The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-28
The Ascent Of Mont Blanc.
ANOTHER FEARFUL ACCIDENT

-A-NO44lE@A fEAkF I'll AGCIDENT.
Paris (Oct. I'D Correspondence of London Times.7
The news of another disaster comes to US
from Chamounix. 1t appears that the fine
weather had attracted a considerable number
of visitors to that place, and, among others,
! Capt. Arkwright, an Engishman, with his
mother and his two sisters. On Friday morn
ing last he resolved to attempt the ascent Of
Mont Blanc, and one Of his sisters decided on
accompanying him as far as the Grande-M
lets. Early on the following morning Capt.
Arkwright took bis departure with two guides
and porter, and about 8 O'Clock they were
seen ascending the Grand Plateau. In ad-
vance Of the party went Sylvan Couttet, the
proprietor of the new huts on the Grands-
Muets, attached by a rope to a coachman of
the Hotel Royal, known by the name of Mich
olas, who wished to profit by the opportunity
to ascend Mont Blanc. On reaching the Grand
Plateau, the parties agreed to take the pas
sage which had been usually followed before
1920, but which was subsequently abandoned
in consequence of a catastrophe similar to the
present. They adopted it in preference to the
" Corridor" from its shortening the Journey
by two hours, and because they calculated on
having much less ice to cut through, as was
experienced during the summer by three Or
four other parties.
They were about half an hour in their as
cent, when Sylvan Couttet, who was in ad-
vance, suddenly heard above him a loud deto-
nation. He looked up, and to his horror, saw
an avalanche rushing down with fearful rapid
lty. He instantly shouted out to those who
were below him, Save yourselves 70 the
right to the right" He threw himself in
that direction, advanced a few steps, struck his
staff into the snow, aad clung to it with all
his might, and his companion, Nicholas did
the same. They both threw themselves fiat
on their faces and buried their heads in the
snow. They had hardly done so when ire
mendous crash followed, and the immense
mass Numbered along quite close to them-so
close that they were all over spIashed with the
fragments of the ice. In a few minutes, when
the avalanche passed, they raised themselves
up and looked about for sheir unfortunate com
panious. They saw nothing-nothing but
deep furrow under them, and further down
on the Grand Plateau mass of blocks of ice.
Couttet and Nicholas descended in all haste
in the same direction, and searched every
where in the hope of hearing cry or moan
to indicate that some had survived the catas-
trophe. They at last perceived an arm. At
great risk to themselves they reached the spot,
and dragged out from between the blocks a
dead body, the skull crushed and the breast
laid open. They laid it on the snow and re-
sumed their search, but found nothing more.
They resolved to descend and announce to
the sister and to the other families that there
was no hope beyond the faint one of finding on
thp fOlIORnrr tho tb,ao ~, I'll
in the ice. They reached the Grands- Mulets,
where Miss Arkwright had been left, and in
formed her that it was useless to wait any
longer, and that she herself must, without
q moments delay, descend with them. The
writer Of letter from Chamounix says:
F'lmagne the scene that took place-the
lamentations of the mothers, of the three
widows and of the nine orphans. The pen is
powerless to describe it. Mrs. Arkwright be-
wailing her sons, her two daughters weeping
for their brother; but calm and firm, relying
on the will Of God, who tries them so cruelty.
They are still hoping, unfortunately, against
hope, for the recovery of the bodies Of the
victims
On Sunday morning fifteen men, selected
from among the most intrepid of the popula-
ton, left on the search. They proposed to
pass the night on the Grands-Mulets, in order
to commence the following morning clearing
away the ayalanche and many others have
offered to act on the following day if necessa-
~. Fortunately, the weather was fine and
favorable for the perilous work An American
family, who did not wish their names men
toned, gave the mayor 250f for the three
widows.