The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-01
DANGERS OF ALPINE CLIMBING.
Tragedy Which BefeI Party While
Descending the Matterhorn.
Walter Camp in Golfers Weekly.

Walter Camp in Golfers Weekly
The accident on the first ascent of the
Matterhorn is known in a general way to
every student of mountain climbing, but
the details of 1t, when given by Mr.
Whymper, one of the survivors, serve 10
point out once more the need of caution
in the selection of men when real work is
TO be done.
ION Wednesday morning July 10, 1865
Lord Francis Douglas and myself cross
ed The Col Theodule to seek guides at
Zermatt. After quitting the snow on the
northern side we rounded the foot of the
glacier, crossing the Furgge glacier, and
iett my tent ropes and other matters in
the little chapel of the Lac Noir We then
descended to Zermatt, engaged Peter
Taugwalder and gave him permission to
choose another guide. In the course of
the evening Rev. Charles Hudson came
into our hotel with friend. Mr. Hadow
and they, in answer to some inquiries, an
nounced their intention of starting to at
tempt the Matterhorn on the 70 lowing
morning Lord Francis Douglas agreed
with me that it was undesirable that two
Independent parties should be on the
mountain at the same time and with the
same object. Mr. Hudson was, Therefore
invited to join US and he accepted our pro-
posal. Before admitting Mr.. Hadow 1
took the precaution to inquire what he
had done in the Alps, and, as well as 1
can remember, Mr.. Hudson's reply was,
Mr. Hadow has done the Mont Blanc III
less time than most men,
Prepare for the Descent.
This was an excellent certificate, given
as it was by first-rate mountaineer, and
Mr.. Hadow was admitted without further
question.
I'VE started from Zermatt on July 10.
$50 o'clock, on a brilliant and perfectly
cloudless morning We were eight in
number-Cronz, old Peter and his two
sons, Lord F. Douglas Hadow, Hudson
and I. To insure steady motion one tour
ist and one native walked together"
The detail of the upward climb tells lit
tie of the danger. Whymper continues:
I'VE remained on the summit for one
hour
One crowded hour of glorious life.
1t passed away too quickly, and we be-
gan to prepare for the descent Hudson
and l again consulted as to the best and
safest arrangement of the party. We
agreed that it would be best for Cronz to
go first and Hadow second Hudson, who
was almost equal to a guide in sureness
of foot wished 10 be third Lord F. Doug
las was placed next and old Peter. the
strongest of the remainder. after him.
"A few minutes later a sharp-eyeed lad
ran into the Monte Rosa Hotel to Seller.
saying that he had seen an avalanche
fall from the summit Of the Matterhorn
on to the tterhorngletscher. The bow
was reproved for telling idle stories; he
was right, nevertheless, and this was
what he saw:
A Fearful Slide.
michel Cronz had laid aside his ak.
and in order to give Mr. Hadow great
er security, was taking hold of his legs
and putting his feet, one by one into
| their proper positions. AS far as
| know no one was actually descending. 7
| cannot speak with certainty, because the
| two leading men were partially hidden
! from my sight by an intervening mass of
rock, but it ID my belief, from the move
ments of their shoulders, that Cronz hav-
! ing done as l have said was in the act
of turning round to go down a step or
two himself; at this moment Mr.. Hadow
| slipped. fell against him and knocked
! him over. I heard one startling excIa-
nation from Cronz, then saw him ana
Mr. Hadow flying downward in another
| moment Hudson was dragged from his
steps and Lord +. Douglas immediateIv
! after him. All this was the work Of a
moment Immediately we heard Cronz's
| exclamation, old Peter and planted orr
/ selves as firmly as the rocks would per-
] nit; the rope was taut between us and
/ the jerk came on us both as on one
man. We held; but the rope broke mid
| way between Tangwalder and Lord Fran.
| els Douglas For few second we saw
| our unfortunate companions sliding
| downward on their backs and spreading
out their hands, endeavoring to save
themselves. They passed from our sight
uninjured disappeared one by one and
| fell from precipce to precipice on to the
| Matterhorngletsch below, a distance ~
nearly 1900 feet in high From the mo-
ment the rope broke ii was impossible to
| held them. So persisted our comradesw