The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-05-07
A True story Of St. Bernard
Dogs.

Dogs.
was one Of a small party Of tourists
who lefs the Hospice Of Mt s.. Bernard
early in the morning FOR Monte Verde
The route was difficult ard dangerous,
owing to drifting and ire slides The night
before. xbich blocked up the old beaten
path. Above hung mountains of ice snd
snou. cold. cherries and threateninc-
ana before a.. as Ear as The eye could
,,.rh. gresf sea Of ice in iis coie,
,l.amv bed. resembling a mcfa ~
standing in heaps. defying siike
mower OF the sun md the assaults q time.
some Of our party, more senirresoi1e
than the rest. wore crampoons wli'e de-
sccndine the great walls Of ice, and these
who were timid OF faiigued Jagged be-
hind. Ny cousin, whose eyes suffered
from the glare Of the snow, was turning
an abrupt ledge Of rock in order 70 rest
and get better view Of tie descending
party and the ro1te they were taking,
when. suddenly and without warning,
the treacherous bank gave way and pre-
cipilated us some forty feet down mar
row chasm, out Of sight and hearing and
up to our neck in snow.
For some moments We were stunned
and unconscious Of our situation. slowly
we began 70 realize the doom that await
ed us. The whirling, dizzy height from
which we passed awed Us with its ter
rife gloom and grandeur. The dreadful
prospect Of our hopeless fate was inten-
sified by the huge bastions Of ice that
surrounded US, and the cold, gray sky,
without cheering ray. From near
and afar we could hear huge avalanches
grinding through the icy cliffs, and the
sullen roar when they dashed down some
deep precipice.
While thus imbedded in the cold, deep
snow. every move Of hands OF body gave
me pain. We dare not move lest false
step or change Of posture would plunge
us out of sight. in the agony Of despair
/ / cried out, but my kinsman, who vas
an old traveller and Injured TO danger, vas
more composed, and busted himself in
/ crushing the snow about him to secure
a frmer footing. 1t was then ] Thought
Of home and my dear mother, and in
my anxiety fancied I could bear her
voice pray for my deliversnce, and zee
her loving arms reached out to embrace
me.
Hours had passed in dreadful suspense
and the afternoon began to wane. My
limbs were benumbed from inertness,
and drowsy telling erePt over me. BY
this time my cousin had cleared himself
from the surrounding crust and was be-
side me rubbing my limbs and endeavor-
ing 10 infuse a spirit Of hope in ne.
Ever and anon We heard the barking Of
dogs resound through the icy soiitudes
and then die away. Loud and long We
answered by shouts until our hoare
voices came back to mock US.
"We are doomed | cried. "The hours
of day are waning, and night viii soon
fall. Then there viii be no hope"
The last words had scarcely died away
when my cousin observed the outline Of
a dog above us. The poor animal seemed
glad TO have discovered us, and endeay-
ored in every way to reach us, but il was
impossible knowing the characteristic
sagacity Of these dogs, and their dsily
mission on those icy mountains, my
cousin shouted Back, Rover, for help.
The dog understood The command, wag-
ged lis tail, gave a sniff and started a
peculiar howl, like hound on the scent.
This was an unering sign Of having dis
covered some traveller in distress, and in
this way he communicated the news to
the struggling dogs within hearing aud to
the inmates Of the Hospice.
The sun fingered on the distant hills
and we thought every moment year
Our ewes were strained in the direction
Of the rock from which we expected sue.
cor. At length the barking Of dogs draw
ing near infused some hope. The sound
was sweet and comforting to our ears. A
chorus Of quick yelps now broke forth as
four powerful specimens Of the grand
breed stood abreast above us, and the
fifth soon rejoined the Others and carried
coil of rope. While they kept up theil
incessant yelping, we heard human
voices drawing near, and soon four o.
our party, with a monk in the lead, stood
by the rock uncoiling the rope and fix.
ing the straps for our rescue. The TopC
was let down, my kinsman adjusted The
straps around me, and soon we wer'
with our companions, stiff and cold, bu
alive and thankful.
The rest Of my story is soon told. 4
fever set in, and two weeks those kline
and benevolent monks, N turn, watched
and prayed and attended to my want
like comforting angels, till was p Gectl,
restored to health. Ever since tia
memorable tine the mention of st. Ber
nard Hospice and dogs awaken in ne
ceiling of love tor the one and OF mira
on and friendship for the other-amr
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