Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-03-25
MONT BLANC.
PROM sLAokwooD's EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.
CHcluded.)

"a,
stores, and collected together on the hard snow
to discuss them. We had some wine, and a
cold fowl or two, small quantity of bread and
cheese, some chocolate in batons, and bag of
primes, which latter proved Of great service in
the ascent. One of these, rolled about in the
mouth, without being eaten, served to dispel the
dryness of the throat and palate, otherwise SO
IdistreesIng
The rarefaction Of the air was nothing to
what had anticipated. We had heard legends,
down at Chamouni, of the impossibility of light
ing pipes at this height; but now all the guides
were smoking most comfortably. Our faces
had an odd dark appearance, the result Of con-
gestion, and almost approaching the tint had
noticed in persons attacked with Asiatic chole-
ra; but this was not accompanied by any sensa-
tion of fullnoss, or even inconvenience. The
only thing that distressed me was the entire loss
Of feeling in my right hand on which had not
been able to wear one of the fur gloves, from
the bad grasp it allowed TO my pole. Accord
ingly it was frost-bitten. The guides evident
ily looked upon this a more serious matter
than did myself, and for FIVE minutes under
went a series Of rather severe operations OF We
ry violent friction. After a while the numb
ness partially went away; but even as now
write, my little finger is without sensation, and
Oh the approach of cold il becomes very painful.
However, all this was nothing: we had succeed
ed, and were sitting all together, without hurt
OF harm, on the summit Of Mont Blanc. We
did not feel much inclined TO eat, but our pin or
dindire was perfect nectar; and the bottle Of
champagne brought up on purpose 10 be drunk
on the summit was considered finer wine than
had ever been met with. We all shook each
other by the hand, and laughed at sdch small
pleassntres so heartily that it was quite divert
| ing: and rapid programme of toasts went
round, Of which the most warmly drunk was
''Her,' according TO each Of our separate opin-
ions on that point. We made no Scientific OBJ
servatiOns, the acute and honest de Saussere
had done everything that was wanted by the
world of that kind; and those who have since
worried thems elves during the ascent with eel
evutions" and temperatures, have added nothing
to what he told us sixty years ago. But we
have beheld all the wonders and horrors Of the
Iglacier world in their widest features; We have
lgazed on scenery OF such fantastic yet magnii.
cent nature as we might not hope 10 see again;
we had labored with all the nerve and energy
we could command 10 achieve work Of down
right unceasing danger and difficulty, which
not more than One-half Of those who try are able
to accomplish and the triumph of which, ever
now, is shared by comparative handful of tray
oilers: and we had succeeded
Although the cold was by no means severe
when the air was still, yet, as have before sta.
ted, the lightest puff of wind appeared to freeze
us; and we saw the guides getting their pack,
ready-they were very light ncw--and prepa.
ring to descend. Accordingly, we left the sum,
init at half-past nine, having been there exact.
ly half-an-hour. We learned afterwards thai
I'VE had been seen from CnainUwh by teieseof,ss
and that the people there had fired cannon
when they perceived us on the summit: but these
we did not hear. We were about three hours
and half getting back to the Grands MuletS
and with the exception of the Muir dc la Cote
(Which required the same caution as in coming
up, the descent was matter Of great amuse
,nent. Sliding, tunbling, and staggering about
! setting all the ziezags at defiance, and making
, direct short cuts from one TO the other--sttinj
; down at the top Of the snow slopes, and launch
; ing ourselves OF feet FIRST, until, not very eley
l er al self-gliidance, we turned right around
, and were stopped by our own heads; all thi
was capital fun. The guides managed TO slid
down very cleverly, keeping their feet. The
g leant rather back, steadying themselves wit
! their poles, which also acted as drag, Sy bein
pressed deeply into the snow when they vi.h