Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-18
AMONG TIE ALPS.
A SACRAMENTO TOURIST ON THE TOP
OF MOUNT BLANC.
Switzerland a Country of Grand Seener,
Sunrise From Mount Rigi-Beau-
tiful Lakes-Fine Hotels.

tiful Lakes-Fine Hotels.
MARTIeNY tSwitzerland), July 10, 1889.
We left Domo d'ossols at six o'clock A.
NJ on the mail coach. The writer had an
outside seat, and so had a fine view in COM
ing over the Simplon Pass through the Alps.
The snow-capped mountains and the gla-
ciers were quite different from our
Yosemite Valley scenery. The road all
the way was as smooth as that in the
Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, while
on either hand were waterfalls. cascades
and mountain torrents, such as we saw at
the lower end of the Yosemite Valley.
The road was built by Napoleon. The ride
down the valley on the train was very fine.
The Rhone river runs very swift. They
use 1t to irrigate. Everywhere we see the
women working in the fields with hoe,
shovel or rake. 1t is sight TO see the i'm
mense loads OF hay the women will carry
on their heads. This town is delightfully."-
situated among the high mountains.
JULY llth.-Came over the Tete Noir
Pass. 1t took nineteen horses to bring us
over, as they changed -four times. We
could see the snow.capped Mount Blanc
range, with its immense banks of snow
and ice and three or four glaciers, two of
them quite near. Will go over one to-
morrow.
ON MOUNT BLANC
CHAMoUIX, July 12th.-Am on the top of
the Mount Brewer, opposite Mount Blanc.
1t is the best view of the mountain to be
had. l came up with two young men
from Brooklyn, N. Y, on mules. Rode
through lots of snow same kind of trail as
to Glacier Point, only higher. 1t is the
grandest view | have ever had. The whole
Mount Blanc range is covered with snow.
1t is, indeed, grand old mountain, and il
is such sight to see the immense glaciers
in the ravines slowly but surely working
their way down toward the valley, taking
everything with them. The people have
built their homes right under the shadow of
them, and their green fields and gardens
look very beautiful from here, away up on
the monntain-top. We are very fortunate
in having perfect day. There are no
clouds, and the skies so clear we can see
for miles around. People wait sometimes
as long as ten days for clear view of
Mount Blanc. 1t is so high that there are
white clouds constantly lowering above it.
WHERE ICE is CHEAP.
AFTERNOON Have been to the "Bas-
soni Glacier" a most wonderful sight.
1t is a mountain of solid ice. extending
up high on Mount Blarc, and the lower
end right down in the valley, so low that
they have made wagon road to the lower
end, and are quarrying out the ice for the
use OF the towns and villages about il. 1t
is the most active, or is moving the fastest, |
T,f Of he -,
and crossed over it. We had to put on
heavy WOODEN socks over our shoes, to keep
from slipping on the rough, uneven ice.
at one side they have tunneled into the
glacier and cut in eighty-five yards, and
have it sill lighted with candles, and call il
'Tha Grotto." They charge franc TO go
in. We went in and enjoyed it. The light
rejecting through the ice near the entrance
gave it beautiful blue color.
There are immense streams of water
dashing down the mountain sides, from
the melting of the ice and snow. We
stopped at one of the shephards huts and
got some crackers and goats milk, which
we enjoyed after riding so long We went
both trails on mules, aud were ten hours in
the saddle, but it has been day shall
long remember.
ROUND ABOUT GENEVA.
GENEVA, July 14th.-We arrived here at
P. NJ, after very beautiful ride We
started at A. NJ, and could see Mount
Blanc nearly all the way. Had a good
seat on top of the six-horse stage. The
two boys were with me from New York.
They came over on the City of Paris when
did, and Mr.. and Mrs. Pitken and daugh-
ter, whom ! met in Rome, were in the
stage. This is very pleasantly located city;
nice, wide streets, parks, gardens, and
lake with river running out of it. The
hotels are all full, as great many English
and French are here. There were three
fine young English girls with their mother
on the stage with us. They are such good
walkers; they walk a great many of the
trails and passes and seem to enjoy it.
l went to service this morning in the
Cathedral here, where Calvin used to
preach, and heard the PRESBYTERIAN service
in French. There was good attendance,
sud the music was very good. Will go up
the lake tomorrow to Lausanne, then on
to Berne and Interlschen, where | expect
to spend one day, and then go over the
pass to Lucerne and up the Rigi. There
are many places here in Switzerland where
one would enjoy long stay.
AT LUCERNE.
LUoERNE, July 17th.-I left Geneva on
Monday morning by boat. Stopped off at
Berne saw the Capitol, cathedral and bear
pit. Got TO 1nterlachen the same night.
after delightful ride on Lake Geneva. |
staid over one day in Interlachen, which is
very pretty place, and took walk of
eight miles to place called Leuterbrun-
men, where there is two very beautiful
water-fails-one like the Bridal Veil and
another very fine one. The scenery ali the
way was like walking through the Yose-
mite valley, and spent the day there and
got back at 7 p. NJ
The next morning l took steamer
on Lake Brienz, and stopped off at
Giesbach to see the falls there, which are
very fine and quite different to any in CAL
ifornia. Went over the Brunig Pass on
the railroad lately built, with cog wheels to
pull the cars up the mountain. 1t was
quite interesting, as l had never been on
one before. The grade was very steep and
the scenery fine. We came down the other
side ard took the steamer or Lucerne on
Lake L1cerne, where we arrived at Pm. At
$50 we had very heavy rain-storm. How
it did come down! 1t is very beautiful
lake end fine city, with some elegant
hotels AID music every night in the gar
dens in front.
July l9th.-Yesterday morning 1 went
with two young ministers whom | met for
a trip around the Lake of Lucerne one of
the most beautiful In the world. We did
enjoy it. We stopped off at Fluelen, and
went to see where William Tell shot the
apple off his sons head; saw the mOnu-
ment erected to his memory. Went up the
Rigi, high mountain with q railroad up
it. The grade is very steep. They have
cog wheels under the locomotive to pull
up the cars. The view from the top of the
mountain is the finest TO be had in SwitZsr-
land, the mountain being over 800 feet
high. 1t took US an hour and twenty min
utes to go up. Saw the sun set, and de-
cided to stop over and see it rise in the
morning. So we got room st the hotel
on the mountain, and were called at 3:15 A.
NJ. Climbed to the very top of the peak,
above the hotel, and had grand sight.
There are three or four hotels up there, and
all the visitors were out to see the sight.
From one to two hundred came out in
shawls, overcoats, and some with blankets
about them, like the Indians. We could
see for miles around, and looking down
see ten or twelve lakes
After breakfast | took the $50 train to
come down. Met the boat and came on to
Lucerne. C.M.C.