Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-03-06
STRUCK \ sNowsLloE.
Avalanche Partially Wrecks the Nom
nsterY of st. Hernnrd.


Paris, March Am avalanche of
great volume and almost irresistible
power swept down upon the buildings
of the famous Monastery of ST. Ber-
nard Sunday night and great apprehen-
sion was caused at Aosta for the safety
of the hospice and the rs Augustinian
monks who live there. .Relief parties
were dispatched to the place that has
sheltered thousands of travellers dur
ing centuries, and the hardy Alpine
rescuers were overjoyed to find that
there had been no loss of life. A portion
OF the avalanche demolished the left
wing of the monastery and buried the
hospice deep in snow and debris from
the mountain side.
Immediately the avalanche had passed
the monks began to dig tunnel and
soon made their exit. They prepared
quarters in the Hotel de st. Louis,
smaller building, containing the store
house for food and lodgings for poor
wayfarers. That the good monks, whose
lives are devoted TO ecclesiastical duties
and benevolence, are in no imminent
need of the succor that they have so
many times extended to snow-blinded
travellers is assured by every dispatch
sent here. 1t is said that the avalanche
also buried the morgue, small house
near the monastery, used as receptacle
for bodies found in the snow by the
monks and their ST. Bernard dogs.
Every school pupil in the land recalls
stories about this hospice, its keepers and
the wonderful tales of travellers rescued
from death by the dogs who carry ca SKIS of
cordials and even packages of food strapped
to their bodies. The monastery was found
ed in 1862 A. ID. by st. Bernard de Mepthon,
ana Tor these many years this brotherhood
OF Augustinian monks has administered
Rratuitously to the sufferings of travellers.
The present substantial edifice dates from
the middle of the sixteenth century and
another portion was built in 1880 Grateful
travellers have bountifully supplied the din
ing-room and other departments with en-
cravings and pictures. In the library is a
great collection of ancient and modern
coins, rare relies and natural history col
lection. To the left of the entrance Is n
chapel, containing the monument of Gen.
DesaiX, who fell at Marengo in 1900. This
chapel is buried in snow, but Is probably
uninjured.
During nine months each year, known as
the snow Season, the monks are constantly
alert to rescue unfortunate travellers. st.
BERNARD dogs, descendants of an old line
but not of the original ancient breed, share
the dangers of the next to the highest win
ter habitation in the Alps.
In the middle ages this monastery was
very wealthy. OF late years the Is, 900 trav-
elers who annually take lodging there con-
tribute little more than what would be
moderate hotel bill for 1000 guests Pro-
visions are taken there from Aosta dur
ing July, August and September only.
Scarcely any monk can continue in the
dreary abode and life for more than II
years. He returns to the milder climate
of Martigny or some other place, broken
in health.
Napoleon and his armies knew we'll the
benefits of the hospce. In 1898, 1893 and
1900, during the Italian campaign, several
hundred thousand French and Austrian
soldiers crossed tho pass. Napoleon s. men
repulsed the Austrans there and the gen.
eral kept garrison at the monastery to
guard the pass a whole year. AS early as
100 d. c. the Romans used this route Con-
stantine had the road improved in 3S9;
the Lombards made the passage of the
historical pass in 547 Bernard, an uncle of
Charlemagne, marched an army through
the pass in 773, and, according to many,
gave the place his name Altogether it is
place associated intimately with the geo.
graphical studies of millions of scholars.