The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-10-07

down into the terrible abyss above
which, was suspended. AT the spot
where 1 was the crevasse narrowed
rapidly, and hundred yards below
the two sides appeared to touch each
other. I believe If I had fallen but a
few inches on either side from the
narrow bridge which Eld arrested me
should lave be,.ii buried and jammed
III, at depth whcr.. 40 rope could
have reached me-. had remained
about twenty minutes i'll my terrible
position, ,..nerves and muscles being
stretched to the utmost to keep myself
there, looking at the sky above my
head and at the ice around me, but not
daring again to glance into the gulf
below. The blood was flowing from
a wound | had received in the cheek,
and felt that my right leg, upon
which fortunately was not resting,
was severely bruised my left leg.
however, panied by the effort of
standing and the cold, was beginning to
give way. 1t was impossible to change
my position without the risk of losing
my balance. The cold of the wall of
ice against which I was resting more
and more benumcd ME, the water con-
tinued to fall, and dared not stir.
called my companion! no one re-
piled. / called again. Nothing!
Nothing. Not a human being within
| the reach of my voice. | W;is seized
with giddiness asa terrible thought
crossed my brain.
| .'He has gone to see if the help is
not coming, and he cannot find the
crevasse again; there are hundred
such-I am lostr'
recommended my soul to God. Ny
| strength was exhausted. | had never
4 a. ,.NH + Coi
/ with desire to let myself fall, and
thus put an end to this agony. =
At the critical moment. [ heard my
self called. My friend had run to look
for the guide, but when he wished to
return he was horror-struck OH perceiv-
ing that the surface Of the glacier was
rent by countless crevasses, all so SIM
liar that there was not Il single sign by
which lie could recognize the abyss In
which l was buried alive, In this cru
el perp!exity God guided him to see a
little knapsack which the guide had
left at the edge of the gulf. cried to
him to lookat his watch. Five min
utes more elapsed. the cold was becoln-
ing more and more intense the blood
was literally freezing i'll my veins.
called / asked if there was any one in
sight. The guide had started thirty
five minutes ago, and not soul had
yet appeared. 1t was scarcely possible
that he could return so quickly as we
had taken three quarters of an hour te
get to this spot, and he had to &C
and return.
I felt that could hold out but little
longer. The support on which my
safety alone depended might yield a
any moment and break beneath me
| remembered that l had a strong knit
| IN INV Y,D.Eat and yaSolyQ6 tn max.
use Of it to draw myself out. l in
formed my companion Of this project
: he implored me to do nothing Of tn
: kind but my situation had become III
tOlerable. l made notch in the ice
: high enough for me to reach it, an
large enough for me to insert my han
in then about two feet above the lii
! tie bridge dug out a little hole stlffis
! iently large enough for me to put m
{ foot in. 1 succeeded i'll grasping thes
two points of support, my back restin
= with all my strength against the Opp'
a site wall, l was able to raise myself,lI
3 keep myself firm In this position.
$ decended again upon the bridge, an
began another notch above the first,
/. flattered myself that 1 should thus
J. able to escape from my prison; but
I single slip, or false step, would precll
itate me into the abyss.
0 Twas working diligently ut my Sc
!, ond step. when | heard joyous CT
q above me. ''Here they are! Thr'
+ men with ropes-they are running
It fast as their legs can carry thern.''
e l steadied myselfas firmly as pos
s BILE upon the narrow and slipper
bridge, so as to able to seize the rol
:, they were about to lower. and tie
n around me. l saw the end of it swinI
lt ing about two yards above my hea'
G MAY God have mercy upon me.
, is too short 70
!. We have anotheri''
T, That was fastened to the floor III
let down. 1 seized the end of it.
/ bound it strongly around my waiss
+. and grasping the rope with both hand
7 I gave the signal for them to pull u
IS They begall-I was saved. A mil
% ute afterward / was standing upon Il
o glacier. 1 had passed fifty minutes
q the creva sse, during which time l III
4 happily lost neither myconfidence
iI ,I God nor my presence of mind.