Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-09-10
Perils OF the Matterheru

Tha Ma:tcrhoru is go isolated pyramid Hhioa
ris!s to height of IA 705 feet sbvs the levet Of
the sea. 1t is very difficult of ascoat, r,qair.
log about fourteen hours tino. and ontslliDg
any amount If fatigue; and. although rocks
have bean blasted at the mes. dTcllt poiuls,
aud ropes attached to it, the horrible dca,h OF
ttr,e out Of four gentlemen wno frs: made the
ascent hlls the hearts of most travellers With
horror. Although the boldest Climbers of the
Alpine Club bad frequently attempted TO scale
lts summit, it WAS noe upul 1865 that success
vas achieved, and up to 1860 even its sides re-
taiued the prestige Of iuvincibity. Ia this
year Prot. T,ndslI. with frioad aod the guide
Benuop, made the alc,n. Cf porliou Of
the conc, tu; night oouilg Gu they Wero
obigel TO soop,iaus the altenp!. In 1862
tho same gentleman, viii tho samo guide
reached more advanced port. now lied p.o
TyndaIl. The same year Mr. Edward WhT,a-
per. the su,'ivo: 10 the foal c:nt in 1865,
spent night nesr the sumnis, AMID "topoiuy
crsgs CT ice which q trerth draws down
10 mountains overwhelming Mr.. Whymper
has given vivid description of the moonlight
night aud breaking day rs it appeared troc.
his most pcrlious ard g ddy position.
The 6usl aud suooe ssful attempt was made on
the l4Ih of July, 1865, but at fearful sscrif,,!
Two parties started on the samo day to reach
the sunmit OF the Mauerhtra. Sigtore Gisr-
dloo, at the head of party, ssalt,d from
Breull, apxlous that the Italians should have
the honor of titst scaling that giddy height.
The Eoglisc party, which started from u ,r-
matt, cJnslsted OF Lord Flaaols Douga4, Mr.
Whymper. R-v. Mr.. Huiscn, Mr.. H.dow,
Michael Crcz, Trustworthy Cnamouoix guide,
aud the guide Peter rauzwaldec and b S two
sons as poftcrs. They mouoied nearly direc:
from the cast side to height of II 900 feet,
where they liicaed their tents for the night.
Starting next morning by day light, and cross
ius the northwest iaco of the mou1,sia, they
:ro obliged 10 climb q cliff ct on apsie of over
htty degrees. Surmoun,ing this difficult space
over prscipics OF 4 900 feet the parry fouut
i'seIf op small terrGco of geutc slope, which
lad easily to the sum nit. Mr.. Whymper vas
enc first who reached that poiot. Ii ls said
at whoD the mon in the valleys far ba!oY saw
! figures Of tie E;gsh party above them
ey ran screaming thinking they wero evil
Iirits. The lsrty remained abUu. un
uour at the top and then commenced
the dssosnt in the loogiug order:
First tho guido Michael Crcz, Mr.. HpdoW, Nj.
Hudson, Lord Fraucis Duugas, tho guide
Taug ~slder, Mr.. Whinper and ycuag Tauc-
welder, the portcr-tbe other havirg been lett
where the party had ercanped the night pre-,
vio1s. Mr.. Wtynper was just 6oisbine a
sketch, which aCc1uos for his bciog pao:d
behind Tauswalder. Just at O mcm?nt when
Croz had turned, after placing Hadows foot Oh
what he supposed to bo safe footing. the last
canned person slipped, overturning Crcz AID
Carrying Hudson aud Douglas atous with him
over f;igt!ul precipico of 900 feet, dssbing
them toto q horrible abyss three quarters of q
mile beneath. Taugwnlder h,!d hrn, and the
rope broke, saving bis owo, MIR. Whymper's
snd bis sons lite. Had the rope held, all
seven must have fallen together aud b,en
hurled ever the precipco. Some acccuots scy
the rope was not held tight enough; others, it
was not strorg enough; snd some that i. WAS
cut by tho guide 90 seeing that be could not
save their lives and bis own also. Sircs then
the Mstterhorn has boon frequauty assembled,
and usually without mishap. Two years $50,
however, q fatal accident occurred to O youog
American tourist. DR. William o. Noscy, jr.,
of Boston.-PhiladeIphta Telegraph.