The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-22
THE SUMMIT OF MONT 81 ANC.
Prof Tyndall Gives a Thrilling Oiscr p
ton of Fight Against the Cold.

q
ton of e Fight Against the Cold.
From the Youths COMPANION.
On Prof Tyudall's second ascent of Mont
Blanc he was eau Zht in q snow-storm at the
summit. He has given graphic description
of the difficulty aud danger which attended
his ate mpt in performing some scientific
experime Is in such circumstances. 1t Of
fered a curious illustration of the fact that
there are times when nothing is so welcome
as suffering. The frost-biten mans ca g
became more hopeful as soon as he felt
pain.
The clouds whirled wildly round lis, and
the fine snow, which was caught By the
wind and spit bitterly at US, cut off visi-
bic communication between us and the
lJwer world. As we approached the sum
NIT the air thickened more and more, and
the cold became intense. We reached the
top in good condition, nevertheless, and
leaving Balmat, the guide, to make hole
for the thermometer, l collected a number
of batons, drove tneIn Into the snow, aud
drawing NV plaid around them, formed
kind of extempore tent to shelter my boil
ing-water apparatus. The covering was
tightly held, but the snow was fine and dry
as dust, and penetrated everywhere. Ny
lamp could not be secured from it, and half
a box of matches was consumed il the eff
up, and carried on a spluttering combus-
ton.
Meanwhile the absence of muscular &C
ton eau. ed the cold to affect our men SO.
verely. / myself was too intent upon my
work to feel 1t much, but l was numbed:
one Of my fingers had lost sensation and my
right heel was in pain, still had no thought
OF relinqulshing my observation until Mr..
Willis came TO say that we must return
SDpa1ilU |
did not comprehend the full Significance of
the word, but the porterS presented such an
aspect of suffering hat | feared TO detain
them any longer. lstruck my tent depcs-
tied the thermometer, and as l watched the
covering OF 1t up some of the party COM
menced the descent. l followed them speed
ilY. Midway down the first slope | saw
Balmat, who was about 100 yards in adj
vance II me. suddenly pause and thrust
his hands into the snow and commence rub
bling them vigorously.
The suddenneSs OF the act surprised me-
but l had no idea at the time OF its real sig
niticance. | soon came up to him; he seemed
frightened, and continued to beat and rub
his hands pluuging them at quick intervals
into the snow. Sull | thought the thing
would speedily pass AVA, for ] had too
much faith III the mans experience to sup
pose that he would permit himself to be
seriously injured. But it did not pass as |
hoped it would, and the possibility
of his losing his hands present
ed itself to me. At last he
became exhausted by his efforts, staggered
ike drunken man, and fell upon the snow.
Mr.. Willis and / took each hand, and
continued the process of beating and rub
bling. | feared that we should injure him
by our blows, but he continued to exclaim
Don't be afraid! Strike all the time:
strike hsrdp
I'VE did 80 until Mr.. Willis became ex-
haustsd, and porter had to take his place.
Meanwhile, Balnat pinched and bit fingers
at intervals to test their condition. But for
long time there was no sensation. He was
evidently hopeless. At last returning sem
sation in one hald announced itself by ex-
cruclatiug pain.
81 suiferp he exclaimed at interval
words which, from man of iron enddr-
ance. had more than ordinary significance.
But pain was better than DEATH and, under
the circumstances, sign of Improvement.
| We resumed our descent, while he continued
| 10 rub his hands with snow and brandy,
thrusting them at every few steps into the
snow. At Chamounix he had skillful medl-
cal advice, aud escaped with the loss of six
| OF his nails-hls hands were saved"