The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-22
THE L1TEsr Alpine DISASTER

There Is something particularly impress
svc TO the Imagination in tidngs Of death sud-
denly coming among pleasure seekers. Tho
loss Of nearly GOO cxcursonsts by the recent
collision on the Thames seems az awful as the
death ofthousands by the yellow fever; and tho
latest fatal accident to mountainecrs in the Alps
receives n degree Of attention from European
journals which has never been vouchsafrd to
the terrible Chinese famine. The truth IL we
have learned to expect death everywhere but in
our rccreations; and yet it would seem as
though we ought TO have understood by this
timo how often it cncroachcs upon the path Of
pleasure. unless prudence stands between.
This is cmphatically the lesson Of the nrci-
dent on the Cevedale glacier. Tho Monte
Covedale Is a summit ~ sos feet In height in
the Ortelcr district OF the Rhatan Alps. In
Eastern Switzerland It was first asccnded in
1864. Mr.. Ball. in his remarkably accurate
guide to the Alps does not mention any DIM
Guilty in the ascent in fair weather. but II ap-
pears that recently an ice slope has existed just
below the final peak The slope is not largo
one, but presents tho excessively stccp inclina-
ton OF forty-flve degrees. Here steps have to
be- cut with the ice axe. An ascent over such
slope is necessarily slow. and is always trying
to tho nerves Of inexperienced mon. Inc
members OF the party are usually roped to-
gethcr. There should be guide in front and a
guide in the rear The leader cuts tho strIs.
and the rest carefully follow In the stairway
thus formed. But adizzy mead or iase t"otsiep
VIII almost surely prove iatal mere Inc 'heory
ot using tho rcpe IS That II VIII enable those
whose footing Is secure TO mold M ana save n
railing companion. No DOUBT II docs in many
places; but there are those who mink that on
such an lee slope 1t would los better Tor the
members OF the party to be separate.
On the 18th OF August three travellers un-
dertook the ascent Of tho Monte Cevrdaie II
In difficult mountain climbing. yet. strange 10
say. they took only two guides. For such an
expedition this number WIS plainly INSULT
Client -Four guides, at least. should have been
employed. They reached the ice slope in
safety. and In good season. for 1t was hardly
o'clock. and the requisite time thence 10 the
summit is reckoned at only quarter Of an
hour. They were never destined to reach it,
however. As the powdered Ice from the steps
cut by tho foremost guide went Kissing down
the slope with that peculiar sound which 10
never forgotten by those who have once heard
II. ono Of the three travellers slipped Tho rope
which bound tho party together was only too
strong II was beyond the mower OF tho guides
| .'..,., a. ,,,i..l, -, ,h.i. ,,,,,,,a,,i,,,
| " S"H'"'h ''' "''H"N VI '''." ,''f"''
| dragged down by tho first who FELL and all
worn hurlnd swiftly ovor tho mountain side
! ~, - ~, - 49,, -, - -. -,
] ih'lr lul was 'h''h'h i't al lust"h'' 0"ihc
! two thousand feet from the spot where IL began.
Uoro n small cravasse saved the life 81 the only
/ ,,. M To-, ,,,. ,,,,,.h, an, hoti, to-
SURVIVOR ms l'E WIS '"uEh' anu ""u'' li"
/ Wrcd; but the shock broke the rope and left
! him living vhile his comrades sunl on To- their