Miscellaneous Notices of Mountain Scenery^ ^c. 221 



mountain top, immediately above the house, and descended 

 in a direct hne towards it; the sweeping torrent, a river from 

 the clouds, and a river full of trees, earth, stones, and rocks, 

 rushed to the house and marvellously divided within six feet 

 of it, and just behind it, and passed on either side, sweeping 

 away the stable and horses, and completely encircling the 

 dwelling, but leaving it untouched. At this time, probably 

 towards midnight, (as the state of the beds and apparel, &,c. 

 shewed that they had retired to rest,) the family probably 

 issued from their house, and were swept away by the tor- 

 rent; five beautiful children, from twelve to two years of 

 age, being of the number. 



Search was, for two or three days, made in vain, for the 

 bodies, when they were at length found, in consequence of 

 the swarms of flies, which, it being hot weather, were hov- 

 ering over the places. The bodies were evidently floated 

 along, by the torrent and covered by the drift wood. A 

 pole, with a board nailed across it, like a guide post, now 

 indicates the spot, where the bodies were found, and we 

 saw remnants of their apparel, still sticking among the splin- 

 ters of the shattered trees. Had the family remained in the 

 house they would have been entirely safe.* Even the little 

 green in front and east of the house was undisturbed, and a 

 flock of sheep, (a part of the possession of the family) re- 

 mained on this small spot of ground, and were found there, 

 the next morning in safety — although the torrent dividing 

 just above the house, and forming a curve on both sides, had 

 swept completely around them, and again united below, and 

 covered the meadows and orchard with ruins, which remain 



^ Still, we cannot blame them for their sortie. They probably remained m 

 iheir house, amidst the war of wind and rain and mountain torrents, and the 

 tremendous crash of the forests — earth and rocks, which for miles around 

 them, were rushing down in one wide scene of desolation, and with an astoun- 

 ding noise and concussion, of which, we can form no adequate conception ; 

 until the evident and near approach of the ruin immediately behind the house, 

 and so near, that by the lights shining from the candles through the windows, 

 they doubtless saw as well as heard it, left them, apparently, no alternatlvej 

 but to fly from instant death. It was probably delayed but for a few moments, 

 and they missed their only remaining chance, that of staying quietly with 

 their animals on the little green, which escaped the deluge. But who could 

 know that either that or the house would escape ! — When, even now, almost 

 two years after the event, we look at the frightful rampart of earth — stones — 

 rocks and trees, which on one side is piled up within five feet of the house, 

 and makes a circuit round it, as if repelled by an invisible power, it seems 

 almost a miracle, and had the family remained in safety, we should have been 

 half tempted to omit our qualifying word. 



