Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-09-08
Ascent Of Mont Blanc.

tion of the ascent of Mont Blanc, in a
letter dated "Chamouni,A Aug, 3, 1868"
in which harzardous affair a young
town nan participated:
"On August | an attempt was made
to reach the summit. The party con
sisted Of Mr.. T. A. Sinclair Of Scot
land Mr.. John r. Blakiston of Nab
berly, England, and Mr.. J. Arthur
Beeb9e Of Boston. Both the latter
gentbmen are young men-Mr. Bee
bee until recently, having been a
member of the class of 1869, in Har-
vard-and having been sometime set
ting themselves into training. They
have attempted the most difficult pas
500 IL the mountains they have as
cended now-clad peaks really more
dangerous than Mont Blanc, and they
have. indeed, neglected nothing which
tended to bring their physical frames
into a condition to endure such severe
toll as was before them They there
fore looked forward confidently to the
successful issue Of the struggle, while
fears were expressed, which events
confirmed that Mr. Sinclair, though
capital walker. would seriously feel
the want Of sufficient practice on ice
and snow. On the Thursday evening
previous. the weather being promising,
preparations were hurridIy made for
the uorrow's expidition. The soles
of the shoes were thickly studded with
sharp nails, the pocket TASKS were
filled with cold tea. the most refresh
ing of anything in those high regions,
and the genthmen themselves retired
early to their rooms.
On Friday morning at I o'clock the
party started. Two guides and three
porters, who had before been to the
summit. accompanied the party, who
thus numbered In all. eight persons.
Three hour, hard work up the steep
mountains side brought them to the
edge Of the ice, aud the commence
meut af tha danger. Stout leather
belts were put round each waist, and
they were then tied together, one be
hind the other with ropes ten feet ii
length The reason Of this was soon
evident The glacier consists OF huge
blocks of -o.id lee, many of them lar
ger than .ha largest house, and these
being pied M il tile greatest contu
sion. tcuaarit necessary frequently tC
iuub across deep crevices. In cross
inc one oil these deep CULTS, Mr.. BIak
ison was So unfortunate as to fall il
but instead o. pluuging two hmdres
feet m0u the rocks beneath, he wa
held suspended by the ropes unit
manner they tai.ed acros. the jIacie
du Bos-0us ,reius nothing of the ORIG
iuaI from which the geographical bic
|ture was taken. but still encountcrin!
.yawniug guIfs. down whose hug
throat too rapid descent would b.
conducive neither to pleasure nor ol
, ace. After tour hours OF this har,
work. and seven hours after leavin.
Cham0unt, the Grand Mucts wer
reached, and the most dangerous par
Z of the ascent was made.
But now came the hardest and mo,
! trying part. Before them Law man
! miles Of heavy snow and steep ascent
, many spots on which an avalanch
might fall and many steps which mus
be taken where the air was rarife
and hard to breathe. AT two o'cloc
, on the morning of Saturday they aros
and addressed themselves to a break
] fast. which can be designated as Ne
|. At half past two thew were aoai
tied together, the three norters strar
ned uDon their backs huge hammer
of wine and bread Of meat and l.ic.
and the ouidos stood ready with Iirb.
: ed lanterns to lead the wav throne
L the tbick darkness The advantag
of startino 80 carly i to oat tho hn7
( eft o( the thick ernst which tho n;ni
! frosts have made on the snow, befor
the mornino snn can soften # Ont !,
to the cold morninp air tbav won
and turned their faces toward n
risino SIM. Soon. however Mr. &,
= clair began to lac. and by 6 o'clock
If wa, evident he must 90 back It wa
r n,uced madness for him to proceed
G as his breathing was very dificnltan
= he therefore sadly retraced his step
f The others consoled themselves fo
/ the loss Of their companion by eatin
f a hearty meal. which was breaIsfa.
k No. ,. 1t is surprising how often
It is necessary to eat in these high r,
' slons, and wonderful how much re
Y wine one can manage. Bv s o'cloc
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