The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-05-24

left at the mouth of the crcvassc by the guide.
This had directed him back. Icalled to him
to look at his watch-Gvc minutes more were
passed. The cold was growing more intense.
It is no figure Of speech to say that ! felt the
blood freezing in my veins. ! called to him
again to know IL any one were in sight. II
was thirty minutes since the guide had start
cd, but not soul was visible. II was most
unlikely that no could be back 50 soon, for
We ourselves had been three quarters Of an
hour in coming thus far.
| felt that could hold out but very
short time longer, and besides that, l did
not know at what moment the little ledge
which was my only safety. might give way
under my weight, I remembered that l had
q large clasp knife in my pocket, and l de-
termincd to try to rescue myself with Its aid.
l called 10 my fellow.travcller above that !
was going to attempt 1t. Hc implored me
not to try; but my situation was becoming
SO desperate, that l did try, began by max
ing little holo in the Ice as high up as I
could reach, large enough to admit ono hand.
My next ondeavor was to mako deep foot.
hole about two feet above the ledge. I sue
ccedcd in this, and found that by making q
foot in it, holding fast by tho place I had
made for my hand, and, at the Same time
pressing with my back against the opposite
side OF the crevasse with all my strength, |
was able to raise myself and stand firmly in
my new position. again let myself down
on the ledge. and commenced cutting anoth-
er footholo about two feet above the last. 1t
seemed to me possible that in this manner |
might escape from my icy prison; but a
single slip or false step, and knew must
bo prccipitatcd down the crcvasso.
l was working diligently at the second
footholo, when l heard joyful shout from
above: They are in sight-threc men
with ropes-running Us hard Us they cam"
steadiod myself on my terrible narrow and
slippery footing, in order to be able to seize
and attach tho rope when thrown to me. |
saw the end of it dangling over my head.
{" Merciful God 1t will not reach me It is
too short !" Z" We have got another rope"
was answered from above aud 1t was knot
ted on and lowered. caught the end and
tied it firmly round my waist. Grasping
the rope above with both hands, gayo the
word. The strain began, and felt that !
was safe. In another minute | was stand
ing on the glacier. l had been fifty minutes
in the crevasse, during which time had not
lost consciousness for single instant.
When l felt myself once more upon firm
footing, On all.pervadins sense Of gratitude
for the wonderful escape | had como over me
and made mo faint, and should have fallen
ii they had not held mo up. This was soon
over, and wo prepared to start for Montan.
vert. Before leaving ! took last look at
the crcvasSe, which had so nearly been my
scpulchro. saw that it would have been
utterly impossible to climb out. as had
been tryingto do. The mouth was SO wide
that as approached it. could have had no
support from behind and without such
support, not even a cat could have scaled the
perpendicular wall.
Our guide was in q terrible state, and had
run tho whole way to Montanvert, but could
find no rope fit for the purpose in the house.
lie was in despair, and started of for Cha
mouney, when two muleteers met him.
Their mules were laden with wood fastened
on with ropes; he begged hard for those
ropes. telling the men that a young English.
man was being frozen to death in a creyasse.
They threw the wood from the backs Of the
mules, and came to my rescue with the guide,
bringing tho ropes with them. Knotted to-
gcthcr (it seems there were three in ally they
made up a length-about sixty feot--cnough
to reach me.
With the assistance Of my deliverers, !
was able to walk slowly back to Montanvcrt,
where I was Immediately put into a comfort
able bed, and where tho injuries had re-
ceivcd (Which were insignificant considering
tho depth had fallen,) were carefully
dressed. dreamed, with unspeakable dread,
Of what had happenned, when lying in the
bed, and have dreamed Of 1t In many beds
since. believe that nothing would induce
me to 60 among icc and snow now without
a long and strong rope. offer the caution
to all other travellers In Switzerland, out
Of great experience and great escape.