Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-12

NKvER< 20 NArn ArEucAnL A3TAy YEAR

to perceive only sheer crevasscs and giant
snow SeracS.
Under a wind-protccted ledge they pre-
pared 20 pass the night. The tempest
smashing Titanic ice needles above them.
started aValanChes. Seracs of snow AS
high as an apartment house would top
pie over with a noise of thunder Amid
1t the three men worked furiously-less
to dig a refuge than to keep their blood
In circulation. After what seemed hours
Bienstok lighted a match.
What time is it, asked Zeim
"Half past 81
Then whispered Zeim. there is great
chance that none of us gets back to Cha
mouniX alive"
Nevertheless, at 40 am. they start
ed down exhausted, Mr. Blake visibly fail-
ing at every step. Half an hour passed
in slow down-toling. Then Zeim felt
the rope stretch taut. The American had
fallen unconscious. They had just time
to catch his last words Il m DYING"
Light the lantern" said Zeim. in broad
daylight. He was all but blinded by the
snOwglare. In this state Bienstok help
ed him downward without the rope and
such was the pride of those two Zermatt
men that, meeting an ascending caravan
they refused help, saying simply:
There's a dead American up there,
we're going to Chamounix TO organize his
descent"
But the dead American was not to go
down, nor was the Upgoing party to see
him. At the indicated spot beyond a
pick for pointer. giant serac had fallen
blocking UP their route and burylng the
body. After debate the shocked caravan
returned-to hear Bienstok family cry
ing from a crevasse that his fellow-guide
was there beside him, dead, with
smashed skull!
Every tourist takes these gruesome
scenes in. They say the municipalities
of the two Notwithstanding centerS had
ma do al warn
Corners not to try the big aScents with,
out their licensed guides.
RzzZZ, On the white sheet you see
two men toll toward a mountain tavern
porch. News of an Alpine tragedy! Out
straggle mountaineers. The telephone Is
working. Click. We are at ChamoumN
at the Guides Corner. Tourists Indignant
at their Cancelled dates! The first rescue
party starts
click, The scene shifts to the we'll
known bride path. taken alike by Mont
Blanc climbers and mere mule-back tour
lists to the glacier bottom. What are
those long sticks they carry? Hush
They'll improvise sleds with those Skis
when they find the bodies.
Click, They are among the rocks
Click, Now the snow. The scenes shift
RAPIDLY. Half the Mont Blanc ascent |:
made in twenty minutes. Now we are
is blue twilight up there-trick of tintet
films, but most uncanny. Click. 1t i:
the great scene in blue twilight. amid
phostly seracs and black CULTS.
The rescuers move in single file. (Tht
cinematograph moves with them.) \
guide throws his arms up. The trail
On in the blue twilight. They spread
in fan. No need to ask why they stoE
reverently at that chasm. climbing
pick that sticks beyond its broken
down edge explains.
A young guide volunteers the peril.
Gus descent We tremble as they kno,
the rope beneath his arms. They steI
back to play it out. He waves fare
well-and slides over the edge into the
blackneSS.
BY the paying out rope we know the
awful depth. They must be dead, dowr