Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-10-13
The Accident on Mount Blame.


1 The Accident ON Mount Blame.
/ We published few days since an ac-
count of an accident on Mont Blanc by
which several tourists, including two Amer
leans, lost their lives.
From the Chamounix Sept. 81 CORES
pondence of the Boston Irunscrlf, we ex
tract the following additional particulars
"a party of three tourists, three guides
and five porters left here on Monday, the
5th inst, and were due here this morning
They were seen yesterday at one o'clock
on the summit of Mount Blanc, and were
counted by many. Later they were seen
little way down the mountain. After
that they were not discerned again, and a
gathering snow whirl obscured the noun
tain. This morning they did not reach
here at the expected hour, and the roaring
of falling avalanche had been heard in
the night. The anxiety grew strained and
intense, and the Chef dispatched guide
to Les Grands Mulets," who signalled
BACK that they did not sleep last night
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 sig
| nailed for, which showed that from ..Les
Grands Mulcts" the ascent had been con-
sidered as full of danger to-day.
Of course, we Immediately joined the
anxious, awe-struck throng, feeling as il
the eleven iIl-starrcd men belonged to our
own households, Immediately passed into
the ..Bureau du Chef des Guides" who
handed me card one of the tourists had
giyen him before making the ascent.
found it contained the name of almost a
townsman, John G. Randall, of Quincy,
Mass. They describe him as man about
fifty-6ve or sixty, very anxious to make
the ascent, desirous to 60 as far as Lies
Grands Mulets' without a guide. This
the '.Chef' would no. allow him to- do
He had gone through course of training
for the ascent, walking of late fifteen hours
a-day. He had spoken to some one as
having seven children, or he was SO under
stood. He made his will here last week
and left it, as the English Consul afirms,
duly signed and attested. The second WIS
DIR. James b. Beane, of Baltimore, Nd
The third was Scotchman, G McCork-
endale. ~, .-ss
The volunteers have safely returned
There was chalet at two and half hours
ascent, where they found refuge from the
storm. This morning they found it certain
death to advance. They had to tie them
selves together and plant their shafts for
support, and then barely escaped being
blown into the crevasses Several feet Of
new snow had fallen in the night, and av-
alanches were impending on every height
Tomorrow, if the ascent is possible, they
try again for the recovery OF the bodies.
1t is rule with guides, if they do not
fall into crevasses but are to be frozen to
death, to plant their Alpine staffs as a
guide to their companions who come to
search for them. The clouds lift again,
but the Chef des Guides will not allow us
to cross ''I1e Mer du Glace," as we had
proposed. The danger of avalanches is
too great. The gentlemen and two of our
Boston daughters 60 off upon mules for a
shorter ascent. But first they fill as far as
they can subscription paper for the FAM
lilies of the missing guides. Most of the
hotels are quite empty, unfortunately for
the cause, but the little handful of Bosto-
mans and New Workers quickly fraternize
| IN the maIteT, anu WueTe l. SiJ WTltIbS
about 400 francs are quickly counted out
on the table. We are called by the land
lord to look over the little bundles left by
the two missing tourists who are registered
at this house, as we are fellow countrymen
of one of them. The baggage of all three
was probably left, like that of our own
party, at Geneva or Martigny.
The bundle of the Scotchman is put
into my hands. l find several clerical era
vats. The wide family of parish are
bereaved, if no closer social ties are SUM-
dered. Then we receive bundle tied in
handkerchief of white linen. 1t is Dr.
Beane's. 1t contains his passport, made
out at Washington, July II, 1870, and
forwarded to him at SO Saratoga street
Baltimore Md. We find he is sent out by
the Smithsonian Institute, and is recon
mended to the respectful attention and
. helpfulness of the scientific people in Eu
rope. There are some fine geological spc
: cimens found by him within the last few
days. There is needle book and buttons
and silk and cotton, and other endearin1
, evidences of woman's care. In an un
: sealed envelope 6nd, neatly sewed upeI
7 card, cross of white crystal. rln
: Mr.. OLIVER GOLDSMITH, Of N. Yorl
Ia. L., :, CON oplv oI1 ~rkoou