Evening star., 1903-07-15
FELL INTO CREVASSE
AWFUL EXPERIENCE OF NEW
YORK WOMAN IN YOSEMITE.
Three Hundred Feet Below Surface on
Marrow Ledge She Clung
All Night.

The following dispatch was received last
night from Yosemite Valley. CAL: Mrs. E.
A. Johns Of New York city. who has been
staying in the valley for a few days, was
found almost dead this morning in a steep
crevasse back Of Sentinel Dome. Yester-
day Mrs. Johns started from Glacier Point
Hotel to walk to Fishers. located some two
miles from the hotel. and did not return
last night. Early this morning searching
parties started out. and one OF them located
the woman. Far down the Sentinel fissure.
whose crevasses drop in some places for
thousands Of feet. suspended on a ledge
that jutted out from the steep side. the al
most lifeless form of Mrs. Johns was found
by Mr.. Potter. a hotel clerk. She was too
weak to speak. but was able by feeble signs
to make Mr.. Potter know that she still
lived.
After trying in vain to work his way down
the mountain side to her. Mr.. Potter was
forced to go to the hotel for help. Provid-
ed with plenty of ropes and carrying
stretcher, a party of eight made it's way
back to the crevasse. where the work was
commenced of trying to extricate Mrs.
Johns from her dangerous position. DR..
Maurice A. Brown of Alameda accompanied
the relief party.
Miraculous Escape.
The relief party found Mrs Johns posi-
ton to be critical in the extreme, Her
escape from a frightful death had been
nothing less than miraculous. She had
fallen distance Of 800 feet from the Gre
vase walls. but partially broke her fall
by catching at juniper bushes and scrub
trees as she plunged through their
branches.
When the rope had been lowered Mr.
Potter descended to examine the ground
ana determine the best way to get Mrs
johns from her perilous position. There
lodged upon a two-foot ledge, with her
clothing torn to shreds and her flesh
scratched and bruised. lay Mrs. Johns
weak from exhaustion and lack of food.
and benumbed by the frosty night air
with d1fficulty the rope was securely tied
around Mrs. Johns waist and an effort
made to help her to the rim above This
attempt proved futile because of Mrs
Johns weight
BY leaning over the abrupt precipice Mr.
Potter could discern another and larger
ledge a hundred feet below. from which
was sheer drop of hundreds of feet.
A Daring Rescue.
Giving the order to those above to lower
the rope. Mr. Potter swung the inanimate
form of Mrs. Johns out from the tiny strip
OF rock upon which she had braced herself
for fifteen hours. and by swinging the rope
to and fro Mr.. Potter was able to lodge the
body of Mrs. Johns on the larger ledge. He
then descended himself. Calling to one Of
thu mountain guides above Mr. Potter had
him drop the rope to the ledge and descend
hlmself Then the two picked up Mrs
Johns, and together they made their din
cult way around dangerous lodges and over
yaWning preciDices beneath. until, almost
worn out, they finally reached safety.
MRS. johns Is suffering much from ner-
vous shock. but no bones are fractured
and 1t Is hoped she will recover
she IS a woman of some prominence in
New York city. where her husband is now.
She expected to start soon for Japan. Mr.
ana Mrs. DR.. Quinte of Los Angeles, friends
Oh MRS Johns who accompanied her here
returned home a few days ago.