The sun., 1878-09-01
LOST ON 4 GLACIER,
Wandering Abeut for Four Days nnu Night =
In a Binding snow Storm. 60


PONTRRsINA in the Engadinc, Aug. s.
Never since Pontresina hecnme n favOrite sum
mer residence has there been so great an cX-
element as on SATURDAY, last. the Sd OF August;
On the previous Thursday two parties had
started from Pontrcsina for the new shoter hut
of the Swiss Alpine Club at Boyal. The first.
the guides Hans and his brother. Christian
Grass, proposed to ascend the Piz Pald on the
t2llowlng dHy ,Gy Ths Gsccond n9giyl NJ Seton
tthe son of the before named Hans Grassl, in
tended to ascend the Pl2 Bernina. Both parties
started at 2 4. NJ. AMI proceeded together 10
the Fcstung. Here they separated. Some hours
afterward snow storm suddenly overlook
both. although the weather had been fine and
the sky almost qloudlcss. This storm lasted
until Saturday night. and after n painiul and
most difficult walk. the first party, after reach
ing the Pal1. returned safely to Pontresina In
tho evening.
the young Engishman had not ,et returned;
without taking any rest, Hans at once started
they had a prcscntiment that an accident had
overtaken the party for whom they were in
search. They consequently retraced the route
they had taken twcnty-thrpc hours previously.
and nearly reached tho Fcstung. But the in
crcnsing storm and the darkness compelled
them to return To- Boyal. where they met Chris
tian Grass, who had como from Pontrcsina TO
assist in the search. After n short rest the
heavy fall Of snow. passed a rock in the middle
Of the glacier called the Festung. and crossed
under the Bcuu VISTA IrNk tOWufu llc Der
nina. Again they were prevented by the fear
full storm from making furthcr progress. and
no response was heard by the distracted father
TO the loud calls for his lost son. Hans thorc-
fore reluctantly ngain descended the glacier.
and returned 10 POntresi ma al l.. W., overcome
| by fatigue. and inconsoable at the supposed
| loss he had sustained.
In the mean time. however. tho whole corps Of
| guides. thirty in number. had started from
! Pontresinn. Twcnty-four went 10 the Boval in
| order to commence their search In different
| directions after midnight. In Ne early morn
! ing six were to proceed TO the valley Of tho
! ROseg. rs possibly the storm might have thrown
| the travellers down tho prgcpicc On tho
| Tschierva glacier. II was also arranged by
telegram that mon from PoschiavO mud llnlewO
| should ascend the Bernina from the Italian
! thus been madr about IL o'clock in The evening
| of saturday. the Sd, Joyous shouts were heard
| from the Mortcratsch side which were taken
W by the Villagers and rapidly snrcad IN al,
| They are we'll" \ messenger was ut once sent
to Kampfer to convey the happy tidngs to the
| relatives 9f the Englishman. who had almost
The history of the adventurers was shortl,
| ~ follows: Ihcy had gained ne summit oil IN,
surrounded by thick clouds and overtaken by .
storm. which lasted til the evening ol the fol
| lowing day. However. after short rest they
| commenced the descent and by IL o'clock hHt
snfey reached the great Firnkc,scl' Onwarl
hey pr%cseied IN ,he roW raEinS ,noWstya
(j.6OO metresl. Darkness had ovcrtukcn thcm
and further progress was iinposs bic. Al dawi
hl ilul ll'f-ii Iut luNll't 'll'iAtN wv AiAA
10 escape from the enclosure Of Ice and snow il
which for twenty four hours they had been i'm
prisoncd. About noon on saturday, tho 81
they contrivcd by means pf rope T. let them
selves down n considerable height falling upoi
journey until O'clock T. W.. lttie thinkin.
that they were within easy reach oi the Bovai
hnue.' where succor was awaiting them; 10
here their cries had been heard. joyful greet
ings were exchanged. aud food and shclte
were soon provided. None Of the party eus
tuncd any rious injury, althluEh the Eng
lshman narrowly escaped the effects Of frost
! bite.
NJ blame can be attached To- the guides b
anv who understand the fearful power Of
sudden snowstorm among the mountains. Su!
In order 10 avoid similar adventures. il woul
be des irable Tor every guide to possess a com
pass. and also that travellers should prOyid
themselves with n good aner0id when under
| taking "A heightened mountain excursion.