The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-11-08
Another Fearful Accident ON Mont
Blanc.

Paris Oct ~ Correspondence of London Times
The news of another disaster comes TO
MS from Chamounix. 1t appears that
the fine weather had attracted a con-
siderable number of families to that
place, and among Others Captain Ark
wright, an Englishman, with his mother
and his two sisters. On Friday morning
last he resolved to attempt the ascent OF
Mont Blanc, and one of his sisters de-
cided on accompanying him as far as the
Grands Mulets. Early on the following
morning Capt. Arkwright took his de-
parture with two guides and a porter,
and about q o'clock they were seen as
cending the Grand Plateau. In advance
of the party went Sylvan Couttet, the
proprietor of the new huts on the Grands
Muiets, attached by rope to o coach
man of the Hotel Royal, known by the
name of Nichols, who wished to proflt
Inv the opportunity to ascend Mont
| Blanc. On reaching the Grand Platau
the parties agreed to take the passage
which had been usually followed before
1920, but was subsequently abandoned
| in consequence of a catrosphere similar
to the present. They adopted IL III
preference to the Corridor from Its
shortening the journey by two hours
and because they calculated OH having
much less ice to cut through, as was ex'
perienced during the summer by three
or four other parties. They were ABOUT
half an hour in their ascent when Syi'
Wan Couttet, who was in advance, SUD,
denly heard above him n loud detona'
ton. He looked up, and to his horror
saw an avalanche rushing down With
fearful rapidity. He instantly shout
ed ont to those who were below mn
Save yourselves! to the right! to the
right ~ He threw himself in that diree'
ton, advanced few steps, struck his
staff into the snow, and clungto 1T WIN
all his might, and his companion Memo
las did the same. They both threw
themselves fat Oh their faces and bur.
led their heads in the snow. They had
hardly done so when Il tremendous
crash followed, and the immense mass
Numbered along quite close to them
so close that they were all over spiasneo
with the fragments OF the Ice. In ie"
minutes, when the avalanche had pass
ed, they raised themselves, ana looked
for their unfortunate companions. lhey
saw nothing-nothing but furrow nn
der them, and further down on thu
Grand Plateau mass of blocks of ice. :.
Couttet and Nicholas descended in al
haste in thes Same direction, and scarch
ep everywhere i'll the hope of hearing
cry or moan to indicate that some had
survived the catastrophe. They at last
perceived an arm. At great risk tt
themselves they reached the spot, and
dragged out from between the blocks
dead body, the skull crushed and the
breast laid bare. They laid it on the
snow and resumed their search, but
found nothing more. They resolved II
descend and announce to the sister anc
other families that there was no hope
beyond the faint one of finding on the
following day the three other bodies
buried in the ice. They reached the
Grand-Mulets, where Mrs. Arkwright
had been left, and informed her that il
was useless to wait any longer, and thai
she herselfmust, without delay, descend
;SSISs ,,, them. The writer of letter from
Imagine the soen~ .s... ,,., ,,oso
the lamentations of the mothers, Pay OF ~,
three widows, and of the nine orphans
The pen is pOwerless to describe il
Mrs. Arkwright bewailed her son; he
two daughters weeping for their broth
er, but calm and firm, and relying Of
the will of God, who tries them so cru
ely. They are still hoping, unfor
tunately, against hope, for the recover!
of the bodies of the victims"
On Sunday morning, fifteen men,
selected from among the most intrepid
of the population, left on the search
They proposed to pass the night OH the
Grands-Mulets, in order to begin earl.
the following morning clearing away
the avalanche; and many others have
offered themselves to action the follow
ing days if necessary. Fortunately thu
weather was fine, and favorable to theil
perilous work. An American family
who did not wish TO have their names
mentioned, gave the Mayor 250f for thu
three widows.