friday, just about noon, Foreman Joseph Morris started from the Temple mill in Maughan's Fork of Logan canyon, with 13 men and three teams for the purpose of breaking a road, as was usually done after a heavy snow fall. They proceeded without any particular interruption until they had reached a point about four miles below the mill, or a short distance above the Forks. Here a heavier body of snow was encountered and great caution was enjoined upon the men by Foreman Morris. The party was right at the foot of a high smooth mountain, which sloped directly toward them; and fears were entertained that some accident might occur because of the immense body of new dry snow which was weighing upon the crust of the old layer. Alas! The fear was only too well founded. The party of men and teams had got fairly below the center peak of the mountain when a crack was heard like the report of a gun, and David Roach, a young man who was driving the second team, cried, "Oh my God! It's a slide! Run, boys!" His cry was repeated by Morris, who was with the last team, and the words rung out sharp and clear, "Run! Run!, men for your lives!" In less time than it can possibly be told, every man was in motion, either running up the road which had just been broken or across the creek and up the opposite mountain side, while the avalanche came down like a thunderbolt. Northing stayed its resistless course, and within seconds from the time that ominous crack was heard, for about ??? yards up and down the canyon, the road, the creek, and a large part of the opposite mountain slope were buried beneath a covering of snow from ten to thirty feet in depth. Seven of the men escaped almost untouched, but when they turned to find their companions, a dreary waste of snow met their gaze. Not a moment was lost. Morris called all who had been saved to assist him; and they began the work of rescuing their companions. ?? had been knocked down by the slide; but, being an agile fellow, had been quick enough to gather himself for some more effort which enabled him to get within reach of help. James Stratton, who had run across the creek was buried to his neck, but a few moments ??? to set him free. Peter C?? was covered on his shoulders; he escaped without assistance. Oscare Ke?? Was found in the creek, buried over his head. He had retained sufficient presence of mind to stretch his arms upward and by working the tips of fingers could remove enough snow to give him an occasional breath of air. He was secured unharmed. All the [unreadable line]; and they speedily began the search for their missing comrades. Fifteen or twenty minutes after the slide, one of the three, Arnold Zurn??man was discovered buried as a considerable depth in the snow on the other mountain side. When taken out he was black in the face and gasping for breath. The search for the other two, William King and Nephi Osterholdt, proceeded. Foreman Morris immediately dispatched a man, Pearson by name, to the mill for assistance; while Beach and Stratton were sent seven miles down the canyon to the Wood camp to give the alarm. The messengers accomplished their duties. Pearson ran all the way to the mill and brought back the men from that place. Beach and Stratton followed down the river, wading in the stream the greater part of the way, until they reached a point three miles and a half below the slide. Here they found Superintendent C. O. Card, and Foreman N. Haws, who, with all the able bodied men from the wood camp were endeavoring to break a road through toward the mill. Word was immediately sent to the city, and although it wasn't received until late at night, a force of ?? volunteers, with teams, shovels, and provisions was secured by Elder James A. Leishman. In the meantime, Counselor Card with men from the Wood camp pushed forward through the deep and drifted snow, and succeeded in reaching the scene of action without accident. From that time, the labors of the party were unceasing. Two mules and the sled which they had been drawing were soon found. They were under two feet of water. The channel of the creek having been completely blocked, the water spread over everything, freezing in a sheet of ice and packing the snow so densely as to make the labor of searchers much greater. Superintendent Card and Foremen Haws and Morris worked until they were exhausted, but they remained with the party continually and directed the search. The next day, Saturday, other persons arrived from Logan; but nothing more than a span of horses was found. With the last party from Logan on Saturday was brother Klag, father of one of the lost young men. His agony was terrible to behold. His constant moan was "Ah! My Billy was a good boy, but he's got a cold bed this night!" On Sunday morning at half past ten after having been buried about 43 hours, the body of William King was found in the creek. He had died without much suffering as in all probability he was stunned as soon as struck. One hour after, the remains of Nephi Osterholdt were found, under a slight covering of snow. He had been caught while attempting the cross the creek; and without doubt met a painless and instantaneous death. His features looked as composed as though he were in a gentle slumber. ---- The bodies were immediately sent to Logan, and a great part of the working force accompanied them. Superintendence Card remained in order to get all of the men away from the camps. He had left here the previous Wednesday morning for that very purpose , but owning to severe slides and heavy drifts in the vicinity of the Wood camp had been detained. At the time the accident occurred, he was engaged in breaking a road through the canyon; and if all had gone well would soon have met the party from the ill. He has succeeded in sending to their homes the men who were working at the mill and elsewhere in the canyon, he himself remaining on the ground until the last employee had left. |