The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-09
The Late Swiss Floods -Ascents OF the
MatterlIOrn.


whiyh took place in the middle OF last August
In Switzerland, and having been Hooded up
by the deluge for some days at Saas, | think
the following notes OF scenes ana incl
dents which came under my observation
may prove interesting to your readers, in
sequence to the recent communication OF
Professor Airy. l was higher up than the
Astronomer Royal and was in some peril,
not to speak Of personal privations. Could l
but have got down to Visp, should have
fhought myself out OF all danger and free from
all perplexity. But, unluckily, was at saaS,
shut up for some days in an old house, which
became stone ark, with sundry kinds of
queer animals, but, unhappily, no dove. For
several DAYS warm, and sometimes not,
south wind had been blowing up from
the Italian side of Monte Rosa, and
covering the mountains with black clouds.
1t was, therefore, useless to think OF
attemI Iting to cross over into Italy by the
Monte Moro pass in such cloudy aud dismal
weather. The little rough hotel at the Matt
marh See, situated about three hours walk
higher up the valley, is the last stopping
place before crossing the Moro, and there |
had slept one night, rising at four o'clock;
but finding thick darkness still prevalent l
at once returned 10 Saas, preterriug to await
brighter weather there. Retiring early
to my bedroom, which faced the south,
/ sought sleep, without the remotest sus-
picion OF what was brewing in the skies,
although the oppressive heat and lowering
mists might have torewarned me.
It was about o'clock in the morning when
was awoke by a tremendous storm of rain
and thunder and lightning. Such lightning,
thunder, and rain only come down on Alpine
heights and in valleys. No words can fully
describe this storm; but its results may be de-
scribed to some extent. My bedroom win
dOws were all fronting the fury of the tempest,
and one of the heavy exterior wooden shutters
were speedily loosened. Smashed glass and dis
located windows at once allowed the rain TO
pour in like a sheet of water. In few
mil utes the floor was flooded, the ceiling
above poured down little streams, and before
long my bed was pool of water. TIE light
ming seemed to play around me in vivid forks,
the thunder nearly deatened me, and the
furious wind ragged round my poor chamber
like an unclaimed maniac. | lay in bed as
patiently as l could till the day broke, and
then l dressed and descended, half wet,
wholly chilled, and not little discounted.
No sooner had | reached the SUtte q nadnqer
than l saw, at glauce, that deluge of water
bad fallen in the few hours OF darkness during
which the storm ragged The previously narrow,
Tapidly-rushing mountain stream was now a
terrible, broad, and toaming rivera river in
high and furious food. Stepping out on to the
little balcony it was manifest that the unhap-
PLY located house was now simply an island.
Right and left, high up and low down, all was
flooded Fields, divisions, walls paths, were all
nearly, and would soon be quite, oblitersted.
Down dashed the mad waters in irresistibleforce
and looking at the lowest windows of the
house, saw the food had nearly risen to
their stills. 1t was question merely of time
of a few hours prObably-wbether the lower
story would not be entirely under water. In
about two hours such was the actual state of
things. The passage, the drinking room, the
cellars, the kitchen, were all inundated. Up
came Catherine with her kitchen ware, up
came the white-capped cook, up came one
dull old landlord, aud up came Father
Imseng in deep sorrow and damp vest
ments. All these established themselves in
various corners-sone on the landing outside
the sale, and some inside OF it. Dread or
uneasiness was depicted on every oounte-
nance, and increasingly as the morning passed
on, for the flood continually augmented. The
waters rose higher and higher and by mid
day it was dou Dtful whether even ths sale d
mGnger itself would escape the all-threatening
waters. | looked out at the corner of the
house most exposed to the full descending
impact of the waters, and discovered that the
stone at the angle was partly broken, and that
other stones were very likely to be loosened
in time.
Two huge rough wooden benches stood
before the inn-door. Long ago had their seats
been under water, and would the benches
themselves stand against the flowing enemy
We could see the upper rails only; but before
long these were submerged. Crash ! crash !
and down went one great bench. Soon
after, crash crash and away wen. the
other great bench Huge stones were also
dislodged, and went down with, and in part
. arrested, the rapid descent of the shat
tered benches. Seeing this, young man,
SON of the dull old landlord, devised
and skilfully accomplished the rescue Of one OF
the two benches. Binding a strong rope round
his middle, he plunged into the river; hi;
father and two other men holding the rope or
the top of wall. Father lmseng looked on il
doubt and in Dirt all the people OF the house
appeared and encouraged the young man
Strong as he was, the waters once hurried hiu
down, and he had to be hauled ont, half
drowned. Again he entered; and now, by grsa
efforts, he attached the rope to the arrested
bench, and it was moored to rock.
Huge logs and frame pieces of pine nov
dashed past us in quick succession. VIVA
oould these bel Alas they were parts OF tive
chaets or huts, carried away pecemeal before
our eyes. Now and then a dOor-jam, or part
of a window-rame stood up edge-ways out o
the waters, and then we understood the ruiI
that the floods were inioting. AS to fodder
parts of Outhouses, catte-sheds and the like
the river made playthings of them ALL All
Poor peasants of Saas Who can tell how
badly the floods dealt with you on that fata
day
The roaring of the food, continuing, as
did, all day, exercised a saddening effect
Add to this the loud olasbing of great rock
and stones against each other, aud the lon
nnabRted rise OF the waters, and any one ma
imagine the depressing thoughts whic
weighed upon me. These were only allev