, 1889-11-16

LtoClAS anu tucu uAONe uOWl Tue mOullLatu-
slope at the most ridiculous snail-like pace,
AS it travels the little tuft gathers more
cottonwood and grows larger, hut there ~
no perceptlble Increase in its pace. Then
it comes to a ledgp-th Ne cotton wool is
converted for q momen into -four, and a
tiny stream pours over this ledge apparent.
II four or five inches high at the very
least! Here it may stop, or it may become
cottonwood again, and then trickle over
another ledge or two In the form of -four,
but always proceeding with the same ludi.
crous deliberatiOn. You also notice that it
leaves a tiny streak or seam IN its wake.
All this, of course, is the effect Of the dis-
tance-and distance plays many strange
entertainments with you in the Alps.
If we were near the avalanche we should
find the little tuft of cottonwood was III
reality acres and acres of snow, and that
the slip travels at a velocity which is amaz-
ing and irresistible, ~wrenching up huge
rocks, and tearing open the sides of the
mountain with u sound of thunder. The
tiny ledge IS in effect "a precipice hundreds
OF feet high, over which snow, rocks, AMI
earth are hurled with tempestuouS force
and hOrrid crash. The tiny streak seen
from afar is a mighty scar in the side Of
SAO WhCAC COL III lA0NO
been torn away by millions of tons to be
cast on the glacier.stream, then carried
down by it's motion, and finally deposited
at its foot in the form of terminal moraine.
Only three persons have aver made the
ascent of Mount Cook, and the story, told
by the principal member o fthe party forms
ono of the most fascinating narratives in
the annals of Alpine work.
In 1891 tho PoVy w 9 CraoU n, Irish
clergyman, and one of the most active
members of the Alpine Club, WAS casting
about i'll his mind MS to what new climbing
EXPEDITION might be undertaken, when the
High Alps of NewZealand were suggested
to him. The very daring of the idea seems
to have compelled its acceptance, aud Nj.
Green determined to attack Mount Cook.
He made his preparations with the utmost
care. Not only did he provide u very
complete outfit i'll the way of tents, sleep
ing bags, Sc, for camping out, but he
secured tie services Of two of the best and
most trustworthy guides Switzerland could
produce.
1t would take too much time to tell Of
the preliminary difficulties of the trip,
most of which have been removed by the
opening up Of better communication with
Mount Cook.
Mr.. Green anil his party had to spend
several days i'll exploration, attacking the
mountain from different points, until they
found out a practicable quite. Their way
lay up the great TaSman Glacier, a mag
nificent expanse Of ice formed by the union
of over thirty distinct ice-streams, and
having twice the area of the Great Aletsch,
the largest glacier in the European Alps.
Mr. Green made Ave successive camps on
his way mp the Tasman, and then the last
stage of the journey was entered upon.
The next night they bivouacked under
q sheltering rock at III elevation of 1000
feet above the sea-, and then Game the fnal
aud most difficult struggle with tho yet
unconquered mountain.
1t was six p. m. when the party, after q
most exciting and arluOus climb, at length
stood on the top most crest of Aorangi,
or the "Sky Piercer," az the MaOriS Gall
Mount Cook. There was every indication
of a bad night brewing, and the gathering
clouds below rendered entirely impossible
the glorious view which the travellers
wOuii otherwise have enjoyed.
"a look backwards down into the dark.
cl0ud-flled abyss out of which we had
climbed,;' says Mr.. Green. "was enough to
make us %skudder; it looked fathomless;
and this white icy ridge ON which We stood,
with torn mlsts driving over it before the
fierce nor wester, seemed the only solid
thing in the midst of chaos"
Fierce squalls compelled them to drive
their axes into the ice and crouch low to
OnArd AGAINST their haino blown Of into