Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-09

to an ordinary railway freight car-do not be-
come heated by the sun, and the ice beneath
them does not melt as rapidly as the rest. 1t
comes to pass in this way that they are sup
ported on columns of ice like this one, md
form what are called "icetables." Where the
stones are small enough to become heated
slightly during the day, the opposite effect is
produced, and they melt their way into the
ice mass, and form what are known as wells.
Here is one in which the water is held as Sc
curely as in bowl After time it becomes
clear as crystal, and fit to be used to quench
thirst.
On all the lower parts of glacier the sur
face becomes slightly softened by the heat
Of the sun, and these little rills of water are
seen trickling over the ice, precisely as smi,
lar streams run down our hilsides: Several
of these here combine and form this. larger
stream, which, after cutting channel along
the surface for awhile, will disappear in
crevasse. Sometimes it flows into an opening
which appears to reach to the very bottom
of the Giaeier-producing a sound like subter-
ranean thunder. 1 saw one Of these openings
they are known as tunnels" about three
feet in diameter, which my guide said was
more than three hundred feet deep, and APP
peared to be exactly perpendicular.
Not far from this we found another open
ing, about ten inches in diameter, from which
came up a current of air strong enough TO
lift pocket handkerchief suppose 1t was
caused by the rapid movement OF the stream,
which we heard laundering far below. My
guide said he had never seen anything like
Il before, and have met with nothing similar
since that time.
glaciers, you will observe. They are formed
by the breaking of the ice-mass, when there
is a sudden depression In its bed, which al
lows the glacier to drop little. They are
of all widths, from one inch to ten feet, or
more.
Where they are only two or three feet wide
and are covered with snow-as they frequently
are, for snow is likely to fall here at any
time-they are the occasion of very serious
accidents. One may not be aware that he is
near such an opening till he suddenly drops
into it through the soft snow, and in many
cases he would perish but for the rope.
| The broadest and most irregular openings
OF this kind are seen where the glacier flows
termed an "ice-fall," and very wild and pic
turesque is the scene which It presents.
| Glaciers are not without value to the peo-
pie of this country, for, when one deseends in
siderable revenue to the place. 1t brings
guests for the hotels, creates a market for
what is raised on this land, and furnishes
employment to a good many men, who act
as guides to. those who desire to make ex-
eursons.
Sometimes the inhabitants of these towns
construct curious grottoes in the glacier, and
charge small sum for the privilege of enter
ever seen is at Grindewald. Near this village
there are two glaciers, and in the larger one
grotto has been made, which is quite worth
seeing.
1t consists of corridor about three feet
wide and seven feet high, extending into the
very heart of the glacier for one hundred and
fifty feet, and terminating in a circular roonl
about ten feet in diameter, where lamp is
kept burning even at midday.
On warm day an umbrella is desirable as
one enters, but before he has gone far he finds
great change in the temperature, and, un-
less he is careful, he may get a severe chill.
The ice, as seen from within, is of the most
heavenly blue, and the whole thing when
examined under a favorable light, is exceeding
ly beautiful.
On going out of it, I went to point fa-
vorable for observation, and estimated that
three hundred feet beneath the surface of the
glacier.