The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-11
naOSG TIE ALPINE GLACIERS.
Wilderness Thar Dazzles-Glacier Tables
Bowlders ana Mouths.


Bowlders and Mouths.
Prg1tresisa Letter to the New York Times.
It was a grand sight or which We esze6.
Gssesrs filled every valley and rsvine and the
i,s $1,000 in tall ram parts wherever the space
vas too narrow TO hold ITS rigid waves. Glacier
Hs is snow that has for a considerable time bsen
ssbiectei 20 enormous pressure. IL you squeeze
isaowball 10 your hand until IL is hard il be-
zones icy. So in the Alps. the continual fail of
snow is the gressure and tbs suns heat the
warmth which produces those seas OF lee that
are called glaciers. There are over 600 OF them
IN Switzerland, and some are coeval with the
f.acal period OF this Continent, while others are
in process of formation. Winter rs their
reason of rest, but with the spring they re-
sumo their onward motion, due to the
combined action OF heat and grsvita-
Ton. For in spite OF their apparent immo
biiitg all Alpine glaciers do move constantly,
although with different degrees OF speed. and
IKE ,.lnii streams, they carry with them dsaCis
Of al sorts. on. principally the stones that fall
OF their surface from the mountains' sides. The
vlseier starting in iis purity from some white,
1nsullied peak, loses before MANY years its spot
less character. Tho wintry frosts gathering in
to iron bonds tho streams that trickle down the
mountain sides. expand the water 10 freezing.
AID shAt;sr rocks with a force that the most
solid ellis cannot possibly resist Thus broken
rsglIe1,s droo on TO the once unspotted bosom
Of the Ice sea, and swell its burden with advance
me- years. The debris thus brought down form
Naat are called morains Each glacier hss n
moFaine OF either side OF it; it's end is terminal
no,sne. and when two glaciers unite, their lat
erai moraines join and form medal moraine.
one OF the largest medal morsines hereaoout
Jaw a. We came down from this excursion. 1t
~ N. center Of the Morters'sch eiaciE, and is
.Dort nfty feet or more broad aud perhaps
"en'y feet high il. its center.
Seen from where he stood 10 was all wonder
ial and amazing. With its cuirass Of glittering
ko and wrapped IN dazzling white cloak, the
he'nina was a grand sight TO look on, while
~ INC II were lower SUBMITS. all or them snow
sslped ana crowned. We were struck by the
haate Wilderness OF everything. and have
s,tee learned that II is owing to the presence of
sse'ef corn There Is on glacer-clad mount
as nese, hney-crystalized snow. which is
eseE iaily melted. and this Is the pressure that
forms the glacier ice. Now glacier ice is quite
eaerent from that which results from
ise,ziog water. aad Is found 20 consist of
5sais varying IN size from that Of \ hens
" pms head; these particles are
:n As grsnule. or glacier corn. and n
.snNe hoies air II imprisoned. Where the
--ouooles are absent the glacier has blush
ny And IL no longer that pure white which puz-
s 80 many persons. With the Oldest guide
;uhS leading the way. We walked over the
=. see OF Diavoezza Before We had gone far
' 'eNsl surface. / saw powders supported at
-. ne night OF ice peiestas, and l stopped to ex.
os theia. Glacier taiies." said the guide at
n end OF our procession. but his remark
seu 10 usetul information. L soon saw
Dey resulted from the presence Of block
,oue IL had failea on the sea, and had so
.sNSs, protected the ice directly under the
"a consequence. while the glacier all
80 mas been dlssoiving and sinking the ice
a. sssse powders has bat slightly melted.
ro.s GRADUALLY pillow is forming under each
N. DO es howldsr is NOT balanced evenly on
49, Observed the Boston lady It was ex-
r...h 70 Der that because the sun is able 20
,o,,A ssese ice pedestals more freely on tbs
in.s see than on the north the thing naturally
vs,. VoVard the south. as We walked along
s,,sso lns of saud-eoverea mounds anont
r,S I've Feet high AID eliminating in a snarp
,ar,s we sersp-d of little of the sand and
=. .s ua lonad that q mound was composed of
sov.-.1n looked quite black when it was nm
co. lie reason for the existence OF thsss
a. OBVIOUS TIE ice protected by the
thln,.- 80 ~ renainea upmelted aud the wind had
susd..,sne ariited heap into a pointed share.
ee.o...S We heard q cracking sound which was
plo.,or nea oy noise Ike that of distant ct
fc,n.leea Tue guide said this announced IN.
souna - s OF another erevasse Presently ,hs
isuds- ieding water. which grew louder and
wsr..sSe approached, was heard, and soon
tov, point where A stream dronp.d
Tn. ,1tt 10 the ice and was lost to sisnt
gsu,v - eslsd this deep hole a mouth, and he
Womb ,tfk'd that a false step IN its direct;on
Ara..,- fellow down below all human Aid
tkrkn-sne iyndsh both tried to ascertain tins
th... ,na-,e glaciers by taking soundinss down
Go 80. The former found no bottom az
natrd 49,, one ses, ana ca another he esti-
thickness at l.500 feet