The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-26
THE SUMMIT OF MONT BLANC.
Pref. Tyndall's Thrilling Description
ofa Fight Against the Cold.

Youths Companion
On Professor Tyndali's second as
cent Of Mort Blanc he was caught in
a snewstorrn at the summit. He has
given a graphic description of the diff
ficsiIty and danger which attended his
attempt at performing some scientific
experiments IN such circumstances.
II offered curious illustration of the
fact that there are times when nothing
is 50 welcome as suffering. The frost
bitten mans case became more hope
ful as soon as he felt pain
1.-The clouds Nhiried wildly rouRd
us. and the fine snow, which was
caught by the wind and spit bitterly
at rs. cut off visible contamination
between us and the lower world. As
we approached the summit the air
fiekEed more and more. and the cold
became intense.
I'VE reached the top in good condi-
ton. nevertheless. and leaving Bal
mat, the guide, 10 make hole for the
thermometer, collected number of
batons, drove them into the snow,
and, drawing my plaid round them,
formed a kind of exfempore tent TO
shelter ray boiling water apparatus.
The covering was tightly held. but the
snow was fine and dry as dust, and
penetrated everywhere; my lamp
could not be secured from ii, and half
a box OF matches was consumed in the
effort TO ignite 1t. at length it did
fame up and carried on splgttering
combustion.
Meanwhile the absence OF muscu-
lar action caused the cold 10 affect our
upon my work To feel il much, but /
was benumbed; one of my fingers had
lost sensation, and my right heel was
in pain; still had no thought of re-
linquishing my observation until Mr..
Wills came TO say that we must re-
turn speedily, for Balmai hands were
frozen. did not comprehend the fun
significance OF the word; but the por-
tiers presented such an aspect of suf-
fering that i feared TO detain them
any longer.
II struck my tent. deposited the
and as | watched the
covering OF it up. some of the party
the descent. | followed
then. speedily. Midway down the first
slope l saw Balmat, who was about a
hundred yards in advance of me, sud-
denly pause and thrust mis- hands into
the snow, and commence rubbing
them vigorously.
1.-THE suddenness of the act sur
rrised me, but / had no idea at the
time of its real significance. / soon
came up to him; he seemed fright
ened, and continued to beat and rub
his hands, plunging them at quick in
teryals into the snow. Still | thought
the thing would speedily pass away,
for had too much faith in the mans
experience TO suppose that he would
permit himself to be seriously injured.
But ii did not pass, as | hoped it
would, and the Possibility of his losing
his hands pres .nted itself TO me.
At last he became exhausted by
his efforts, staggered like drunken
man and fell upon the snow. Mr.. Willis
and | took each a hand and continued
the process of beating and rubbing. /
feared that we should injure him by
our blows, bgt he continued to ex-
claim:
Don't be afraid! Strike all the
time, strike hard =
.We did so, till Mr.. Willis became
exhausted, and porter had to take
his place. Meanwhile, Balmat pinched
and bit his fingers at intervals, to test
their condition; but for a long time
there was no sensation. He was evil
IDENTIFY hopeless. AT last returning
sensation in one hand announced itself
by circulating pain.
/" j suffer- he exclaimed at inter
vals--words which, from a man OF iron
endurance, had more than ordinary
significance. Butpain was better than
death, and under the circumstances a
sign OF improvement.
I'VE resumed the descent, while he
continued to rub his hands with snow
and brandy, thrusting them at every
few steps into the snow. At Cham
ouni he had skiiiful medical advice,
and escaped with the loss of six of his
nails-his hands were saved.