The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-01
THE ACCIDENT ON MONT BLANC,


including two Americana. lost their lives. Tn
United States Consul OF Geneva, under date Of Ser
tember II, writes to tho State department az fo
lows -
the papers Of this city relate an accident a. oe
curing 70 three travellers and eight guides and pol
the et OF III Instant IN ascenain ~ or descendD
Mont Blanc. Az two Of the travellers were repre-
sented - Amencans, instituted inquiries AM
ascertained their pers0ns-Dr. James B. Bean, Q
Baltimore who seems BY paper found In his room
TO have had some connection with the Smithsonian
who, am told, had heretofore made the ascent Q
Mont Blanc, and that he made his will the night be
fore leaving unhappiy no doubt exists Of the dealt
OF the whole party. caused either BY hurricane o.
an avalanche.
We learn nom the Newburyport Herald that ont
OF the parties referred TO was Mr. John @. Randall
resident of that city, and that he persisted II
making the ascent Of Mont Blanc ON the 9th inst
He sailed from New York In May last, intending u
pass few months in Europe. The Herald givei
Mr.. Randall's antecedents as folows:-
Mr.. Randall was formerly clerk with the late
wards IN the
raj years until lS49, when he removed Quincy IN
this State, and was chosen cashier Of the Quincy
state Bank and treasurer OF the Savings Bank III
that town, performing the duties Of these oces for
seventeen years with credit to himself and satisac
ago he resigned both OF these offices for the pur-
pose OF devoting the rest OF his life TO travel and
recreation, having for many years proposed to him
self o tour through Europe. Mr. Randall was man
Of strict integrity, unpretentious and retiring; but
with his friends ne was remarkably genial, and as
was highly Valued 5y those who knew MN. He was
especially c0nversat with English literature, In the
knowledge Of which few surpassed him. He was
Lyceum, In which he took great interest Mr.. Ran
dali was fifty years Of age, ana leaves widow and
seven children besides numerous relatives and con-
nectlons, to mourn his l0Ss.n
fErop rho Cba notpiy SAINT /, cnrraannndanca ~
the Boston Transcript
party OF three tourists, three guides and five
due this Tey were
OF one O'Clock on the summit Of Mount Blanc, and
were counted BY many. Later they were seen
not discerned again, and q gathering snow whlr
obscured the mountain. This morning they did not
reach here at the expected hour and the roaring OF
a falling avalanche had been heard III the night,
The anxiety grew strained and intense, and the
"Chef'' despatched guide to Lies Grands Muiets,n
there OF course If they had lost their way in their
descent and night closed In with terrible storm.
their destruction was certain Thirty volunteers
were stgnalled for, which showed that from "Les
Grands Mulets' the ascent had been considered as
full or danger to-day.
or course, we Immediately joined the anxious,
awe-srncK tnrong, feeling as IL the eleven uiGtarred
men belonged to our own households, immediately
passed into the Bureau dn Chef des Guides,n who
before making the ascent. found it contained the
name Of almost townsman, John G. Randall Of
quincy, Mass. They describe him as a man about
DESTROYS to go as far as "Les brands Mulets with.
out guide. This the "Cherf would not allow him
to DO He had gone through course Of training for
had spoken to some one as having seven children, or
he was SO understood. he made his will here last
signed and attested The Second was Dr.. James lam B.
Beane, or Baltimore, Nd. The third was o
Scotchman. Q. McCorkendale. The throngs
In the street grow more silent as the volunteering
goes on. A brother OF one Of the missing guides
claims Y az his right to &C. He is secretary or the
"Chef," and he allows his claim. Soon he is seen
moving down the street with his knapsack OF re-
his cords and Alpine Ratchet. Every
married man Is rejected. The lost guides and a
part OF the porters had families The weeping aunts
and sisters and cousins cross the street and Int
Tney find comfort In our few choked words Of sym
their simple, eloquent way, how good the lads
were, and how their old mothers and their wives
and little children had no one else TO lean upon.
The men point, In q reverent hushed way, to the
roofs covering the widows and orphans, and tell us
that they are weeping there as II their hearts would
her. ana the doctor has gone In for they fear
the premature birth OF another. !.
The volunteers have safely returned. There was
chalet OF two and o half hours ascent, where they
found refuge from the storm. This morning they
themselves together and plant their STATS for support
and then barely escaped being blown into the Gre
vases. Several feet OF new snow had fallen In the
night, and avalanche6 were impending on every
height. Tomorrow, II the ascent Is possible. they
try again for the recovery Of the bodies 1t Is rule
" & g fossn se 90 sss4
come to search for them the clouds M
not allow US TO cross lie Mer du Glace," as we had
proposed. The danger OF avalanches is too great.
aRe ana e Two o. our Boston aapgters
M as far as they can subscription paper for the
families OF the missing guides Most OF the hotels
fApN
little handful Of Bostonians and New workers. quickly
about 400 francs are quickly counted out on the
table. We are called by the landlord to look over
the little bundles left by the two missing tourists
VINO are registered at this house, as we are fellow
three was probably left like that OF our own party,
at Geneva or Martigny
The bundle Of the scotchman is put into my
family OF parish are bereaved, If no closer social
ties are sundered. Then we receive bundle tied
In handkerchief OF white linen. 1t is Dr. Beanes.
It contains his passport, made out out at Washing
ton, July II, 1870, and forwarded to him at So Sara
tOga street, Baltimore, Nd We find he Is sent out
by the Smithsonian Institute, ana is recommended
to the respectful attention and helpfulness Of the
scientific people In Europe. There are some fine
geological specimens found by him within the last
few days. There Is needlebook and buttons, and
silk and cotton. and other endearing evidences Of q
Woman's care. In an unseaed envelope ] find,
neatly sewed upon caro-. cross Of white crystal.
Above and below the cross are written in pencil
these words:-"Top Of the Bevent g. 2S4 feet) Sep
tomber 3, 1870-Beckfe Bless your darling little
heart Ths shall be for you, for thought Of you as
soon as saw it,
A young gentleman from the "Hotel de Alpo''
comes to tell US that Mr. Randall lodged there and
left his trunk and other effects, with full verbal and
written directions to himself and the landlord where
ana to whom to write In case he never returned,
and they are Immediately TO obey his wishes. This
gentleman, Mr.. J. T. Bergen IT, OF Brooklyn, N. Y,
says that Mr.. Randall returned twice to shake hands
and bid him Roodby, and give him some more direc.
tons, in cheerful, half sp0rtive tone. He adds
Qd q Oot
to shake hands with the landlord, and wrote on q
slip Of paper another distinct direction to be imme
diately sent to q gentleman in LOndonIf he should
the next day continue his ascent from sLes Grands
Mulets' and not return. The final ascent he was
not fully decided to try.