The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-26
81 DAYS In AN ALPINE CAVE
STARVING WOMAN COULD HEAR
CHURCH BELLS.
Nine. schopfer Feli Into Aiying Tomb an
August Q Guides Searched for Her In
yain-Ate Mossa and Her shoes; Dreamcd
" Bread Mind May he Impaired.


yain-Ate Moss and Her shoes; Drcamcd
M Bread MInd May Be Impaired.
Special cable Despatch 10 THE sun.
. GENEVA, Aug. 2S.-The Swiss lady who
was lost in the Alps near Loeche-les-B ains
for twenty days. as old in yesterdays
dispatches to The Sun. is Nine. Schopfer.
She recovered her senses yesterday and
was able TO tell the doctor a story OF the
terrible ordeal through which she passed.
Her doctor believes that il will take a long
time for her mind TO recover. II it ever Ices
completely, though there is every likelihood
OF her physical recovery. Her survival the
doctor describes as the greatest miracle
he ever saw or heard OF.
To the doctor she told how on the morn
ing Of August I abe walked along the bank
of the River Dala, intending to return to her
hotel for lunch. Fascinated by the scenery.
she penetrated further up the gorge n
lost her way. She added:
while retracing my steps l fell, don't
know how many feet. into a cave. was
Mortified to find that owing to the steep
and slippery stone sides l was unable to
climb out.
Il shouted all that day and night for help
until my voice was so hoarse that was
unable 70 shout. ate my lsst two pieces
OF chocolate. and continually drank water
which trickled through the rocks.
Another day came n went. and yet
another. | forget how many because l
must have become delirious. The village
church, the top Of the steeple OF which
could see from my living tomb. seemed
nv only hope. I prayed daily TO tho
steepIe's cross for deliverance.
ON Sundays especially I suffered terrible
mental torture when l heard the bells
pealing and the choir singing practically
within a stones throw, while | lay dying
by inches.
81 cannot describe my hunger. Often
| dreamed OF bread and biscuits, which
sometimes seemed to be dancing in the
air before my eyes. ate grass. moss and
nv leather shoes. Gradually | became a
skeleton, and my clothes fell from me.
Il had plenty Of money in my purse
which I would willingly have exchanged
for a piece OF bread. On two nights rain
soaked me and on several days the heat
was so great that ! was glad to wet my
head and sprinkle my clothes.
INV voice commence to return gradually.
I took much care of il. crying softly at in
teryals during the day when / thought
people might be passing my tomb, but in
vain.
Slowly my strength failed until was
unable to stand without placing my hands
on the rocks. Heavens, how i suffered
from hunger. Toward the end | became
desperate. wanted to dash my head
against the rock. My mind was willing,
but my flesh was too weak. Then Coo sent
darkness and I remember no more"
In the meantime her husbands friends
and guides searched in vain FOR her for
! twenty-one days. Later a peasant walk
ing along the bank Of the River Dala heard
grooming and climbed down and rescued
Nine. Schopfer. who WAS insensible. He
carried her to the hospital. h recovered
| her senses thirty hours later.
She wa once plump, but is now without
an ounce of s~uperfuous flesh. Her hair is
perfectly gray. What makes her survival
and recovery all the more wonderful Is the
fact that for years she has not been In very
good health. She ven to Loeche-les-
Bains annually for the last ten years for the
cure.
The doctor with a guide visited the tomb.
and found that up TO a height Of four and a
half feet every particle Of the rock moss had
d;aanpearad