Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-08-25
A Terrible Fifty Minutes.
FROM THE FRENCH.

Ter like myself FOR aoouJ hNe "eeNS
we had been exploring Switzerland, SO
that we had plenty of time to get used
TO snow and glaciers. We had made
several ascents, one Of $4,000 feet.
we'll remember the sensation | felt when
| first saw one of these creyices which
seam the surface of the glaciers. Hold |
ing firmly oy my guides hand, leaned
over the yawning gulf, and tried to gaze
down into its terrible depth. The two
perpendicular walls of ice appeared to
meet some 800 feet below, but believe
it was only the effect of perspective, the
rent being probably extended as far as
the solid rock.
"a man who falls there is certain new
er to come out alive" said one of my
guides.
"True,' replied the other; but
knew one who was rescued. A narrow
escape indeed it was; he still lives at
Grinlewald. He is a chamois hunter.
He was returning home and in descend
ing the crevasse he fell. His tall was
broken by protecting blocks of ice, which
Welded, however, beneath his weight,
when ne clung to them. When he reach
ed the bottom, distance Of some hum
ired feet, he mad leg and an arm bro
ken. Between the earth and the ice he
found a hollow place into which stream
was running, crawling along, suffering
terrible pain, he followed the course OF
the water, and in three hours he was out
of the glacier.
Crevasses vary in breadth from two t
six feet at the mouth, but the sides ap
proach rapidly as they descend, so tha
a man may find himself jammed in be
tween two walls of ice long time b.
fore he reaches the bottom, and then,
ropes long and strong enough are a
hand, it is possible.to save him from
dreadful death. But generally the rope
are not long enough, and the travelle
perishes of cold, or falls lower down int
the crevasse during hours which elaps
while some of the party have gone to tn
nearest village to fetch longer rope
Thus an unfortunate Russian noblema
perished in glacier near Zermatt som
years ago.
We had ascended the Brevent; W
now had only the Mer de Glace and th
Jardin to visit. We slept at the Montar
vert in the solitary little inn at th
, foot of the glacier Next morning "
: were up at dawn. Furnished with hssom
j, provisions and two bottles Of wine v
. started with our guide. 1t was a splel
did morning, and argued well for OF
excursion. For half an hour we follo'
: ed rough path which skirted the MI
de Glace, which displayed before us
4 surface riven with crevasses and covert
q with rocks and fragments. Our rof
i. ended at the glacier, upon which we nc
; began to descend, and traverse in q
zags in the midst of numerous issurt
6 The Mer de Glace is not considered da
= gerous, and it is quite the exception
= take axes and ropes when crossing
Alert and cheerful we hastened on wit
a out taking notice of the guide, who, sor
n way behind, cried out to us several tim
70 to be cautious and wait for him. v
.o we're obliged at last to halt before We
4 crevasse which barred our progress.
y opened with length Of some sixty yar'
~ and ended upon our left in slope of i
n somewhat steep, but which | thought
le could easily mount. Using the iron
,d of my alpenstock as a Ratchet, | beg
a to cut holes in the ice, large enough
ba put my feet in. At this moment {
N guide rejoined us. He looked at
v slope and the yawning crevasse below
he and said in grave tone, 1t is dang
at Gus; let us go round it."
re- With the aid of my alpenstock | /
es, already got half way up this icy hillo
ed and was now quite convinced that it '
ca. too steep and slippery to be crossed vi
lp, out an ak. The guides warning C
I'm frmed my opinion. | was caution
Sc. lowering my right leg, seeking for
,y- hole that / had made in the ice my
OF passed it; felt that was sliding do'
/ there was nothing rough to stop me,
oy, the least projection by which [ co
} if hold myself in. The declivity beca
nal perpendicular, and l fell into the gull
/ heard the cry of despair of my c.
ry, panion and my guide. My own sci
in tions cannot be described. / was gi
the and half stunned, sent backwards
! of forwards from one wall of ice to
you other. l felt myself descending t
em great depth, and condemned to be d
ten ed to pieces, to die horrible &c
use. Suddenly something stopped me. /
sto- myself suspended. | took breath ag
fter and could cry out again, rop'
me ropel"
d L d. C,od,s rnercv had fallen mn