Knoxville Journal

The Alta Avalanche.

From the Salt Lake Herald's account of the snow-slide which recently descended with such terrible force upon the little mining town of Alta, Utah, we take the following:

After the first shock was over, which lasted but a minute, the frightened senses of the people were partially restored to order and useful activity, and with one object in view all rushed up the street to the elevated bench on the north side of Alta, some carrying lanterns, others shovels, and others with staffs, poles, or anything that could be used in digging through the snow. About fifteen rods from the business center of the town a wild scene of chaos presented itself. The snow was piled up to the depth of thirty feet and projecting from the packed surface were large bowlders, heavy mining timbers and here and there a portion of what had once been a frame dwelling-house. Even the bare contemplation of the wreck sent a thrill of horror through the frames of the hundreds of spectators; then what must their feelings have been when they realized that from the location of the slide some of their acquaintances—their friends, and perhaps relatives—were certainly beneath the mighty mass of snow and debris? In less time than it would require to relate it scores of hardy miners were actively at work digging away the snow from where had stood houses occupied by human beings. While thus engaged a faint cry of "Help" came through the snow; again it was heard, and again, but growing more faint and weaker at each successive cry. It did not take long to ascertain the direction from which the voice proceeded, and when once the men on the surface had found the location there was lively shoveling of the snow for a few minutes. Short as those minutes were, each must have been an age to him underneath the snow and whose sands of life were so near run out. But the quick strokes of the shovels grew more distinct to the ears of the almost doomed man, and finally he was lifted from his snowy bed and the light of a dozen or more lanterns shone full in his face. The fortunate, unfortunate man was George Tomlins, an old gentleman who has made Alta his home for several years. By his side in the bed on which he had been lying was the body of Michael Kelly—"Old Mickey," who was known to every resident of Alta and vicinity. The snow had done its work for "Old Mickey." He and Tomlins had retired early, but were not asleep when the avalanche came. Before they knew what was the matter, or, had they known, before they could even have got out of bed the building was crushed and the two men buried under at least six feet of snow. "Mickey's" back was broken, and it is thought he died instantly, but Tomlins was more fortunate.

While Tomlins and his mate were being uncovered there was a busy scene at another part of the snowy wreck. The residence of Mr. James Carey was in the course of the slide, and had been either carried away or crushed. Above the site of the location the men commenced working with their shovels, and soon succeeded in finding what had been the interior of the frame house, though the building was broken to pieces and some of it carried away. A little more shoveling discovered a heart-rending sight, and one which caused many of the stern, hardy miners to shed tears. Seated in an easy chair, and clasping to her breast her infant babe, sat Mrs. Carey—mother and child both dead. Near them was the lifeless remains of the husband and father, and in another part of the room was the corpse of an adopted daughter, a bright little girl about six years old, named Laura Wilson. None of the bodies exhibited bruises of any kind; hence they had all suffocated. The expression on the mother's countenance was one of mingled anxiety and despair, as if she had hoped that her dear ones might yet be saved, but had finally died realizing that all must perish. The snow around the husband's body showed that he had struggled hard to extricate himself.

In another place the dead body of an old miner named Vanderleen was found. There were apparently two slides, each of immense proportions, which started about the same time; and though they headed at different points and did not travel the same route they united immediately above Alta, the whole force and mass entering and crushing through the town.