Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-03-22

/ crevasse formed form The ice, which
was of darkest blue color encrcling me on
ell sides, looked threatening and gloomy
| The two walls seemed as if they we're about
to meet in order to crush me, rather than to
release their prey. Numerous water courses
sireamed down their sides, but in this ex-
tent of more than sixty yards | could see
any other projection or obstacle except this
ledge on which / had so miraculousy fallen
I risked looking for one second only, down
into the terrible abyss, above which | was
suspended. At the spot where I was. the
lover down it narrowed rapidly, and hun
dred yards below the two sides appeared to
touch each other | believe if | had fallen
but few inches on either side from the mar
row bridge which had arrested me, should
have been buried and jammed up alta depth
where no rope could have reached ne.
| had remained about twenty minutes in
my perilous position, nerves and muscles
stretched tc the utmost 10 keep myself there,
looking at the sky above my head aud at the
ice around me, but not daring again to glance
into the gulf below. The blood was flowing
from wound had received on the cheek,
and | felt that my right leg, upon which
fortunately | was not resting, was severely
bruised the left leg, however, panied by
the effort of standing and the cold, was be-
ginning 70 give way. 1t was impossible to
change my position without the risk Of los
ing my balance. The cold of the wall of
ice against which | was resting more and
more benumbed me, the water continued to
fall and dared not stir.
called my companion; no one replied. I
called again. Nothing Nothing Not a
human being within reach of my voice. l
was seized with giddiness as a terrible tho't
crossed my brain.
''Ie has gone to see if teip is coming,
and he cannot find the crevasse again, there
are hundreds such-I am lost -
! commended my soul to God. Ny
strength was quite exhausted I had never
yet given up all hope. was seized with
desire to let myself fall. ard thus put an end
to this agony.
At the critical moment I heard myself
called My friend had run to look for the
guide, but when he wished to return he was
horror-struck on perceiving that The surface
of the glacier was rent by countless crevas-
ses, and 50 similar that there was not asingle
sigp by which he could recognize the abyss
in which | was buried alive In this cruel
IL III ~. IL
knapsack which the guide had left at the
edge OF the gulf | cried to him to loo2: at
his watch Five minutes more had clap sed,
The cold was becoming more and more IN
tense, the blood was literally freezing in my
veins called asked if any one was in
sight. The guide had started thirty-ive
minutes ago, and not soul had yet appear
ed. 1t was scarcely probable that he could
return so quickly, as we had taken three
quarters Of an hour to get to this spot, ani
he had TO 90 and return.
felt that could hold on but very l3tle
longer. The irail support on which my
safety alone depended might yield at any
moment and break beneath me- / remem-
bered that / had long knife in my pocket,
aud [ reSolged to make use of it to draw
myself out informed my companion Of
this project he implorod me to do nothing
Of tie Kind but my sitna+i ion had become
ntoierablc. I made a notch in the ice, high
enough for me to reach to it, and large
enough for me to insert my hand in it then
about two feeG above the little bridge l dug
ou5 hole sufficiently large for me to place
my foot in it. / succeeded, and grasping
these two points Of support, my back rest
ing with all my strength against the oppo-
site wall, I was able to raise myself ard
keep myself firm in this new position. l
descended again upon the bridge and began
another notch abogo the first. I fattered
myself that | should be ableto escape from
MY prison, but single slip, false step,
would precipitate me into the abyss.
l was working diligently at my second
step when heard joyous cry above me.
Here they arel Three men with ropes
'they are running as fast as their legs can
carry them.
l steadied myself az firmly as possible
upon ltit uiIipN anu S!ippCiS lidsS: 81 DC
to he able to seize the rope they were about
to lower, and tie it around nc. saw the
end of it swinging about two yards above
my head May Cod have mercy upon mel
1t Is too short.
I'VE have another.
That was fastened to the first and let
down | seized the end of it. | bound it
strongly round my waist, and grasping the
rope with both hands gave the signal for
them to pull up.
They began-I was saved. a minute af
terward | was standing on the glacier [
had passed fifty minutes in the crevasse,
during which time had happily lost Meth
er my confidence in God nor my presence of
mind.
When placed my foot upon firm ground
again, an oyerrowering feeling OF deep
gratitude to the Almighty who had deliver
ed me in 50 great peril filed my breast.
| fell or my knees and tainted. When |
again became conscious, our party was pre-
pairing to start for the Montanvert. Before