Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-05-31
he thought we might manage to carry

yards with my burden, and then, ex-
hausted, had to lay him down. His
father tried to carry him next, but un-
neryed and half-blinded by his tears,
had also soon to giveit up.
Getting was the only one of the party
who could carry Franz for any great
length of time over the rough ground we
were now compelled to traverse; he was
small man, but seemed to be all wire
and muscle.
1t was, however, evident that the slow
pace VIC were obliged to 20 we should
never, even if we knew the exact direc-
tion-which, by the way, none of us did
get to the chalet before nightfall.
Some other arrangement must be made.
Getting proposed that he should stay
with the wounded man, while Siegel
aud should go forward and attempt to
reach the chalet. Getting was the only
one of the party who had ever been
there, and that was years before. He
gave us directions how to find it.
We were to pass to the right or loft of
certain peaks he pointed out to us, and
then he said We should SEQ a large field
of snow. We were to cross this. and tho
chalet was in hollow about half mile
above and to the lett.
Well, VIC started-Siegel and I-leav-
ing all the provisions except few sand
witches with Franz and Getting. A
weary walk brought us to the peak
where, according to Getting, we were
to see the snow field. But there was
nothing of the sort there; peak rose
upon peak, but there was no great, level
snow-licld stretching away at our feet,
such rs he had described
Wa lo0lxe6 mr. anch ofbar IN J;s,,ar
To add to our distress, the weather,
which had hitherto been beautiful, be-
gan to get overcast Light wreaths of
mist were acting on the highest SUBMITS
of the mountain, sure signs of coming
storm.
However, there was no use in going
back. We should perhaps not be able
to find Franz and Gotting again if, be-
wildered as we now were, we attempted
to get back to them. Our only chrnce
was forward.
Tired and dispirited VIC walked on,
turning around only to look at the gath
ering clouds which were now piling
themselves dark and threatening behind
us. The wind, too, began to rise. We
determined to 80 downward; indeed, we
were too much exhausted to go any
higher, or waste any more time in look
ing for the chalet.
The ground seemed tc get more rough
the lower we went, and the tremendous
gusts of wind which whistled round us
made the descent most dangerous
Great, scattering raindrops now began
to fall and we halted on Il ledge of rock,
utterly worn out.
The storm increased and in n short
time was ut its height The rain
came down in torrents, completely
drcnching us. The Lightning with
binding flashes played all around, Kissing
and illumining for an instant the awful
grandeur Of the scene, while the thunder
pcalcd and crashed overhead, each crag
and wall of rock echoing the sound and
increasing it an hundred fold.
We had thrown our rifles away, afraid
that the lightning would strike them,
and stood waiting for the storm to
abate. When we resumed our decent
we were trembling with cold in every
limb. The air, winch was warm enough
before. was now piercingly cold and the
wind drove snow and bits of ice against
our faces with binding force.
went first, and for a long time neither
of us spoke. Only when particularly
dangerous place was crossed gave the
warning "Look to the rightn' or $50
the left p as the case might be.
Sieger led the way when was tired,
and thus we proceeded with greatest
caution, as II false step would have been
almost certain death, till we got to more
level ground.
Here we again encountered thickets of
knic-holz. We we're already congrutu-
lat'ng ourselves on having got the worst
over, when we were suddenly stopped by
precipice or "Wand," down which it
would have been impossible for goat
to go. 1t was a sheer descent of mt least
eighty feet
This was dreadful disappointment.
We walked along the edge for some way,
but as far rs we could see the Wand ex-
tended for miles. | had already thrown
myself on the ground and had given up
all hopes OF life, whom IL shout from Siegcl
who had gone on little way, made me
once more spring to my feet.
l fastened to him. He was standing
over narrow hole in the rock almost
hidden by bushes of the knie holz
"We are saved We are saved!" he
cried. He explained to me how, when
had given up in despair, he suddenly
thought that he remembered the place
VIC NCiO III, anu itu TtiuefnOeTeu, loo,
that if it were indeed the part of the
mountain he supposed it to be, there
was n circular hole in the rock forming
the Wand by which the channels hunters
scaled this otherwise inaccessible place.
He had gone on, had found tho opening.
and fearful of losing the spot had stood
over il and called till came.
We slid safely down this chimney like
hole, which is not much more than
twenty feet in DEPTH and easily descend
ing the lower part of the Wand, which
is here much broken, arrived, famished
and half frozen. Mt 10 o'clock at night,
at woodlands hut Siegel knew OF in
the valley below. Here we obtained
warmth and shelter.
Three of the woodmen Immediately
started up the mountain and returned in
few hours with poor Franz, who was
very much exhausted, not so much from
cold-as Getting had contrived to light
fire, and they had provisions from
loss of blood.
once asked Siegel what he would
have done if he had not found that open.
ing. owe should" he said, shave
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