The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-04

From the Galignani's Messenger.

mentioned about ten days back. Th
rapidity with which the excursion wa.
effected, and the small sum it cost (formerl,
the expenses was about 94O) are worthy o
notice. The writer gives the account as b,
heard it from the lips of the pedestrian
himself, Mr.. Jearrad, Of Greenstreet Green
near Bromley, Kent:
On Friday, the 9th September, I LEFT
Chamounix, at five in the morning, will
Edeuard Tournier, surnamed L'Olseau, sol
of one of De Saussure's ancient guides
We proceeded to the Brevent to witnes.
the ascent by brakes party. They reached
the summit about II. After this, W.
crossed to the Flegere, where we stayel til
halfpast four, and then descended to Cha
mouniX. AS we were walking down, the
guides, observing I was not at all tired
proposed an excursion to the summit Of
Mont Blanc the same evening. He offered
to accompany me with three porters, to
find all the provisions, and undertake to
whole expense for 23O francs; to this
agreed. At six p. M, we reached Chamou-
nix, by seven all our arrangements were
made, ard we started, no one being aware
of our purpose, except the banker and the
landlord OF the hotel. The guide provided
me with every article of clothing, including
CATERS, shoes, spectacles, etc. We took
three loaves, three fowls, twelve bottles Of
wine, one of brandy, and small quantity
of various other provisions, including choco-
late and dried plums, which are an excellent
remedy for thirst. The guide Tournier had
already been seven times on Mont Blanc,
the porter Auguste Coutlet once, the two
other men had never been beyond the Grand
Mulets. Before setting out, as the shoes
were too large, enveloped my feet, inside
the stockings, with brown paper, and never
felt the slightest effect of cold in them. AS
the spectacles did not fit me, I made no use
of them on the ascent, and in the hurry of
departure had taken no veil to guard my
face from the reflection of the sunbeams on
the snow. We enjoyed a splendid moon
light all the way.
After reaching the Glacier des Blossoms,
one of the porters was so fatigued that l
took his knapsack for an hour and half
At two in the morning we arrived at the
Grand Mulets, where we found an English
man, who, after having been on the top
of Mont Blanc, with the others. had felt
too ill to 60 down into the valley, and had
remained for the night with three guides.
Here we put on our warm clothing, and
having collected some ice and. snow, made
tea, which we all drank and found excellent.
TOurnier and 1 had intended to 60 up alone,
but Coutlet volunteered to accompany us,
and from prudential motives we accepted his
offer. The morning was splendid. We set
of again at four. The sun seemed very red
and tour times its usual size. An hour be.
fore our arrival on the grand plateau it had
been swept by an immense avalanche of ice
snow and rocks. We passed among the
debris. About half past six we reached the
grand plateau, and at its upper end observ-
ed party ahead, who proved to be Rus
sian gentleman, of St. Petersburgh, and bis
guides. They had left Chamounix the day
before, while we were still on the Brevent
We felt stimulated to get ahead of them
the guides partook of the enthusiasm. In
haste we partook of bottle of wine, and
soon got first, to the establishment of the
party, who wondered whence we arrived
En- passan-, we offered the Russian hand
full of plums, and learnt from him that he
had seen the fail of the great avalanche. He
and his.guides looked quite black in the face
they were attached to each other with
ropes and appeared almost exhausted.
Passing on, we mounted the second and
third plateaux without suffering from any
of the usual painful symptoms, except cold
About eight we entered the narrow passage
called the Corridor, without once having
halted on the road. Here we had to cut
steps up very steep ice bank, for the drift.
ing snow had already filled up the traces
left by Mr.. brakes party. We now scaled
the Muir de la Cote, passing the last small
rocks, the Petits Mules, without making
one zigzag, up to our middles in snow. Al
about ten minutes to ten we stood on the
top amid keen snow drift and an awful
wind. We could hardly keep our feet, and
here for the only time attached ourselves
together with ropes. My eyes were so in.
famed, from the absence of a veil and spec.
tacles, that 1 could not enjoy the view. The
sky seemed black as ink. In the vast pros
pect L could distinguish but two othel
colors, the snowy white of the mountains
and the deep brown of the hills and valleys
We stayed here very short time, drank
our bottle of champagne, and gave three
cheers for Queen Victoria. On descending
we kept close together, and slid down very
rapidly. Below the Petits Mulets we met
our Russian friend supported by his guides
They were in great difficulty, but still
plucky. We gave them pull at oul
brandy bottle, and they reached the toy
about half past twelve. 1t had been oul
intention to return over the Bose de l.
Dromedaire, where only one guide has ye
passed; we were not fatigued, and hat
strength and courage enough for it, but tn
wind was too strong.
At the Grands Mulets we rested half al
hour, and arrived at the Priory of Chamou
nix at six, P. NJ, where we found all tn
population waiting our arrival, and wer
received with salute of twelve guns.
should have observed that we had robbe'
the Russian gentleman of his volley, usual
fred when the traveller arrives at the to-
of Mont Blanc, as the Chamounix people
seeing us there at ten, had mistaken US 70
his party.
In conclusion, 1 cannot sufficiently com
mend the honesty, strength and activity {
the guides. 1ournier and Coutlet. August
Balmat PROF. Forbes companion an
guide and in fact all the inhabitants {
Chamounix, say that ours was the most RI