Show brave young accounts of the frightful disaster at st gervaas state that hundreds of live were saved by the action of a young swiss named benzier Pen zier alio was employed us barber la one of the hotels which were wrecked by the avalanche benzier was at work when the farst terrible cracking sounds gave warning of danger the whole side of the mountain instantly int antly gave way the solid swayed and crumbled beneath the dust the people stunned with horror rushed wildly here and there tor escape but death foed them on every side denzler alone was cool lie saw that there was a chance of safety on the other side of the torrent that swept down the mountain for a few brief minutes the mass of rocks trees and shattered dwellings which it carried down were blocked gorged with a narrow space of water in the centre Denzi cr giving orders to the men heaped up over this space boxes trunks furni ture doors dragged from the hotel until a bridge was made across which he led the terrified mob of people to safety the coolness and authority with which this young peasant in the face of an awful death controlled the men and women who an hour before had regarded him servant was the most remarkable feature of the achievement not until the last human being was in safety did he cross himself youths companion |