The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1864-11-30
AN ADVENTURE IN THE ALPS

LAIN AUYiN 1UhA LIN 44h AA"A ~
Professor Tyndall sends to the LONDON
Times narrative of rather exciting
adventure in the Alps. On the 80 or
July, he and two friends, with a couple
of guides, Jcnui and Walter, asccnoeo
the Pizhiorteratsch. The ascent was
accomplished safely, but not the descent,
which was made along the Morteratsch
glacier:
We at length reached the point at
which it was necessary to quit our morn
| ing's track, and Immediately atterward
got upon somo steep rocks, which were
rendered slippery here and there by the
water which tricklcd over them. TO
our right was broad couloir, which was
once filled with snow, but this had been
melted and rcfrozcn, so as to expose q
slopins wall of ice. We were all tied
togethcr at this time in the following
order: Jcnni led, I camo next, then my
friend H., an intrepid nountaineer, then
his friend L., and, last Of all, the guide
Walter. After descending the rocks for
time, Jenni turned aud asked me
whether l thought it better to adhere to
them or to try the ice slope to our ight.
| pronounced in favor of the rocks, but
he seemed to misunderstood me, and
turned toward the couloir. lie cut steps,
reached the snow, and descended care
fully along it, all following him appar'
emily in good order.
After little time he stopped, turned,
and looked up the last three men. lie
said something about keeping carefully
in the tracks, adding that false step
might detach an avalanche. The word
was scarcely uttered when | heard the
sound of fall behind me, then rush,
and in the twiukling Of au eye my two
friends and their guide, all apparently
cntanglcd together, whirled past me. |
suddenly planted myself to resist their
shock, but in au instant l was in their
wake, for their impetus was irresistible.
4 moment afterward Jcnni was whirled
away, and thus all Eve Of us found our.
selves riding downward with uncoutrol'
liable speed on the back Of an avalanche,
which single slip had originated
When thrown down by the jerk OF the
rope, turned promptly on my face and
drove my baton through the moving
snow, seeking to anchor it in the Ice
underneath. | had held it firmly thus
for q few seconds, when | came into COL
lisiou with some obstacle, and wos rude.
ly tossed through the air, Jenni at the
same time being shot down upon me.
Both of US here lost our batous. We
had, in fact, been. carried over a cre'
vase, had hit its lower edge, our great
velocity causing US to be pitched be-
yond it.
was quite bcwildcrcd for moment,
but Immediately rightcd myself, and
could see those in front Of me hall
buried in the snow, and joltcd from side
to side by the ruts among which they
were passing. Suddenly saw them
tumbled over by lurch Of the avalanche,
and Immediately aftcrward found myself
initiating their motion. This was caused
by a second crcvassc. Jenni knew Of its
existence, and plunged right into it--a
brave and manful act, but for the time
unavailiug. He is over thirteen stone
in weight, and he thought BY jumping
into the chasm a strain might be pu,
upon the rope sufficient to check the
motion. He was, however, violently
ierked out of the assure, and almost
squeezed to death by the pressure Of the
rope. A long slope was below US, which
led directly downward to brow where
the glacier suddenly fell in dcclivity
of ice. At the base Of this dcclivity the
glacier was cut by q series Of profound
chasms, and toward these VIC were now
rapidly borne. The three foremost men
rode upon the forehead Of the avalanche,
and were, at times, almost wholly iu-
mersed in the snow; but the moving
layer was thinner behind, and Jenni
rose necessarily, and, with desperate
energy, drove his feet into the tirmer
substance underneath. His voice shout.
ing, "Halt! Herr Jesus, halt" was the
only one heard during the descent. -
4 kind Of condensed memory, such
as that described by people who have
narrowly escaped drowning, took posses.
sion of me and thought and reasoned
with preternatural clearness as rushed
along. Our start, moreover, was too
sudden and the excitement too great;to
permit of the development Of terror.
The slope at one place became less steep,
tho speed visibly slackcned, and. We
thought we we're coming to rest the
avalanche, however, crossed the brow
which terminated this gcntler slope and
regained its motion. Here H.. threw
/ 4 i I =. r. III for