San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-29
right nand roor EsUne-5. " men sue KNOWS
this she will die OF a coeur brise."


world. And it so happened that he fell into
the hands of Col Wilson who showed him,
with the same suavity and urbanity that he
had the Russian, all the mysteries of Yankee
ingenuity.
The similarity of the situation was extended
when Varnel was found to be raconteur
fully equal in interest to his Russian prede-
cessor. 1t grew to be something wonderful
when tt became known that he, too, had
visited Great st. Bernard Pass, and that he
had met in that vicinity with very singular
adventure, and which, with but very little
urging, he consented to relate at length.
Here is what was told by the Englishman:
~
The Swiss canton of Valais, wishing to
drain large region extending into the sides
of the Alps, began the cutting of channel
between the desired area and the headwaters
of one of the minor tributaries of the Rhone
The work involved great engineering diff
culties and attracted the attention of scien-
tifc men in all parts of Europe.
Some portions of the proposed route lay
through a country which admitted surface
excavations, there was one section where, for
a distance of about one mile, the channel had
to be tunneled into an elevated promontory,
or huge spur, which crossed the line of exca-
walton at right angles" The work had been
in progress some ten years when happened
to be at Geneva on a tour of recreation
Here learned that the company was nearly
through the promontory, and expected at
any moment to issue into the valley which it
was intended to drain. | determined to wit
ness the completion of this wonderful enter
prise of engineering.
| had no trouble to secure the necessary
permission in Geneva, and in a couple of days
reached the tunnel | was just i'll time, for
it was in the evening, and the final blast was
to be exploded in the morning. Examina-
tiOns had satisfied the engineer in charge that
but a few feet interpoSed between the head
of the tunnel and the outer wall of the rock.
The next morning the charge was eXplod-
ed, and we rushed forward To the point.
The expectations OF the engineers We're real
lied; the charge had blown through the side
of the rock.
Examined by the light of the lanterns it
was found that beyond was q mass of solid
ice.
The superintendent carefully inspected the
opening and said:
eve expected to find body Of ice at this
point, and we know its extent We shall
have to carry the tunnel about a mile fur
ther, when we shall be beyond the ice noun
tain and in the valley"
When the lights were brought to the end
of the rock it was discovered that a consider
able aperture had been made in the ice, on
the farther side of which was imbedded
dark object that had the rough outlines of
human form.
IslTba+ iS tbo+20 ka5
Probably piece of rock, :" responded the
superintendent.
Don't you think it looks like a man"
"We1l see. Perhaps it is some poor devil
who has fallen from the rocks Here, take a
pick and dig out that black thing there. Be
careful Don't strike it with the pick, but
dig around it."
The workngman obeyed the order, and
soon large mass of ice in which the black
object was enclosed was removed and laid on
the rocky floor of the tunnel Soon after it
was placed on dirt car and conveyed to the
outer air. The glacial shroud was as trans
parent as glass and permitted US to see dis
tinctly the figure of a man. Not only this
but the complexion was like that of life, with
che difference that it was trife paler than
81 health. The hair, hands, ears, neck, the
thin, blonde beard, the abundant yellow
locks, were as distinct in their outlines and
hues as of a man just dead.
The throng about the ice entombed body
was filed with wonder not unmixed with
awe
Who can it be?' was asked by every one
There was an old peasant among the
crowd, who, after long gaze at the object,
said:
II myself remember that a young man,
Ellie Burchom, guide, fell from the cliff
above, and, bon Dieu, this in the ice is like
the guide Ellie, as l to myself recall him.
Moi, it cannot be- 1t is forty years since
when tkis fall came to happen"
HAS he any relatives livingm
'In truth, yes His wife, Esthere, an old
woman who lives now in the Aosta Valley"
Can she be found and brought hereg"
Eyes, monsieur, in two hours"
Take my cart and fetch her here at once"
The old peasant hurried away and two or
three hours later drove up with a shriveled,
bent, white haired old woman, who was as
sisted from the cart and who hobbled painful
~ as she was led forward to the block of ice
She seemed dazed, as if not knowing what
was wanted of her. In fact, she had not
been told what had occurred.
She was led up to the side of the block,
and they said:
Look in that ice and tell us what you see"
She did as she was hidden. At first she
did not apparently comprehend fully what
was required of her. She gazed aimlessly at
the block and saw only its general outlines
Then her glance fixed itself with an intense
stare at something within. 1t ranged from
the chamOis leather coat along the form tilI
it reached the scant beard and the face:
SliInr.- Ianssnl tl,..,L,c.l.