The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-15
TIE ALPINE DISASTER.
Several Americans RelIeved to Have Lost
Their IIves ut st. Gervni-.

Several Americans BeIIeved to Have Lost
Their 1Lves ut st. Gervnis.
GENEVA. July lit Is reported that several
Americans were at ST. Gervais Mt the time OF
the flood and landslip which overwhelmed the
village and caused great loss OF life. The
hotel In which the American visitors arc said
to have been WAS among the buildings demol-
ished The register has been found in the ruins.
but the soaking to which 1t was subjectedihas
made the writing In it iilegihle. SO that the
names and addresses Of the guests cannot be
determined.
PARIS. July IA despatch from st. Gervais.
the scene OF the recent disaster by flood and
landslip. says that numerous bodies OF VIC
tins have been claimed by friends. The Pre-
feet has organized u special service to facilitate
the despatch OF bodies that are to be sent
abroad. A large trench has been dug In the
churchyard to receive the bodies Of tourists
bath employees. and othcrs that are mutiated
beyond recognition.
One OF the hairdressers. whose presence OF
mind was the means OF saving the lves OF
many persons stopping at the baths. received
offers OF large sums Of money from those he
removed across the temporary bridge con-
structed to a place Of safety. but the only re-
own clothing having been lost in the wreck.
while the suit he wore was torn to pieces In
his successful efforts to save the lives Of the
guests.
stat Of han!c prevails throughout the
place On that part OF the River Arye. except It
be on high ground. is considered safe. 1t is
neror q The Bonassy sacer o'Sa tn was
the mass OF water that rushed down, in addi-
ton to lee ana masses OF EoHk At Bonassy
The Bionassy GLACIER. part Of which slipped
9ne Of the steTnest glaciers in the Alps; 1t
ass ass w Which I is little West Of Mont Banc.
The first ascent Of this mountain was made in
Of Eritish t tourists it was not aseendcd again
until twenty years later. whom Paul Nignun.
the French alninist. REACHED this summit. The
English mountunetrs found the slope OF the
mountain 30 steep that they could ascend only
BY the glacier which has now devastated the
and does not appear badly dwariod by TIE
great Alpine summit which il adIons.
!, 1.-THE slope Of tn" glacier Ind not been more
probably. would not have, occurred. viGnon
, ascrnd-,! the mountain from the southwest
fatal glacier as he sawit from above. In tho
| story Of his climb II" tells ~ the. remarkable
sstrerness Si this g'aeisr ant of the enormous
These boulders were swept with the volume
oi 20 down into the rallcy.nnd helped to com
mons PARTY returned to the valley bv way of
the gl,cier. They could not descend In the
ordinary way. Tut had to cut 500 steps In the
Ice to get down.
Though Bionassy Is not among the larger
Anime slmmiIs. it is ono 81 the most difficult
~ them all to climb Between 1855. when the
first ascent was made and the next successful
attempt in 1885. number Of efforts were made
BY experienced npiniSts to reach the summit
one of the .:eutest that has. ever ov-rakan an
Alpine village. and 1t is believed there is not
record fhR story OF similar destruction
wrought by the sudden slipping from its place
OF part OF u great glacier.