Seven Killed By Colorado Avalanche

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29728, 23 January 1962, Page 13

Seven Killed By Colorado Avalanche

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) TWIN LAKES (Colorado), January 22. Rescue workers last night gave up hope that a seven-year-old boy could still be alive beneath the ice, mud and rocks of an avalanche which yesterday claimed six lives.

A wall of snow fell off the side of 14,431 ft Mount Elbert, Colorado's highest mountain, yesterday, burying nine people in houses below. All of the victims were from two families One family was wiped out completely. Dead were General Shelton, aged about 48. his wife Marie (about 40), their son, Steve (15), and their daughters, Linda (9), and Vickie Kay (7), and William Adamich junior (8). Feared dead was Michael Adamich, aged 7.

William Adamich, aged 35, and his wife, Barbara (30 >. survived the shock of thousands of tons of ice and snow. They were dug out and taken to hospital suffering from shock. Mr Adamich was in fair condition iast night but had frostbitten feet and a h;p injury. His wife was in serious condition with shock, frostbitten feet and hands and injuries to shoulders and hands. One of the Shelton girls was found with her arms round her sister, her body still warm. She apparently lived hours ip a pocket in the wreckage, but died about an hour before rescuers could get to her. Michael Adamich was sucked out of his home by the vacuum power of the rushing snow. The avalanche, the worst in Colorado's history, was blown loose by 70-mile-an-hour winds and roared down the slopes at 150 miles an hour, crushing four houses. "It was just a big explosion,” Mr Adamich told United Press International. "I didn’t hear it coming. I didn't know where I was going.” Mr Adamich and his wife lay in the wreckage bf their home for hours before being pulled alive from the snow and debris. “I just lay there and prayed,” he said. “I kept hollering to my wife and kids, but I got no answer. It was just quiet, except for the wind blowing.” His wife was about eight feet away. The slide apparently ran about four miles, falling nearly vertically for less than a mile. The slope above a road running near the houses was tree clad, but the snow swept it clean like a ski run. Yesterday the remaining 12 Twin Lakes families were evacuated for fear of another slide. The Colorado Highway Department said workers would survey the conditions this morning, and “shoot” the new slide area down with explosives if necessary.