The National tribune., 1891-06-04

I ernOrt and SIX OF the Oiilcers from the coast
/ Survey steamer accepted the offer, and with
substantial lunch for ALL we got away at a. m.
and reached the landing place, a swampy forest,
half mile from the glacier.
We tied up. and with two Indians with axes
to assist in reaching the foot Of the glacier, we
cut down the thick underbrush aud young
trees and FOR half mile made fair path over
which our fair friends could scramble, assisted
on either side by the male contingent, who
wkDED. FIoUNDEEED on SWAN,
as the soft mud and water permitted.
Fully an hour was wasted in this perform
ance before reaching the beginning Of the ice,
but now the wisdom OF the Captains choice of
landing appeared. We approached the glacier
from one side and were thus enabled TO reach
the upper surface and advance upon IL by
mounting the grayely banks Of the gorge
down which it was sliding. The front Of the
ice bank for some two miles Was anywhere
from 40 10 100 feet high and too steep TO climb,
but by scaling the hill we reached point from
which we all easily walked out onto the rough
/ back OF the glacier.
Here began the fun Of the excursion. LeRv-
/ ing the elders 10 plod and pick their way as
best they could, the 10 juniors set OF at a
broakneck pace 10 see who would reach the
highest point, not OF the glacier, for that was
miles away, but on the glacier We had three
hours in ali,-two tospcnd in ascending, one for
going back.
The surface OF 4 glacier presents many pecu-
llarltlcs which simple mountain climber fails
TO realize until confronted with A crack 10
or - feet wide is bad but when both edges
slope down and are slippery, while the hole is
SEEMINGLY BoTToNLEss,
ono seeks another route. You advance splen-
didly, are away ahead, when you find that you
have reached the point Of an ice cape, and must
TCtrace your steps for an unknown distance.
AAa al no a. Fl,o. p1 la
no doubt ran dreadful risks, but we took Ex-
cclsor' as our motto, and boys and girls pushed
on. After repeated Tepnlses in my upward
road, ] finally was obliged 10 return 10 get
around very wide crevasse or crack, and found
myself almost the last Of all. Far above me
caught a glimpse OF skirts, aud spurrcd on by
the thought of being defeated hy a woman,
rapidly closed the distance, and owing TO her
resting overlook her.
Stopping 20 gain my breath looked back
ward and for the FIRST time realized what ele-
walton we had reached, aud how the glacial
motion broke the body Of ice as its edges
ground against the hil-sides. Miss n and
were near the center line, and If the up
per part was like the lower by keeping near
this crest or central line, we should have the
best chance Of
NOT BEING TURNED BACK.
There seemed to be still one person farther
in advance, and we pressed on, giving each other
very considerable assistance, aud were soon in
advance Of all but the leader, who proved 10
be the Captain.
Each OF the others had struck blind lead,
or a crack, and been turned back. One We
passed only 20 feet away, but IL meant for
him long retreat before he could get clear Of
the crevasse which separated us TO his disad-
vantage. We were getting on splendidly when
we heard shout from the Captain and saw
him most energeticslly motioning US TO come
TO him.
by directing our steps TO the other side Of a
hiliock which we had begun ascending, we fol-
lowed his directions, and reached the
point from which he had hailed us. But he
/ bad zone on farther and upon glancing down
ward we saw thai he had caused Us TO avoid
another set hack by his directions.
My companion had now had exercise enough,
/ and as we seemed to be the champions. we con-
/ cluded TO rest upon cur laurels, and while wait
! ing for the Captains return TO enjoy the nov
] city Of the scene.
Seated upon the edge Of an upheaval, we bad
a complete viewup and down this strange mass
I Of
PREHISTORIC ICE.
It was fully two miles down 10 the bottom,
and double that distance 10 a point above
+ where the frozen river divided and disappeared
! behind the shoulders Of Tic mountains, leaped
up IN wild confusion, cracked, splintcTea COW
erred with many a bowlder stolen from its rocky
/ path, dirty, duslzy white on the surface, but
blue such as one only finds in ice in every
crack. Though ice il was not cold, aud we
! felt no clill while sitting on IL. IL was like
glass hardened by exposure for years to the
lrightiul temperature Of that region aud alti
tude.
About the time the Captain reached us com
! ing down, we were Joined by another couple
VINO mad followed Qua path, aud had come IN in
/ time 70 rgyei with us Ia the view. We could
see that All the Others had given up the race, SO
4 we all started down, wandering 10 and fro on
/ the top feeling sure that We should also
come out right, for the cracks all ran outward
a. we descended.
When half way down Wc reached a place
4 where we could crawl 10 the very brink Of a
cregasse aud look down into the
VITALs OF TIE ICE.
The sun shOHe at just the correct angle, and
we seemed to he looking down mile. Ii was
really 200 feet, but the blue light. the rehec-
tiOus back and forth, TIE distant sound 81
running water, all combined 10 dsze the mind
and, Ike lhe mirage 10 myslily one COM
/ pleiely.
Eapying little farther down the entrance to
tunnel from which water is flowing ! de-
| scendcd 10 obtain some for my companion, but
1 as ] stopped 10 on The cup such a ravishiug
/ ight met my eye, that all thought Of water
4 fed. J WAS between two tunnels, one leading
toward the sun, the other back into the heart
1 Of the ice Through the one the sunlight
| danced in its opalcscout blue, till the eye was
fairly drunk with its beauty aud tie body
lonEed 10 melt into IL. IN the other tho cOlOrs
deepenod 10 purple aud then 20 black but with
a weird iar-Oh hess that made you wish 10 en-
Ter and pursue.
shouted 10 my companions 10 come, and my
voice as IL echoed and rc-ochood came back in
thunder tones that almost made me jump. ]
was speedily Joined by the other three and we
Sat aud gazed almost speochlcss, until one ol
the ladies remarked that II she looked as blue
as we did, she must be a fright.
a laugh from one Of Us was returned an
hundrediold from the cavern, and In so many
aud dlab0ilcal variations that we left the spot
more than half convinced that Old Nick wa
IN that cave ID nowhere else
We now hurried down, az our time wal
almost up aud we Were the last on the ice
Failing 10 find the old trail, We had TO do th,
best we could, aud the ladies did some aston
isiiuR WaainR, 30 that when We reached th,
steamer they we're obliged to retire 10 the small
cabin, aud there having lighted fire 10 roas
themselves until wG reached Wrauglc.
10 be CgHttHtifdB
The Cause 81 the Grip.
Dr. Henry b. Baker, cx President OF thi
American Health Association, has inforfnc,
bis colleagues Of the Michigan Health B0art