The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-22
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.
rlTfL YEAR FOR ALPTNE ToUEiSIS
AND ADVENTURES.
More Accidents During 1890 Than In Any
Previous Year-A Popular but Dangerous
Amusement-Fourtoen Persons Who
sIipped From Icy Clids.

Amusement-Fourtocn Persons Who
Slipped From Icy Cliffs.
Since Alpine climbing became popular
amusement there have never been so many
fatal accidents in any one year as nave
marked the season of 1880. The disasters of
the past summer have fallen chiefly upon
Germans and Italians, and. of course, con-
siderable part of the victims ore men littie
skilled in mountaineering. Mountaln-climo-
inc has become the rage Men climb because
others do. and venture into the most danger
Gus places when they have not been taught
caution by previous experience. The result
Is. as one Of the pioneers in mountain-cumo-
ing predicted, "thc mountains are taxing
terrible revenge upon the foolhardy and IN
experienced"
The last number Of the British Alpine jour,
! nal SAYS that fourteen persons. travellers aud
| Guides. have persisted in accidents above the
snow line during the past summer. This does
! not include some very serious accidents occur
! ring not to pleasure tourists, but 10 people
whose line of duty requires them 70 travel III
the high Alps. For instance, about hiteen
| italian soldiers required 20 march from iort
To fort in the Alps during the past summer
have been oyertaken by storms or avalanches
| which have cost them their lives. One party
! of six men who were swept from their feet
were precipitated more than LOCO feet 10 the
| bottom of valley, and four or them were
| killed but two miraculously escaped. The
| most astonishing escape of the season IS that
! of "A few Italian soldiers who were overtaken
! by mn enormous avalanche and rolled down
the mountain with the speed OF an express
train. yet strange to say, they were suddenly
stopped on q level space after fall OF $50
feet and were unhurt beyond few scratches
| The avalanche swept on past them. leaving
! the Young soldiers staring ut one another, as
tonished TO find that they were still alive.
The accidents, however which are here
| described relate only 10 tourists and their
| guides. On June "a German, Mr; F0ppe
| was killed IN the Oetathal. He fell from "a
ledge and dragged with him his guide, who
| also persisted On July 81. Dr. Mayer, OF
| Vienna. and his Young son attempted 70 a.
| cend q mountain in the kapruner hal, under
! the guidance Of the experienced mountalnecr
| Schernthaler. The usual search party was
organized after the tourists had been several
days missing, and the bodies of the entire
party were found at the foot Of n dangerous
! clih. II was evident from the appearance Of
the guide That he had made remarkable efforts
! 10 save the lives of his comrades. On the
same day guide named Untersteiner. after
| having conducted a tourist IN an excursion on
/ the Nenediger, set ont 20 return alone 70 his
/ home Some DAYS later his tracks were found
across glacier, but his body has not been
! discovered
Two Italian gentlemen on August u as
| cended the Col du Gcant with well-known
| guide named BrunOd. He left them 10 I'LL
water bottle near the summit On returning
| 10 the party he slipped and fell a distance Of
! 900 feet, and vi. u the others reached HIM
he was dead. Six days later Count Nllanoya,
Of Turin. left the cantecn Of Niaallle 10 en-
! deavor 10 make the ascent Of Mount Blanc by
new route. He had with him two well-known
| guides. one Of whom had long been regarded
rs among the half dozen most competent
| guides in the Alps. Not one OF the party has
! been heard from since. This Is one or the
very few casualties which. in recent years.
have occurred on the slopes of Mount Blanc.
! The tracks of the party were discovered after
/ "A few DAYS upon the upper portion OF the
J Niuge glacier The probability Is that the
| party camped az Il great elevation on the
| evening of August IL and We're lost IN great
| storm Oh the 18th. The tourists were very
wealthy. and the most extraordinary efforts
! have been made TO recover their bodies, but
| without success.
Seven days later Carrel. an Alpine guide.
| who Is known among the mountalneers All
| over the world, whose name appears IA every
| Alpine book that has been written within the
| past twenty years met an honorable and IN
| deed q glorious death on his own mountain
II was he who made the iirst ascent II the
| AIatterhorn from the Italian side, and also nc
| COMMANDED Mr. Mhymper on his ascent OF
| Signor Sinigaglia and a companion from The
cabin on the Italian side 10 the foot OF the
mountains in perhaps the worst snow-storm
that ever ragged on that famous mountain.
! For fourteen hours the party OF three con
tended with the bitter cold. during which
| they did not dare stop to take food. Carrel
! as usual. in spite of his rather advanced years
| took the lions share of the work AT length
| they reached place of safety at the foot Of
! the mountain. No sooner had they emerged
/ IL. 4 -. 4 lFr...s
| no longer where | am. have no strength
left" We tried to lift him. writes Sgnor
| Sinigaglia. but II was impossible. He va,
| getting stiff. We stopped down and wills
| pered in his ear if he wished 10 commend hls
| soul 10 God. With last effort he answered
family Yes. and then fell on his back dead
| in the snow
This accident was not due 10 any rashnes'
| or carelessuess. The party had chosen q fine
| day for the Journey but a most sudden and
most unexpected change in the weather oc-
Cured when the party had gained the COM
| pamtive safety and shelter OF the hut far up
| the mountain side. There they remained one
| day and two nights. but were finally driven
out III the storm by the necessity Of prOcurlng
| food, and it was not till the brave Carrel had
| brought his party TO the foot Of the mountain
! that he died Of cold and exposure
4 Strasburg gentleman named GOehrs
| started for the Matterhorn Oh September 18th
| with two guides. After considerable progress
| had been made furious gale arose, and they
| at once commenced To- rctrent. No one knows
| how the dis lster occurred, but all three
! fell. perhaps IN consequence Of a slip by one
| OF them. which the others were unable 10 avert
perhaps from the force Of the gale bu.
| they were al found dead on glacier hun
| dreds OF feet below the spot where the acct
| dent occurred Such Is the Alpine death role
| for the year 1890, the greatest since Alpine
| climbing became popular amusement.
The time WAS when mountain climbing wa
regarded rs an indication OF lunacy. IN AN
| early edition OF Murray's Handbook occurs
| the remarkable statement that the persons
| who have hitherto attempted the ascent of
| Mount Blanc have been Of unsound mind"
| But, although the most frightful accidents
| have occurred. mountain climbing has grown
in popularity, and such enthusiastic lovers OF
| Alpine adventure rs Tyndall Whymper and
others have done much To enlarge the ranks
of climbers. OF course. all manly sports are
more or less dangerous. but it is certain that
no pursuit Of manly pleasure or recreation re-
quires greater precautions 10 prevent fatal
results than mountaineering.