New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-10
4 BLIND MANS ASCENT OF MONT BLANC
To The Editor Of The London Times.

To The Editor Of The London Times
Ny ascent of Mont Blanc was not sudden. reck-
pose. and only undertaken after long and careful
preparation. l thoroughly understood and fully
appreciated all the difficulties. In order TO carry
on my work in behalf of the blind. it is necessary
to keep up my pluck, energy and determination.
Skating. swimming. rowing riding, have all con-
ributed their share to this end. out last year went
10 Switzerland TO try mountain climbing The cx
pertinent was highly successful. This year went
again, accompanied by my WIFE: son, ana ms figh-
ness Prince Alexander George Of Hesse. After four
weeks continuous work on the glaciers and In
various mountain ascents, went TO Cnanounlx,
and without difficulty achieved the object oil my
summers excursion
I'm company with INV son. with Benoit my
Leading guide attacked hont Blanc. AT first the
plides expected to drag me up. but / gave them
their choice to leave me to climb in my own way
or give up the undertaking. i was resolved 10
make an honest climb or give up the ascent took
my place the rope in the ordinary way, except
that the distance between my son and my sell was
only few feet. This enabled me 10 follow his
footsteps closely. and in such places, az the
NC moved in immediate succession For instance,
before he would take the fingers Of his right hand
out of the hole which had been cut IN the ice wall
for the purpose my left hand would touch his right
hand and be ready to occupy the hole ~ soon as he
had relinquishcd it. With the exception of cutting
very excellent steps for me, the guides during the
ascent did not assist me in any way. was glad 10
find that the ascent of such steep places as the
Bosse was much easier than had ante pared.
The cutting of steps required considerable time,
and allowed me ut my leisure to prepare Tor each
difficult and dangerous step. Besides carrying a
strong alpenstOck, always take with Inc IN DIM
emit climbs a short walking-stick, which | often
use III my right hand as an Indicator; and to show
the skill which il Is possible to attain IN tins way
| NAV mention that did not miss single step in
the entire ascent. When ] reached the summit,
Benoit exclaimed: " Welcome TO the summit OF
Mont Blanc. You are the first and last blind gen
tleman who will ever stand upon this the highest
point in Europe" But my mind was busy. Pass
ing from peak to peak, went round the entire
circle dwelling on many favorite SUBMITS They
had all been carefully studied and each in its turn
brought some new winged hope Tor the future. 1t
was very cold and the guides soon reminded us
that we must begin the descent. Before dong so,
however | consecraied my life anew to the blind,
and have now returned to England to prosecute
this one purpose of my life.
In difficult climbs | rely entirely upon my own
careful steps and tn strength of my own arm, but
in making descenJs it is otherwise, especially over
snow slopes. Here take the guides arm and my
apenstock in the other hand, and bound down
with great rapidity. We made the descent from
the summit to tine Grand Muiets III three hours ana
thirty minutes. r. j. CAMPB IT,"
Royal Normal College for the Blind