The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-19
PERILS OF THE ALPS.
FASCINATING ATTRACTIONS OF THE
NATTERHORy.
Even the Boldest and Most Expert Guides
Are Not Always Secured Against
Fatal Nishsps.

Every year adds more names TO the list
of victims from among mountain tourists
/ who persist in attempting the most peril
Gus ascents. or all the lofty peaks or the
beautiful Swiss Alps. says writer In
the Chicago Inter ocean, that wild and
rocky obelisk, the Matterhorn. seems to
be the most fascinating attraction to these
| imprudent adventures. AS the hickerinS
flame lures the moth to death so the
snowclad top of this mountain beckons
! from the valley below the human atom
who loves TO adore the magnificent piano.
| rama of weird and majestic scenes from
/ its dizzy height, and TO forget the frailty
/ and dependence OF the soul carnai
| prison.
/ Young Andreas Seller, the H-year-old
/ son of the well-kr own hctel-kecper ana
| founder of Zermatt. the pretty little VII
! lGge situated at the foot of the Matter
/ horn, was bruscue and daring young
man. who delighted at all times TO join
! excursion PARTIES which would attempt 10
| reach the highest altitude. His parents
! permitted him to brave the dangers or
| mountain climbing from his earliest child
hood. but he was always accompanied
/ by two or more guides and party or
/ travellers In his last ascent, whicn
proved fatal TO him, his parents and.
friends, relying on his tried strength
and agility, did not see anything partic-
ularly hazardous in his desire to climb
TO the top. accompanied only by the9
efficient guide, Binner.
Even the most expert Alpine guides and
natives, f1owever, are not always secured
against fatal mishaps. a mountain as
cent looks much more achievabie on
paper than i'm reality. But few people.
have a full conception of the difficulties
and chanceful situations OF these bold
undertakings, and fewer possess the hard
mess, endurance and grit TO complete the
task. Many, after climbing half way up
the mountains, lose all their ambition ana
yearn for some less exalted terrestrial
parts. Metropolitans, especially, do no.
seem to realize the fact that something
more than a pair Of berg shoes, an alpeg.
stock, and a knapsack is needed for an
excursion on such mountains as the Mftt-
terhorn. Most OF the fatalities can be
traced to a lack Of physical strength and
stable nrmness. This is the only caf as
uophe thus far on the MatteItorn, Wb ich
towers 1905 feet above the level Of the
sea, that may, perhaps, be described 10 a
blunder or a misstep on the part OF a guide
or q native, although the exact cause viii
never be known. 1t is the first one since
August, 1890, and was least of all expected
I'm the case Of men so thoroughly familiar
with all the dangerous spots. on account
Of the almost perpendicular steepness Of
some Of the crags IL is advisable TO have
two good guides. as one cannot always
support his man on these slippery inclines.
Yet It IS hardly credible that sure-footed
young Seller thus lost his balance.
Until the Furkapass was reached the
aHW L.
hve-two tourists, wo guides and a
porter. The latter. however. Travelled too
slow to suit Master Andreas, who asked
Binner, 10 ascend further with him alone
as he wanted 20 show how rapidly he
could climb TO the top.
Suddenly, n few moments after the
separation OF the two parties. a blood
curdling spectacle was witnessed by those
bellows who had come 10 halt on a place
where the catastrophe could not inter
fere with them. Binner and Seller. still
bound together by the same rope. came
tumbling down the steepest path and
were hurled. with lightning rapidity
many thousand feet down into a horrible
abyss. Whether either Seller or the guide
were overcome with vertigo or whether
they slipped on the melting glacier will
never be ascertained.
Until the year 1860 no one ever ventured
10 explore the sides Of the MatterhOrn.
and until 1862 the summit was never
known TO have been reached. IL Is the |
most fatiguing Of all Alpine excursions |
and an expensive affair as It requires |
the hiring OF two guides at $50 apiece, |
who will for this amount lead the way /
from Zermatt TO Breuil. Artists, poets /
and lovers Of the savagely grand and awe |
inspiring I'm nature cOvet this trip more [
than all others as even picturesque |
f4
and werdness Of the views. The fee |
fields and rocks are OF the most wonder
full and magnificent proportions. while |
the savage and sublime grandeur OF the |
great mountain itself fascinates all be
holders.
on the Reffelberg and Corner Graf the
best view IS afforded Of the MatterhOrn,
which ought TO discourage the bravest |
Adventures from attempting 10 tread its
steep paths. 1t is most glorious to behold.
but the most ambitious tourist ought TO
be conteuted with the sight and To post
pone the ascent indefinitely. Professor |
Tyndal scaled the sides Of this noun
tain with a guide I'm 1860 but did not sue
coed In reaching the top. one Of the |
points is still called Pic Tyndall. A Mr..
Whymper. from England outdid the pro-
fessOr and wildly describes the moonlight |
night and breaking day as # appeared 10
him from the gddy height amid topping
crags OF fee which breath draws down /
in mountains overwhelming"
And you, We crags upon whose extreme
edge
I stand and on the torrents brink beneath
Behold the tall pines dwindling into
shrubs
In dizziness Of distance; when a leap.
\ stir. motion, even breath, would |
bring
Ny breast upon its rocky bosom's bed
To rest forever.
When larger party finally was en-
abled to stand on the fey crest what a
terrible sacrifice followed the achieve
ment When the Italians heard that a
party OF Englishmen had determined to
climb 10 the top, Signor GardanO formed
a small company. also hoping 20 deprive
them OF the honor OF being the first 10
set foot on the summit Of the AIatterhorn !
The English party consisted OF Lord
Francis Douglas, Mr.. Whymper. Rev
Mr.. Hudson. Mr.. Hadow, Michael Croz
a trustworthy Chamouni guide, the guide
Peter Taugwalder and his two sons. who !
acted as porters
They started from Zermatt, while the
Italian signor started from Breuil. on the
opposite side. After arriving at an alti- |
tude OF llO@ feet they pitched their tent
for the nights repOse. During the next
days ascent they were compelled 10
scale a cliff at an angle OF fifty degrees
400 feet above an ominOus preciDice. |
From this point the remaining distance
offers comparatively easy climbing. When
the men employed by Signor Giardano