St. Landry democrat., 1885-02-14
The CHAMols.
Some Stories of Interest Concerning This
Wild Mountaineers


Some Stories of Interest Concerning This
Wild Mountaineer.
That channels are capable of passing
places that even cat would hesitate
at is well known to every one who has
wandered much among the high Alps.
A few months ago was in the wild and
desolate region of Piz Vadred, where
it overhangs the great Grialetsch Gla-
cier, in the Canton des Grisons. From
the glacier I traced channels tracks,
high up over some very steep snow
slopes, to where the slopes ended at
an absolutely vertical wall of rock.
This wall projected like a buttress, and
was probably fifty or sixty feet broad,
and four hundred feet at its base, while
all above was nothing but oVerhanging
cliffs. On the other side of the buttress
the snow slope was continued, and here
the tracks recommended exactly on q
level with the other ones. How had the
chamois passed that wall? That they
had passed it was certain. If it was by
leap it must have been terrific one,
and in.their flight they would have had
to describe horizontal curve like a
bow. The more likely explanation is
they found cracks in the face of the
rock for their wonderful feet, though
even with the aid of a good field-glass
was unable to detect the presence of
the slightest ledge in the precipice at
that spot. In spite of their surefooted-
ness, however, these animals do some
times come to grief. Mr.. Whymper, in
his ''Ascent of the Matterhorn, " relates
how he found chamois in the neighbor-
hood of the Stockje, at the head Of the
Zmutt Glacier. The animal had slipped
on the upper rocks, rolled over and
over, down slope of debris, without
being able to regain its feet; and its
horns catching in a notch in the rock,
it was unable to free itself, and had
starved to death.
Recently met hunter with cham-
OILS of forty pounds over his back,
toiliug painfully down the lower slopes
of the Aiguille Vert, near Chamounix.
He had been on the mountain for two
days, the result being the one animal,
which he had recovered with great
difficulty after he had shot it, as it had
fallen over the precipice. This is a
common occurrence, but it is seldom a
hunter will leave his quarry behind him.
Three years ago some Germans mount
aineering in the Bernese Overland found
the decomposed body of chamois rest
ing on ledge of rock about fifty feet
below them; and few moments later
they were mortified to observe the body
of man on q grass slope several hum
bred feet lower down, By making a
detour they managed to reach the spot
The poor fellow was lying on his back,
his gun barrel bent double, and the
stock smashed to splinters. His body
was terribly mutilated, and the face
was decomposed beyond all recognition.
His bony hand still clasped the lock of
his gun. The position he was lying in,
and the channels up above, told their
own story. He had shot the cbamois
It had rolled over on the ledge, and in
| endeavoring to recover it he had lost
| his footing and must have been lying
| for many weeks where he was found.
If once the sentinel buck of herd of
channels catches sight of a man, all hope
of coming up with them that day is at
an end. Under such circumstances q
| nuQU6E Will OIbcH 1OllOW tue IIdchS ONC1
the snow and ice all day, pass the night
in the shelter of some rock, take up
the trail again on the following morn
ing, when possibly his patience and
perseverance may be rewarded.
The chamois generally keep in herds
of from six to twelve heads, rarely
more. One Of the number is always in
advance, and another one some dis
lance in the rear These are the adj
vanced and rear guards. Occasionally
they stop, sniff the air, and scan the
mountains, and at the slightest indi-
cation of danger they give the signal
and the whole lot go bounding away as
if they had been caught up by whirl-
wind. If they happen to be on a glacier
| or snow-feld when started they almost
invariably make for the rocks. This is
probably the result of some instinct
which teaches them that their taWny
color renders them less liable to be seen
amongst the dark rocks THAI on the
snow.-Lonolon Graphic.
Some Delights of Rural Life.
Enforced dwellerS in country towns