Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-17
Death Roll Of Reckless Mountain
Climbers Exceeds That of
Previous Years.
SWISS GOVERNMENT MAY ACT.
Thus Far There Have Been Over 900
Accidents, $50 of Which We're
Fatal.
Special Correspondence.

reckless mountain climber and so
many accidents have resulted that the
government Is considering the advisa-
bility of passing laws regulating the
climbing OF the Alps. This years
death rool is appalling and has never
been surpassed In the annals OF Swiss
mountain climbing, It Is said over
300 accidents have been recorded, and
at least 1850 tourists and guides have
been dashed to death. Bad weather Is
responsible for many OF the fatalities,
but the greater number OF deaths Is
charged TO false economy and fool
hardy recklessness. In May, June and
early Ia July the fall Of snow was un-
precedented making attempts at climb
ing unusually perilous, for new snow is
treacherous, as 1t readily shifts beneath
the feet and forms the deadly ava
lanche so greatly feared by all noun
taineers.
The Germans and Austrians furnish
ed the majority Of the victims this sea-
son, They are passlonately fond of
mountain climbing and are so daring
that they rarely employ guides. Early
In May Herr Llewora of Vienna en-
deavored to make an ascent near Inns
bruck without the aid of Il guide and
fell 1000 feet to his death. Not many
days later a party OF Heidelberg stu
dents were killed near Fellach. Dur
ing a terrible storm on the Unsterberg
two brothers from Munich lost their
lives, and II is said that this month
and last dozens of German climbers
have been killed in the Tyrol. the En-
gardine the Bernese Oberland and the
Austrian Alps. That the Germans and
Austrians are particularly unfortunate
year OTTER year was shown few
months ago by the Pail Mall Magazine
which stated that official figures for
the IL years from 1899 to 1901
showed total loss of life in the Alps
of 305 persons, of whom 1870 were from
Austria and Germany. OF the other
victims As were Swiss 20 Italian. Is
English and American, 10 French and
IL other natlonalItles.
The first accidents of 1903 on Mont
Blanc, occurred June 8, when Charles
Schmidt,a young German amateur, per-
suaded Maurice KurtZ to attempt the
ascent without the assistance Of guides.
The climbing was very difficult and
beyond the strength Of any ordinary
Alpinist, and the foolhardy young men
who had started. despite the tears and
entreaties of wives and children, soon
became thoroughly exhausted. They
were almost frozen to death and were
In constant peril OF aValanches and
falling stones. After holding a con-
sultation they decided to descend sep
arately and unroped. Shortly after
they began TO retrace their steps
Schmidt lost his footing and fell Shrek
ing from one icy spur TO another until
his brains were dashed out Thus early
In the season few experienced climbers
would have attempted 20 reach the
summit OF Mont Blanc, and the first
ascent Of the year. by NJ. Cachat. a
veteran climber, was not made until
three weeks after the tragic ending of
young Schmidt's reckless effort.
Lack OF guides also caused the sad
accident which befell Professor Hof-
mann, a Swiss clergyman, who was
killed while making scientific ex-
ploratlon OF Mont Prenlngard. The
same day Egon de Steiger Of the Berne
Alpine club, while ascending the Balm
horn with a servant, but without a
guide, fell 1,200 feet and was killed
Death In many forms lies In wait for
the reckless Alpnist. He may fall
and be dashed to pieces, he may starve
to death, he may be frozen II his
strength and resolution fall him. an
avalanche may overcome him, and he
may be struck and killed by lightning.
Late In June seven German students,
without guides and unsupplied with
proper equipment attempted to scend
Mont Blanc In stormy weather. Five
OF the party were struck by lightning,
and when finally rescued after six days
OF prIvatlon and exposure they were
light headed partly paralyzed. terribly
frostbitten and In the last stages of
starvation. Their bodies and limbs
were burned and twisted by lightning.
These typical cases show the mad
ness OF attempting serious Alpine as
cents without guides. Even school
masters recklessly lead their trusting
pupils into danger on the mountain
This was the cause OF the awful ava
lanche disaster near Airolo In June,
when two professors from n Zurich
college took 10 of their pupils TO
make the ascent OF the Plz-Blas. The
weather was bad, and the party was
overwhelmed by an immense ava
lanche, which swept away one of the
professors and two OF the pupils. The
other professor and three OF the boys
had their skulls fractured, and most of
the others were gravely injured.
Since July accidents have become so
numerous that It is impossible TO give
space TO all of them. one day no fewer
than nine accidents happened, seven
proving fatal. The greater number
have occurred In the Tyrol and Aus
TRAN Alps, but In Jura, the Mont
Blanc peaks and the central and east
ern PENNIES have been responsible for
many fatalities.
A peak which Is favorite of the
reckless mountain climber is the Mat
terhorn, which rises 4,703 feet on the
Swiss border between Vallas, Switzer-
land, and Piedmont, Italy. 1t IL noted
for lts steepness, and until the year
1860 no one attempted to explore
even It's sides. IL was first assembled
In 1865 by Edward Whymper. the
worlds best known mountain climber.
Whymper lived to tell the story OF his
daring and climb other lofty peaks In
different parts OF the world, but four
OF his party met a horrible death.
Ascending the Matterhorn is the most
fatgung OF all Alpine excursions and
an expensive affair, as II requires the
hiring Of two guides at $50 apiece. who
will for this amount lead the way from
Zermatt TO Breull. Artists. poets and
| lovers OF the savagely grand and awe
inspiring In nature covet this trip more
than all others, as even picturesque
| Chamouni Is here excelled in the varl-
| ETY. and wlerdness Of the Views. The
| ice fields and rocks are Of the most
| wonderful and magnificent proportions.
while the savage and sublime grandeur
| OF the great mountain Itself fascina;es
| all beholders.
on the Renelberg and Corner Graf
| the best view IL afforded Of the Mat
! terhorn, which ought TO discourage the
| bravest adventurers from attempting
| to tread It's steep paths. II is glorious
| to behold but the most ambitious tour
| list ought to be contented with the sight
| and 10 postpone the ascent indefinitely.
Professor Tyndall scaled the sides OF
| this mountain With guide In 1860, but
| did not succeed In reaching the top
| one OF the points ls still called Pic Tyn-
dali. Whymper, who later outdd the
| professor, wildly describes the moon
light night and breaking day as they