4'2 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNN0 1756. 



left hand, about an hour and half distant from the road leading to the castle of 

 Demonte, towards the middle of the mountain, there were some houses in a 

 place called Bergemoletto, which on the IQthof March, in the morning, (there 

 being then a great deal of snow) were entirely overwhelmed and ruined by two 

 vast bodies of snow, that tumbled down from the upper mountain. All the in- 

 habitants were then in their houses, except one Joseph Rochia, a man of about 

 50, who with his son a lad of 15, were on the roof of his house, endeavouring 

 to clear away the snow, which had fallen without any intermission for 3 pre- 

 ceding days. Whence perceiving a mass of snow tumbling down towards them 

 from the mountain above, they had but just time to get down and flee, when, 

 looking back, they perceived the houses were all buried under the snow. Thus 

 22 persons were buried under this vast mass, which was 6o English feet in 

 height, insomuch that many men, who were ordered to give them all possible 

 assistance, despaired of being able to do them the least service. 



After 5 days, Joseph Rochia having recovered of his fright, and being able to 

 work, got upon the snow, with his son, and two brothers of his wife's, to try 

 if they could find the exact place under which his house and stable were buried ; 

 but though many openings were made in the snow, they could not find the de- 

 sired place. However the month of April proving very hot, the snow beginning 

 to soften, and indeed a great deal of it melted, this unfortunate man was again 

 encouraged to use his best endeavours to recover the effects he had in the house, 

 and to bury the remains of his family. He therefore made new openings in the 

 snow, and threw earth into them, which helps to melt the snow and ice. On 

 the 24th of April the snow was greatly diminished, and he conceived better 

 hopes of finding out his house, by breaking the ice, which was 6 feet thick, 

 with iron bars, and observing the snow to be softer underneath the ice, he thrust 

 down a long pole, and thought it touched the ground ; but the evening coming 

 on he proceeded no further. 



His wife's brothers, who lived at Demonte, went with Joseph and his neigh- 

 bours, to work upon the snow, where they made another opening, which led 

 them to the house they searched for ; but finding no dead bodies in its ruins, they 

 sought for the stable, which was about 240 feet distant, and having found it, 

 they heard a cry of " Help, my dear brother". Being greatly surprized as well 

 as encouraged by these words, they laboured with all diligence till they had made 

 a large opening, through which the brothers and husband immediately went 

 down, where they found still alive the wife about 45, the sister about 35, 

 and a daughter about 13 years old. These women they raised on their 

 shoulders to men above, who drew them up, as it were from the grave, and 

 carried them to a neighbouring house : they were unable to walk, and so 

 wasted that they appeared like mere shadows. They were immediately put to bed. 



