Duel by Avalanche.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7869, 11 July 1905, Page 4

Duel by Avalanche.

Two \ oiinir Italians, named (,'ueit a land Sorato. lioth in their t.-.n-. „ml living in n linlr village near itclliu7ona. ft-Il -in love with tic same girl, who i,'i said tt»hav.-l|k.-l Witji suitor-: .-Mially well. Hi.' young men. after miny s.-1-im/.-. (|iiarpl.-. deided ~» a v.-r\ original plan to settle the dispute. Informing- their parents that I they were eoing on ,f| excursion to the mountains, they set out for the. Spliiavn Pass, which is notorious fir I its avalanches at this time of veal', t'hoosinc ihe most imposed siop'.thcy airreil that each should stand for two hours every day (between !) and 11 a.m.. the most dangerous time), in the pat,h of the avalanche, and allow fate to decide their destiny. For Uirce mornings these conditions were carried out. hut nothing serious hapjpenod. though -several avalanches [came down the slope. bur not near jthe foolhardy youths. On 111.- fourth day an enormous nvala..'|che paFsifl nnar Ouetta, whio was knocked down jbr the nifh of .air hut not hurt. As I the yojinc nf-n had no more food I they returned to the village to procure some, hut the authorities p,,f wind of tin- afluir. and 1 hiVa-timcd [them with imprisonment. The >otiths |thnn decided to draw lots f .r the girl lanrt Sorato won. ■Cuetta left the vjl'huec and the young", couple we're married.