Swiss Hotel Disaster

Southland Times, Issue 12124, 2 May 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

Swiss Hotel Disaster

TWELVE LIVES LOST. Fifteen Parsons Injured. Considerable damage- aad loss of life were caused on Feoruary 7!l at the vilage of Goppenstein, situated at Boetschberg Tunnel, by the collapse of a hotel recently built at the southern entrance to the tunnel and of the ollivcs of the Loetschberg Works. l-’rom 70 to 1,0 persons were buried tinder the ruins. Twelve persons were killed. Doctors and engineers at Inched to the l.oelscb berg Works, who live at Brigue were advised of the catastrophe ill the course of the night, and tit once set out with a rescue party. The victims of the disaster included a doctor and two engineers.

The destroyed buildings did not lie in the path of the avalanche, hut were literally hurled down by the displacement of air caused by the fall of the enormous mass of snow. The displacement of air freiiueiitly does more damage than an avalanche itself. A remarkable demonstration of this phenomenon was furnished in IS!).", a m.--s of e-u. million cubic metros in bulk fell from the Altels glacier, near ivaaderstog', into the valley beneath. The wood chalets and houses on the opposite sides of the valley were swept away by the rush of air caused by the lingo fall. Tito Goppenstein disaster was due to the same cause, lit the same way the (luartors of the kennel start' at the Boctsch berg were not struck by the avalanche, hut wore destroyed by the violent atmospheric displacement. The building had only recently been put tip by the Tunnel Company for the accommodation of its higher grade employes, and the disaster occurred just as the engineering and clerical staffs were sitting down to dinner. Suddenly a loud noise was, heard, and two children rushed into the room, crying out, ”An avalanche, an avalanche !" At the same moment a violent rush of air caused by the fall of the enormous mass wrecked the building, burying about 70 persons in the ruins. Tito post office, which was also occupied by the local police, heeled over to an angle of -in degrees, and everybody rushed out.

The work of rescue was immediately comemttced by the workmen employed in the tunnel and the inhabitants of Goppenstein. tn all there were 17 dead, two of them children, and tfi injured, suffering from broken legs, contusions, etc.

The dead were taken to the hospital of the works at Gopponslein, and the wona-ied to tin- hospital at itrigue. Among the dead is Dr Dossas, of Geneva, who had only been married three weeks. His wife suffered from injuries to her head and legs. The dead also included a fitter sained AlervaiT, •"ai years of age : a French engineer named Guillct. believed to lie of Itouen, wlm was representing a French firm ; and .M. Dnbreoil, a French man. the chief accountant. Of the injured.- five Wen- seriously hurt. A profound sensation was caused among the inhabitants of Goppenstein and the tunnel workmen Thu funnel works were not damaged.