New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-26
A FALL IN TIE ALPS.
A FRENCH BARONESS KILLED.
ia

DEAN MR. Y.-As you are an old Alpine traveller,
and ma Won doubtless remember well the scene OF q
fearful casualty of which, regret TO say. was an
eyewitness will attempt TO describe to yeu, although
lam endeayorng to Danish the sad scene from my re-
collection.
On Saturday, in company with young Englishman,
started from the little inn Of Schwareubaeh for The
Gemmi Pass having cent back our horses TO kandeT-
step where we slept the preceding night The morning
was very cloudy aud sagreeaGle and there was very
little prospect Of pleasure from the trip; but we were
not disposed to grumble because up TO this TINA we
had been particularly favored with fine weather at
every poinin fact, we had enjoyed days ~ clear ahd
cloudless "a We were accustomed 70 in America.
About one hour from our starting point distance
here as you are aware, are known es In the East by
hours and not By miles, steep aud narrow turn IN
the preciptous downward path, the mule which car
rred an unfortunate French lady stumbled on the near
foyeeg throwing her clean out OF the saddles and 81
there was no parapet wall or railing, and the poor
creature made use OF the reins, sue pitched rghi
over the precipiCe. Before her distracted husband,
who was riding Immediately behind her, could ols-
monut her lifecss and manaled form had rested
some $50 feet beneath having passed over The hrst
ledge below us ON which the ngzagged path was
traced aud been stopped by chance on the second The
whole terrible affair the work, am quite sure, oil
less than half minute
In Qraat Affections we have reason sometimes TO be
thankful for slight mitigating circumstances aud thus
Il WAS felt grateful that the poor husband, wnen no
descended, was unable TO see bis poor wiies iaee,
III
fate spared him that additional shock for tie body
and head particularlywas wrapped up IN the shrubs
and bushes as by careful hand. The feet alone ind-
Gated tho presence of a corpse.
will not attempt 10 describe the agony and despair
of the unfortunate gentleman. All ellorts 10 sooh him
were vain. lie was apparently man Of sixand-
twenty years--a Baron -.
Tie muleteer OF the time the accident occurred was
az the off side which at thi, spot next the Inner
wall of rock, 90 that no could not, IN such eatas
trophe OF moment, he Of any use. attached great
blame 10 him for not being between the mule and the
edge of the precipice, in which case be would have
grasped the poor lady she fell II mus. be borne in
mind, however that with the curves which here are
very frequent ns position to the dangerous side Of
the road changes that is to say, in the next curve he
would have been in the proper place, the precpice
side Of the path Ttess dryers however to my think
log do not attach sufficient Importance TO tbe necessity
tho head Of the animal being Leld; in fact as you
vol know they prefer 10 take bold OF the animai
tall and be hell ed along themselves by that means
What fearful pass that Gemui IL! After getting
10 the hotel at Leuk, turned TO Muuays Handbook,
aud here Ia what 10 said Of it;
"The traveller find, hime or the brink ofs precpies
ffon which plum line t DO thrown iaio tho sAeJ oeion
nearly n OOc feet sno without touching tue rocA 20
are m sde, ID ts principally upon tho taces OF puttss
this vast all that Of tho nlost exfsordina OF A -
rosds constructed In 1854 by party OF Iyioss ss ~
carried lts zigsags have been very insenions
IN many PIECES Che rocks oyerhsSs ara al ePpos