The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-15
WOMAN'S SERIOUS FALL
MRS. JOHNS DROPS INTO FIssURE
IN YOSEMITE VALLEY.
Her Bruised and Torn Body Is Found
on a Ledge, and Is Rescued with
Great Difficulty.

YOSEMITE VALLEY, Cal, July 14-Mrs.
Johns, of New York city, who has been
staying in the valley for a few days. was
found this morning in a steep crevasse
back of Sentinel dome Yesterday Mrs
Johns started from Glacier Point Hotel
to walk to the assures. located some two
miles from the hotel Mrs. Lewis the
manager of the hotel. cautioned her against
going too far without guide and admon-
ished her not to remain after daylight be-
gan to fail, as there was grave danger of
losing the trail. Last night Mrs. Johns did
not return and Mrs. Lewis realized that
something had happened. Only a short
time before Mr.. Garron, of San Francisco
had missed his way over the trails and
nothing was heard from him until the
next afternoon.
No trace of the missing woman was
found last night. Early this morning the
searching parties started out again. one of
them making discovery that filled the
spectators with horror. Far down one OF
the sides of the Sentinel assures, whose
crevasses drop down in some places for
thousands of feet, suspended on a ledge
that jutted out from the steep side of the
narrow canyon, the almost 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 try
ing in vain 10 work his way down the
mountain side TO her, Mr.. Potter was forced
to go to the hotel for help. Provided with
plenty of ropes and carrying a stretcher,
a party of eight made its way back to the
crevasse where the work was commenced
of trying to extricate Mrs. Johns from her
dangerous situation on the ledge.
The relief party found Mrs. Johns's posi-
ton TO be critical in the extreme. Her es-
cape from frightful death had been MOTH
ing less than miraculous. She had fallen a
distance of 800 feet from the creyasse walls
and had partially broken her fall by catch
ing at juniper bushes and scrub trees.
through whose branches she had plunged.
When the rope had been lowered, Mr.. Pot
ter descended to examine the ground and
determine the best course to pursue in
getting Mrs. Johns from her perilous posi-
ton. There. lodged upon a two-foot ledge.
with her clothing torn to fragments and her
flesh scratched and bruised, lay Mrs. Johns,
weak from exhaustion and lack of food and
benumbed by the frosty chill of the night:
With difficulty the rope was securely tied
around Mrs. Johns's waist and an effort
made to help her to the rim above. This at
tempt proved futile because of Mrs. Johns Is
weight. BY leaning over the abrupt preci-
piece, Mr.. Potter could discern another and
larger ledge 100 feet below from which
was a sheer drop of hundreds of feet He
determined 10 try this plan of rescue. Civ
ing the order to those above to lower the
| rope, Mir. Potter swung the inanimate form
of Mrss<johns out of the tiny strip of rock
upon which she had braced herself for yfif-
teen hours and into the chasm beneath. BY
swinging the rope 10 and fro. Mr.. Potter
was able TO lodge the body of Mrs. Johns
upon the larger ledge and then descended
! himself. Calling TO one OF the mountain
| guides above, Mr. Potter had him drop the
rope to the ledge upon which all three were
now resting. Then the two picked up Mrs
| Johns and together they made their diff
| cult way around dangerous lodges and over
| yawning precipices beneath. until finally
worn out, they reached the rim above once
more
! Mrs. Johns is suffering much from the
| nervous shock, but as no bones were frac.
tured, she will recover.