Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-07-18


to meet, in order to crush me, rather tina
release their prey, Numerous water cou
ses streamed down their sides, but in thl
extent of more than sixty yards [ could no
see any other projection or obstacle excer
this ledge on which had so miraculousl
fallen
I risked looking, for the second only
down into the terrible abyss above which
was suspended AT the spot where [ was
the crevasse was more than two feet wide
lower down it narrowed rapidly, and hun
dred yards below the two sides seemed t
touch each other. I believe if I had falle
but very few inches on either side from
the narrow bridge which had arrested me.
should have been buried and jammed up at
depth where no rope could have reached me
had remained about twenty minutes in m,
awful position, nerves and muscles stretche,
to the utmost to keep myself b ere, looking
at the sky aboYe my head, and at the ic'
around me, but not daring to glance agar
I INTO .ne gu!f below. The blood was flowing
from wound l had received 10 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 cold, was begin
ming to give away. 1t was impossible tt
change my position without losing my bal
ance The cold of the wall of ice, agains
which was resting, more and more be
numbed me, the water continued to fall, and
| dared not stir
I called my companion no one replied
I called again. Nothing nothing! Not
human being within reach Of my voice
| was seized with giddiness as terrible
thought crossed my brain.
"He is gone to see if the help is coming
and he cannot find the crevasse again there
are hundred of such--I am lost !'
Ny strength was exhausted. I had nev
er yet given up all hope. I was seized with
desire to Let myself fall, and thus put an
ED to this agony.
At the critical moment, heard my name
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 crevass
es, all so similar that there was not single
sign by which he could recognize the abyss
in which [ was buried alive. In this cru
Ell perpexity, God guided him to see little
knapsack which the guide had left at the
edge Of the gulf. cried to him to look at
his watch. Five minutes more had elapsed
The cold was becoming more and more in
tense the blood was literally freezing in my
veins I called asked if any one was
in sight The guide had started thirty five
minutes ago, and not soul had appeared
It was scarcely probable that be would re
turn SO quickly, as we had taken three quar-
tiers of an hour to get to this spot, and he
had to 90 and return.
felt that I could hold on but very little
longer. The frail support on which my
safety alone depended might yield at any
moment and break beneath me. remem.
bered that l had a strong knife in my peck
ct, ard resolved to make use of it to draw
myself out. [ informed my companion Of
this project, but be implored me to do moth
ing Of the kind. but my situation had become
intoerable. | made notch in the ice
high enough for me to reach it, and large
enough for me insert my hand in it; then,
about two feet above the little bridge, dug
hole sufficiently large for me to put my
foot in it. I succeeded, and grasp.
ing these points Of support, my back resting
with all my strength against the opposite
wall, was able to raise myself and keep
myself firm in this position.
I was working diligently at my second
step, when heard joyous cry above me.
Here they are Three men with ropes
they are running as fast as their legs can
carry them
steadied myself as firmly as possible up
on the narrow and slippery bridge so as to
be able to seize the rope they were about to
lower and tie it around me- saw the end
Of it swinging about two yards above my
head "May God have mercy upon me
It is too short !'
1--WE have another"
That was fastened to the first and let
down. I seized the end of it and bound il
strongly around my waist, and grasping the
the rope with both hands, I gave the signal
for them to pull me up
They began-I was saved. A minute
later [ stood upon the glacier I had
passed fifty minutes in the crevasse, during
which time had lost neither my confidence
in God nor my presence of mind.
When | placed my foot upon the firm
ground again an overpowering feeling o.
gratitude to the Almighty. who had deliver
ed me in SO great peril, filed my breast.
foil on my knees and tainted. When
again became conscious our party was pre-
pairing to start for the Montanvert Before
leaving I wished to cast one last look intc
the crevasse where I had nearly been buriee
alive. | saw how completely impossible i
would have been for me to get out Of 1t as
had projected. The opening at the top was
too wide to have allowed me, as I reached it
to lean against the opposite wall, and with
out that support the most agile climbing an
imals would have found it impossible to scale
this perpendicular wall Of ice.
The guide ran to the inn, where be. coult
not find single rope suitable for the pur
pose. In despair he started for Chamounix
when on the way he met two muleteers -
Their animals were laden with wood, tied OIL
with ropes which he emplored them to lie
him have to save poor traveller who hat
fallen into crevasse. These psople at ono
unloaded their mules and came with tn
guido to my assistance. Tying them to
gether-there were three-the rope reached
the depth of thirty to forty yards, where
had been arrested in my fall.
Assisted by my deliverers I was able t.
reach Moptanvert, where, in good bed
and with my bruises attended to, I had lei
sure to dream about the danger from whicl
| had escaped, and the remembrance o
which often haunts me, both sleeping ant
waking.