The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-25
AN Alpine ADVENTURE.
A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER DESCRIBES
a DAY AMONG THE GLACIERS.
ueaptllpi Fields Of Snow and While Gap.
ned Peak. where Death Waits on sin
Gle 1Iisstep-i,cscued from m Lxceeu'

September. is-.
lie and Frank Marshall had settled t.
make the ascent Of the Fisch Horn; they
had arranged it with the guido. julie
Iessore: and they had ordered the boot
of the hotel to call them at o'clock II
the morning.
By 4 o'clock they started. There WI.
slight rain falling. but Jules declared
that il would clear. On leaving the no
tel they turned to the left. and Tor g.
mile or two they kept to the level road.
The guide turned OFF to the right, and
followed by Kenyon and Marshall be
can 10 mount n steep. narrow pain.
was gradually growing light.
They turned shoulder of the rock
which they were clambering, and they
saw through the rising mist the dim out
line OF the huge Riaderhorn; the WILD
scene had become extremely desolale
The Hotel des Voyageurs, perched high
Nd Oh the farther side OF the valley, was
the ONLY sign Of life or habitation. Now
and again a patch Of snow told them
that they were leaving the snow line be
meath them. After a time they reached
the foot Of n PERCEPTIONS mass Of rocks
the jagged. cruel looking rocks lowered
up pitiessly above them.
Lessore stopped his regular. machine
like strides. lie quickly ropcd Kenyon
then Marshall, and then himself, leaving
about fifteen feet Of rope between each
Of them.
The snow field stretched on for rather
more than n mile. and at iast they came
to the foot Of the highest peak Of tho
mountain. Il rose up iiorceiy into lib,
sky. The rocks forming this peak wore
partially covered with snow. and they
looked terribly grim and forbiddinG
But now that the goal was in view thel
pressed OH eagerly. Il WAS severe
scramble. The snow had made the rock
slippery, and IL was necessary in place.
10 Chamber like cats. but eventually the
reached the top and sat down upon thD
sharp, Jagged point. Every side Of then
the rocks sheved down precipii0usly foi
thousands Of feet. The sun had becom,
bitterly cold and soon it began To snow.
There was a sudden and awful roar
like the sound of thunder. then a deep
terrifying vibration. "What on earth i
that" cried Kenyon.
Il suspect it is an avalanche OH Che
Rinderhorn," said the guide.
There was a dead silence; then an
other terrific roar, announcing that Oh
avalanche was going further on its wa
down the mountain. After a short res.
on the top of the peak they began &
descend in reverse order. They founl
the way down more easily. The kec.
air and the rest ON the summit had Thor
oughly braccd them up. They reache|
the snow field again without much dill
Guilty. They had got half way acros
the snow and were congratulating them
selves that they would soon be over it
when suddenly, without warning, jul
and Kenyon felt sharp jerk on th'
roqa. Marshall had sunk into the snow
only his head and arms were visible.
"Hullo." cried Jules. what IS th
matter now
Quick, quick" Marshall cried ''pul
me up or shall be through. Ny fee
and legs are dangling in the air and J
can feel am rapidly sinking
Jules pulled hard upon the rope an
went closer TO Marshall. Kenyon 70
lowed on behind to give play to the rops
he and the guide drew nearer 10 Oh
dangerous spot.
VIII the snow hold, Kenyon thought
until Marshall is ont; He seemed TO Zee
the snow giving way beneath him. Mar
shall grew pale, his nerve began 20 fai
him as he thought Of his dear ones il
England he bad promised his wife tha
he would attempt nothing hazardous am,
this promise came suddenly into hi
mind. The danger was imminent; III
and death were struggling in the balance
TO Kenyon's surprise jules stood still
but only for an insiant-then with 3
mighty effort he pulled at the rope an'
lrew Marshall on 10 lirmer foothOld; bu
the greatest danger was to come, f.
Kenyon had still to pass.
lie made a cautious step, aided b.
jules directions; he saw a yawnin
black hole where Marshall had sun
into what had seemed substantial SNOW
Could he cross it: It seemed almos
impossible. for the snow appeared 10 b.
giving way rapidly The footing o
Marshall and Jules was anything but sc
cure. and it the snow gave way alto
gether before Kenyon was past the hol
they must all 90 down together.
~ this instant be felt the SNOW civ
under his feet He seemed to be laliin
rs he sprang and plunged forward-h
turned giddy-something was draggin
him down: but il was Jules who pulie,
vigorously at the rope and landed him OF
the firm snow just As tie soft mass CAV
way precipitately and fell hundreds o
feet on to the rocks below.
Kenyon was dazed for a minute or two
but then he joined his companions
they stood on the edge Of the abyss dis
closed by the mass that had fallen; they
looked down breathless and awesiruck
Ii Jules had been one second later l.
pulling the rope they would all have oec'
dashed TO death on the sharp, jagge,
rocks below.
They walked safely over the rest
the snow field. There was some danger
Gus scrambling down the rocks and Owe
loose stones. but 1T last they reached tn
region Of turf and trotted down the steel
mountain slopes with the aid OF theI
Alpine stocks. They came in sight o.
the valley leading TO the village iron
which they had started. As they reach
ed their hotel utterly exhausted IA,
clock struck ). They had been walking
and climbing for the best part OF thir
teen hours Thomas Stanley IN Phila
lelphia Times.