Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-09-10

own feet ~ good as anybodys. our choice,
then, Is between our feet and the back Of
mule and our company, which las increased
10 four, unanimously vote for mules. Now
think Of US, Mr.. Editor, and picture us to your
readers dignihcd company indeed are We,
climbing the mountain with slow but terribly
Rongh pace; our main amusement in asking
each other, "How do you fecly' and in laugh
ing dolefufy at the tortured face and writhing
body Of our companions. Having, fortunate
1y,no looking -glase, VIC scornfully derry the
insinuation tiat our countcnnnce betrays such
heroic resolution TO bear the worst, as Is vivid
~ portrayed on theirs. Even our frightened
railway companion cenfcsscs that this srougl-
er than the plunge down Mount Gents -Four
hours, eleven miles we have reached n ro-
mantle inn among the mountains, whose at
fractions, we soon discover, consist more in its
surroundings sban in its fare, and with stiff,
and somewhat awkward agility, we leap from
our mules for an hours rest And, strange 90
say, with perfect unanintity we vote to send
the mules back to Martigny with the excap-
ton OF one for the baggage or to pick up, if
need be, wearied traveller, and to prosecute
the Journey on our own firm feet For seyen
miles more we trudged along, strongly deny
ing the suggestion of wearness yet, shall
confess IT? not at all sorry to come out upon a
carriage road, and TO hire an easier convey
apce 20 Chamonix. In this little mountain
town we rest for the Sabbath, according to
the commandment, and welcome command
ment we find It to be. A glorious place this
to spend the Sabbath Mt. Blanc, with its gla-
clers, and its many peaked crest of snow, RI
sing before tss, aud faSuntains of less hight,
yet all of them magnificent, hcmming us in on
the other Sides Here also we find an English
church, and listen TO the pure Gospel in our
own language, and are refreshed. There is a
soienlnity resting on this place, because Of a
terrible aecidenA WIAeh occurred here during
the past week.
A young married couple, with lady friend,
attempted the dangerous ascent of Mt. Blanc
The 1adies becoming fatigued, stopped for an
hours rest, while the husband, with guide,
started for the near summit Within few
minutes the men are startled by fearful cry,
and hurrying back they find only the unmar-
ried lady remaining. She tells them that the
surface of the snow had opened suddenly he
meath them, that the bride and the guide, to
whom they were secured by a rope. had titsap-
peared in the crevice; and that she had escap-
ed only through the breaking of the rope. The
distracted husband rushcs TO the crevice but
he sees nothing in the fearful depths below, a
night-storm covers the spot with snow, and
though the search is still going forward, the
bodies are undiscovered, and probably must
remain ~ thier icy resting place till, years
hence the advancing glaciers throws them, as
it has many before them, upon the plain at the
mountains foot.
Monday morning found us rested and ready
for our excursion across the Mer de Glace.
The glacier is reached by precipitous path
up the face of Mountanver, and again mules
are in requisition. But, grown Slse through
experience, we engage but two mules for our
party, and for two and half hours, we enjoy
riding and walking alternately. At last we
reach the glacier, and stupenduous sight
lies before us. For miles back in the gorge of
the mountains, the solid mass of ice extends
quarter of mile or more in breadth, 5000
feet in depth or thickness. 1t lies almost I'M
scathed beneath the bright August sun, glis-
tening back defiance in its almost sun like
brightness Here and there little stream
courses over its surface while from its foot a
rushing river peurs FORTH born of it, yet not
apparently wasting it. The surface of the
glacier is rough, and in some parts, it is rent
with fearful crevices, making the passage
across IL trying to the nerves of the timid yet
not dangerous to any one provided with cool
head and an Alpine staff; two requisites
which we find important almost everywhere
among these mountains. Having accomplish
ed the passage, we lunched on tough
fare in hut ON the other side. where
we enjoyed one of the finest views of the
extent of the glacier, and there commence a
descent, which can only be described as Sc
ries of leaps over jagged rocks, around the
sharp points of precipices, holding on here
and there to an iron chain which lends It's
kindly aid to save us from the abyss. At the
foot, we enter q cavern crt some 300 feet into
the solid ice, family lighted by candles; a
weird but beautiful place, or itwould be beau
tiful, if the keepers of the cavern would fur
nish light enough to display more clearly the
| piilluuSy vi thO
walls which shut us in. Near the mouth OF
the cavern, we found our mules awaiting u.s.
and were soon at rest in quiet Chamonix.
Alpine tours as every other earthly enjoy
ment, must end Men, who have work to do
cannot tarry long even among the wonders Of
nature; so the next morning finds us bound
for Geneva, comfortably seated in diligence
for ride of fifty miles among the mountains
l say Comfortably" with emphasis: and, Mr.
Editor, had you rode for two days on as many
mules. you would have thought it comforta
BILE. The diligence is large stage with &C
commodation for some twenty persons; wide
enough to admit four persons on seat con-
veniently. And crowdinG is not allowed in
this country. Each stage and each seat in
coach or car accommodates just so many, ant
another person cannot be admitted. No "roon
for one more," as in our privileged country
We insiders lean back satisfied; but alas fol
the zone more" who runs with all speed to
the stage or railroad car, bat may not enter
l need not describe the seven hours stage ride
the scenery was much as we had enjoyed fol
days before, though gradually losing 1T
grandeur, as we pass away from Mt Blanc
~In. e,