Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-07

THE AVALANCHE.
The Frlghtful Story Of the Death Of
Brave Men.

The following graphic account of the
perils of avalanchsS in the Alps is
from Hours Of Exercise in the
Alps" BY the celebrated John TyR-
dali, the scientist. A party Of six
Wers being conducted By two local
guides and q famous Alpine guide.
johann Joseph Bennsn, over the Haut
de Cry, n Of the Swiss Alps. They
advanced in the beginning Of the as
cent very rapidly. The peak was
glistening before them, and hopes Of
success cheered their spirits. After
a time they came to snow frozen upon
the surface which would bear them a
few steps andthen break down. This,
of course, delayed matters and was
very fatiguing. Finally it came to a
point that, in order to reach a certain
arete, they would be obliged to 20 up
steep snow field eight hundred feet
high, one hundred and fifty feet broad
ct the top, and FIVE hundred feet at the
bottom. During the ascent they sank
about one foot deep at every step.
After mounting for some distance the
two leading men suddenly sunk above
their waists. They were enabled to
get ont after some struggles, and pres
entity found better footing and came
to the conclusion that the snow was
accidentally softer there than else
whore. But Bennen was afraid of
starting an avalanche, and said so.
They started forward again-but let
the book complete the story
The snow-fold split in two about
fourteen or fifteen feet above as. The
cleft was quite narrow, not more than
an inch broad. An awful silence en-
sued, and then it was broken by Ben
mems voice:
Wiz sind ale verloren I'VE are
all LOST. His words were slow and
solemn, and those who knew him felt
what they really meant when spoken
By such a man IS Bennen. They were
his last words. | drove my a~lpenstock
into the snow, and brought the weight
OF ny body to bear on it. 1t went in to
within three inches Of the TOP. II
then waited, 1t vas an awful moment
Of suspense. l turned nv head to-
ward Benner 10 see whether be had
done the same thing.
To my astonishmsnt, | saw him turn
round face the valley and stretch ont
both arms. The ground on which he
stood began 10 move slowly. and / felt
the utter uselessness Of n alDen-
stock. soon sank I'D to my shonl-
ders, and began descending backward.
From this moment / saw nothing Of
what had happened to the rest Of the
party.
With a good deal Of trouble I sue
eeeded in turning round. The speed
Of the avalanche increased rapidly.
and before long | was covered up with
snow and IN utter darkness. L was
~suhocating, when, with = Jerk. sud
denly came to the surface again. The
rope had caught, most probably on .
rock, and this was evidently the mo
ment when 1t broke. | was on a wave
of the avalanche, and saw it before me
a. | was earned down.
1t was the most awful sight | ever
witnessed. The head Of the avalanche
was already at the spot where We had
made u last halt The head alone
was preceded by a thick cloud Of.
snow dust the rest Of the avalanche
was clear.
Around me | heard the horrid his
sing 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 IN the same way as when swim
ming IN a standing position. At last
L noticed that | was moving slower.
then l saw the pieces Of snow In front
OF me stop at some yards distance:
then the snow straight before me
stopped, and | heard on a large scale
the same ~creaking sound that is pro.
duced when a heavy cart passes over
hard frozen snow in winter.
l felt that ! also had stopped. and
instantly threw up both arms TO pro-
tect my head in case | should again be
covered up. l had stopped, but the
snow behind me was still in motion !;
Its pressure on my body was 80 strong
that l thought | should be crushed to
death. This tremendous pressure
lasted but a short time, and ceased az
suddenly as it had begun. | was then
covered up with snow coming from he
hind me. Ny first impulse was 10 try
and recover my head but this I coula
not do. The avalanche had frozen bv
pressure, the moment it stopped. and
| was frozen in.
Whilst trying vainly TO move nv
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, l set to work as well as / could {;
1t was time, for / could not have held
out much longer. At last | saw a
faint glimmer Of light. The crust
above my head was getting thinner.
and it let a little air pass, but | could
not reach it any more with nv hands
the idea struck me that might pierce