The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-02-26
THE AVALANCHE.


Finding my love, find my love complete
-Bohl'oi"'s Monthly, February, 1879.
THE AVALANCHE.
The following graphic account of the
perils of avalanches in the Alps is from
"Hours Of Exercise in the Alps" by the
celebrated John Tyndall, the scientist. A
party of six were being conducted by
two local guides and famous Alpine
guide, Johann Joseph Bennen, over the
Haut de Cry, one of the Swiss alps. They
advanced in the beginning Of the ascent
very rapidly. The peak was glistening
before them, and hopes of success cheer
ed their spirits. After time they came
to snow frozen upon the surface which
would bear them a few steps and then
break down. This, of course, delayed
matters and was very fatiguing. Finally
it came to point that, in order to reach
certain arete, they would be obliged to
go up steep snow field 500 feet high,
$50 feet broad at the top and 500 feet at
at the bottom. During the ascent they
sank about one foot at every step. After
mounting for some distance the two lead
ing men suddenly sunk above their
waists. They were enabled to get out
after some struggles and presently found
better footing and came to the conclusion
that the snow was accidentally softer
there than elsewhere. But Bennen was
afraid of starting an avalanche, and said
so. They started forward agaln-but let
the book complete the story:
The snow field split in two about four
koap~ Fo1< -1,lk
was at first quite narrow, not more than
an inch broad. An awful silence ensued,
and then it was broken by Bennen's
voice: f''%%%r -... E@
'Wir sind allie verloren' 1--WE are all
LOST. His words were slow and solemn,
and those who knew him felt what they
really meant when spoken by such man
az Bennan. They were his last words. l
drove my alpenstock into the snow and
brought the weight of my body to bear
on it. It went in to within three inches
of the top. Il then waited. 1t was an
| awful moment of suspense. I turned my
head toward Bennen to see whether he
had done the same thing.
To my astonishment, saw him turn
round, and face the valley and stretch out
both arms. The ground on which we
stood began to move slowly, and l felt
utter uselessness of my alpenstock. I
soon sunk up to my shoulders, and began
descending backward. From this mo-
ment I saw nothing of what had happened
to the rest Of the party.
| With good deal of trouble succeeded
in turning round. The speed of the ava
lanch increased rapidly, and before
long was covered up with snow and in
utter darkness. Twas suffocatjng, when,
with a jerk. suddenly came to the sur
face again. The rope had caug ht, most
probably on rock, and this was evident
~ the moment when it broke. I was on
a wave Of the avalanche, and saw it before
me as I was carried down.
| It was the most awful sight I ever
witnessed. The head OF the avalanche
was already at the spot where we had
made our last halt. The head alone was
proceeded by a thick cloud of snow dust !;
the rest of the avalanche was clear.
Around me heard the horrible hiss
ing of the snow, and far before me the
laundering of the foremost part of the
avalanche. To prevent myself sinking
again made use of my arms, much ia
the same way as when swimming in a
standing position. At last I noticed
that was moving slower; then saw
the pieces of snow in front of me stop at
some yards distant: then the snow
straight before me stopped, and I heard
cd large scale the same creaking sound
that is produced when heavy cart
passes over hard-froZen snow in winter
felt that had also stopped, and in
stantly threw up both arms to protect nv
head in case should again be covered
up. I had stopped, but the snow behind
me was still in motion; its pressure on
my body was so strong that thought
should be crushed to death. This tre-
mendous pressure lasted but short time,
and ceased as suddenly az it had begun.
I was then covered up with snow coming
from behind me. My first impulse was
to try and uncover my head, but this I
could not do. The avalanche had frozen
by pressure the moment it stopped, and
l was frozen in. .
Whilst trying vainly to move my arms,
suddenly became aware that the hands
as far as the wrists had the faculty of
motion. The conclusion was easy; they
must be above the snow. set to work
as we'll as could /; it was time, for could
not have held out much longer. At last
l saw faint glimmer Of light. The crust
above my head was getting thinner and it
let little air pass, but could not reach
it any more with my hands; the idea
struck me that might pierce it with my
breath. After several efforts succeeded
in doing so, and felt suddenly rush Of