The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-09-19
Lost on a Glacier.
tLondon Times.l

0Os ~
tLondon Times.l
Never since Pontresina became a
favorite summer residence has there
been so great an excitement as on Sun
day, the Sd of August. On the previous
Thursday two parties had started from
Pontresina for the new shelter hut of
the Swiss Alpine Club at Boval. The
first, consisting of two gentlemen of Zu-
rich, with the guides, Hans and his
brother, Christian Grass, proposed to
ascend the Piz Palu on the following
day. The second party, Mr.. Seton
Karr, with the guides, Garry and
Christian Grass 1.-THE son of the before
named Hans GRASSY, intended to ascend
the Piz Bemina. Both parties slept at
the "Bovalhutte," and from thence
started at two o'clock a.. m, and pro-
ceeded together to the Festung. Here
they separated. Some hours afterward
a snow-storm suddenly overlook both,
although the weather had been fine and
the sky almost cloudless. This storm
lasted until Saturday night, and after
a painful and most difficult walk the
first party, after reaching the Palu, re-
turned safely to Pontresina in the
evening.
There Hans Grass learned that his son
and the young Englishman had not yet
returned. Without taking any rest,
Hans at once started with John Grass
for the Boval, which they reached about
one o'clock a. m. Finding the hut
empty, they had a presentiment that an
accident had overtaken the party for
whom they were in search. They conse-
quently retraced the route they had
taken twenty-three hours previously,
and nearly reached the Festung. But
the increasing storm and the darkness
compelled them to return to Boval,
where they met Christian Grass, who
had conn from PoHtresina to assist in
the search. After a short rest the three
men started in the raging storm and
heavy fall of snow, passed a rock in the
middle of the Glacier called the Fes-
tung, and crossed under the bella
Vista" peak toward the Bernina. Again
they were prevented by the fearful
storm from making further progress,
and no response was heard by the dis
tracted father to the loud calls for his
lost son. Hans therefore reluctantly
again descended the glacier and returned
to Pontresina at six o'clock p. M, over
come by fatigue and i1consolable at the
supposed loss he had sustained.
In the mean time, however, the whole
corps of guides, thirty in number, bad
started from Pontresina. Twenty-four
went to Boval in order to commence
their search in different directions after
midnight. In the early morning six
were to proceed to the Valley of the
Roseg, as possibly the storm might have
thrown the travellers down the ~precipice
on the Tschierva glacier. 1t was also
arranged by telegram that men from
Poschiavo and Malewo should ascend
the Bernina from the Italian side. When
every possible arrangement had thu
been made, about eleven o'clock in the
evening of Saturday, the Sd, joyous
shouts were heard from the Monteratscf
tide, which were taken up by the vii
sagers and rapidly spread in all direc
lions. "They are foundl Theylivel They
are wellr" A messenger was at once
sent to Kampfer to convey the happ!
tidings to the relatives of the English
man, who had almost abandoned hope
The history of the adventures wa
shortly as follows: They had gained
the summit of the Bernina at 20 g.. m.
when suddenly they were surreundet
by thick clouds and overtaken by
storm which lasted till the evening o
the following day. However, after
short rest, they commenced the descent
and by twelve o'clock had safely reaches
the great "Firnkessel." Onward the.
proceeded in the now raging snow-storn
until they had gained the "Grastl
Guzza" (three thousand and six hun
bred meters.) Darkness had overtakel
them, and further progress was i'm
possible. At dawn of day fresh bu
Intellectual efforts were made to escap
from the Enclosure of ice and now il
which for twenty-four hours they ha'
, been imprisoned. About noon on Satul
5 day, the Sd, they contrived by means O
a rope to let themselves down a COZ
E siderable height, falling upon the sol
snow and continued their perilou
journey until nine o'clock p. M, littl
thinking that they we're within cas-
: reach of the "Bovalhutte," wher
succor was awaiting them for here thei
= cries had been heard. Joyful greeting
= were exchanged, and food and shelte
were seon provided. None of the part
: sustained any serious injury, althoug
the Englishman narrowly escaped th
. effects of frost-bite.
g No blame can be attached to til
$ guides by any who understand the fea
t full power of a sudden snow. storm anon
the mountains. Still, in order to avoi
similar adventures, it would be desirab
t for every guide to possess a compass
e and also that travellers should provit
e themselves with a good aneroid wht
undertaking a heightened mountain e
n ourainn