The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-02-28
ALPINE ACCIDENTS.
Nearly Two Hundred Fatal ones IN
ThirtyssiK Years.

ThlrtysslK Years.
Since the year 1860 nearly two hun
dred fatal accidents have occurred
upon the Swiss Alps alone. OF these
how many we're occasloned by mala- |
drolt, feeble or timid climbersl The
safety OF every mountaineering party
demands In advance that each member
OF It should be a praeticed and steady
climber: that no serious ascent should
be undertaken by any man who cannot
rely upon his own nerve and eapablli-
ties his power OF Drawing fatigue and
standing cold; and. finally, that the
party should be accompanied by suf- |
hcient number Of professional guides
Mr.. Leslie Stephen lays It down as a
rule that the loftiest mountains can be
scaled with safety by trained noun
taineers. provided that fine weather
good guides and favorable conditions
OF rock and snow have hrst been Sc
cured. ION the other hand" he adds.
there IL no mountain which may not
be excessively dangerous II the weather
be bad. the guides incompetent, the
climbers inexperienced and the condi-
lions Of rock and snow unfavorable."
Who. for instance, can say with CONF
dence until ne has been tried that he
has nerve enough 10 stand the crucial
test which Professor AgaEslz confeases
was almost more than he could bear.
when In iSii he wa one OF party OF
twelve who assembled the Jungfrau. half
OF them being professional guides, With
the celebrated Jacob Lenthold, who
died soon afterward II consumption. Al
their headl we startCa." wrote Agas-
slz. from the Grimso hospice at 4
O'Clock a. m. on August ~. lsil. sleep
ing the FIRST night at the cASlets Of
Merii. and completing the ascent n the
Jungfrau next day. Our difficulties
were not a little increased by the heavy
misis and intense cold. Al last the a.
cent became more and more steep. and
every step had 10 be cut In the ice.
Lenthold kept Us close TO the edge OF
the ridge OF frozen snow. because the
Ice yielded there more easily 10 the axe.
II was. however. 80 trying to our
nerves that I. for one. should not like
70 repeat the experience. The awful
preclplee beneath us was constantly In
view. and we could drive our alpen-
stocks through the rim Of frozen snow
and gaze sheer down through the hole
into a vast amphitheater which seemed
yawnlng 10 swallow us Thousands and
Thousands OF yards below. The apei
OF the Jungfrau IL 20 small that only
one person can stand upon H. Al
.. m. We started upon our downward
path. turning our faces TO the Icy slope
and feeling with the foot for each stel
below. these steps being more than 70
In all. Al ii:30 o'clock D. N. We reaehe
the chalets Of Meril. which We had lei
that morning al the earliest dawn q
. day" The least imaginative mind ca
, readily realize what one false ste
! made upon a surface 20 steep and slip
I perry that Il was impossible 10 think q
Il without a shudder would have In
4 volved. In the worst accident tina
ever happened on the Matterhorn-
: that which befell Lord Francis Dougla
] and his three hapless companions.
( IL notorious that one false step mad
= by an inexperienced climber. and 10
. lowed BY the breaking Of a rope, va
n the sole cause OF that terrible TRAGEDY