The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-11-22

were the frequent detoDations. But
We were safely up and getting back,
having met with l'iany incidents, but
no accidents. When within a mile of
the hamlet from which We had start.
ed, the nearness OF our journeys end
tended 10 make ts careless Holding
my staff somewhat hcedlcssly with
my left hand, it so unexpectedly
caught in small iissure that my feet
slipped from under me, and | fell
The smart jerk upon the rope drew
ont the knot, which must have been
undoing for some time; and being at
the end of the cord, found myself
loosed from the whole party aud dc.
scending the precipitous glacier with
fearful velocity. Instantly cry Of
horror from above announced that the
accident had been discovered. But |
was beyond their aid
Il drew in my, breath rs | listened.
That was not instantly killed in
striking at the foot of the prccipice.
down which / had first descended,
was owing TO my position OF feet fore.
most; but the shock of the conclusion
left a feeling rs OF paralysis. My staff
still retained; but the point had
caught and broken Off Down went
directly into the yawning end of n
tissure, my staff catching iecbly at the
walls. No doubt the lissure was hun
dreds of feet i'll depth, but | was not
destined 10 sound the bottom"
"No"
The rains aud ihaws, the catching
and splutering of crumblug ava.
lanches. had poured tons OF shelly ice
directly into the mouth OF the chasm :;
aud apart from being severely scratch
cd by the sharp PARTICLES. and being
s,nnned by the force oi my stopping,
after the rapidity of my descent, 1
was not seriously injured when |
stopped. There | was, in Il well.likc
aperture of ratiling shelly ice. and un.
conscious. The rest OF what | learnt
later
but you are alive, Rawdon.'
AYES. Ilorriticd IS the whole party
were, they had yet the sense To- hasten
the descent TO the hamlet, and pro .
cure ropes and lights--tor night had
then set in. TO secure the body,
said the guideJ Aud the news
spread, and the cry went echoing
along the village, Man lost. Man lost
in chaSmh
In an hours time The two guides,
De Ware aud Moulc,l, aud another
; guide. were ready 10 ascend the slight
distance TO the point where the acci-
dent happened. just outside The
hamlet they were surprised TO bc
Joined by Jennie Dessonard She
was known To- he as fleet of foot as
the chamois, and no one disputed her
right To accompany the party. They
tollcd mp in the assure where | had
disappeared, aud then held consul.
iation. Was it best To lower lamp?
Doubtless the depth would make such
; 4 proceeding useless. Should one OF
the men be lowered by the Others p
This was an expedition not 10 be coy
eted. The party consisted wholly of
large, heavy men; their weight might
make the grinding of the rope instant
destruction; aud, at any rate, would
be attended by great danger even TO
. those who held the rope. Yet there
was no other alternative.
Young Jennie, brave girl, stepped
forward and began uncoiling the
rope.
~ am going down. she said NJ
) Coutet is 10 fasten this about me; /
came for the purose of descending the
: iissure'
? They tried 10 dissuade her.
"li you will not secure me, | will
tie il myself" she affirmed.
They yielded the point n, last after
some argument. With the ropes ias.
tened about her, and the lamp strap.
, ped to her breast, the intrepid girl
was slowly swung into the fissure. -
With her staff, steel pointed at each
end, she kept herself from striking
against the Jagged sides. In twenty
minutes she signalled to be hauled up
then signaled them to stop. She
had touched the bottom of crevice
which was wonderfully shallow, and
, not finding anybody, she conjectured
that it must have lodged somewhere
above.
"Her lamp had streamed into the
basin and discovered me. She did
not stop to ascertain if ] was dead =
but, taking the lines which she had
, brought, she bound me to her-wrap.
: ping her mantle about my head, least
IN some manner it might beat against
the walls of the chasm; and then gave
= the signal to be d. avn up.
, "And drawn up we were in safety
, ! was borne back to the hamlet
t where, though still unconscious, l was
+. found to be living"
"But the escape was marvellous
Rawdon," / said.
) at was"
5 "And what Of Jennie?"
"She married Coutet."
The report of the Land Com.
: missioners for the past fiscal years
, shows that the public lands are rapid.
Y ly being disposed of. What with the
large grants to the States for differ,
: ent purposes, and the various rail.
way grants in addition to the settle,
Inents made by individuals under the
: Homestead, Presumption and Mill
: tary Bounty acts. the public domain
e is fast passing ont of the hands o.
g the Government. Most of it will soor
9 become the homes of a hardy race
. who will make it blessing to them
selves and the Government. The
t number of acres disposed of during
4 L.. L, - fSsl L.