The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-09-07
YEARS IN ice TOMB
TOURISTS AND CUBES WHO LOST
THEIR LIVES IN SNOW.
The Bodie, OF the Mont Blanc VIC
tin.S May be Recovered Some Time
This Month.

Early this month the village OF
Chamon!x. lying among the foothills
OF Mont Blanc. is expected 20 witness
the 6nal act in an Alpine tragedy
which 80 years ago thrilled not only
the old world but the new. says the
London Daily Express.
Three tourists and eight guides
were overcome by the cold. and
suffered slow and agonizing death
nea! the summit OF Mont Blanc. On
Septem ber :. 1870.
One Of the victims was John G.
Randall. treasurer Of savings bank
at Quincy. Mass. whose life anbi-
ton was 10 climb Mon: Blanc. he
did it. and death vas the price.
Mr. Randall's body has lain for 40
years within the great Bosoras gla-
cier. a cor,:l OF ice. progressing inch
br inch downwarGs a few hundred
feet every year. About him are the
bodies OF Ave Of the guides.
The bodies OF the TWO other tcu-
risis. Dr.. James Bean. an American.
and the Rev George McCoEk!ndale.
Scottish minister. and three more
guides were recovered not many days
lf,er the tragedy.
Mr. Randalls's widow died 1s
Years ago. but Miss Edith Randall.
the second child. las been twice in
recent years TO Switzerland to Wis
it the slow-nor!ng tomb Of her IA
ther
The villagers Of Chamoni1 are
waiting and watching. First an al
penstock may be recovered. or an axe
Then the thinning ice may reveal the
J body. which can be released By cut
ting through the glacier surface.
Pathetic. indeed. is the story OF
Mr.. Randall's visit 10 the country
where be met his death. In his diary
under date May IS. 1870. the day
when he left his home in America
appears the following entry:
To-day ! begin the realization o!
the dream OF my whole life. After
many miseivings and doubts I de-
cided a few days ago 10 visit Eu-
rope. said goodbye. and kissed my
dear wife and babies
L, was on September S that Nj
Randall began the ascent Of Mon'
Blanc from the Grand Mulets inC
with DR.. Bean. Mr.. McCorkindale anc
eight guides. The weather was bac
and the wind triShtful.
| People in tho Chamonix valley
recognizing the danger. en6eavcrec
to watch the progress Of the part!
through telescopes. Early in the az
ternoon the climbe were seer
through a rift in Z smir!ing snow
storm throwing themselves dowc
from time 70 time 10 prevent beini
swept away by the force o. the gale
| With the exception Of one more
glimpse nothing was seen OF the sum
mi, of Mont Blanc for eight days
No one returned. and the people Of
Chamoni1 knew disaster must have
overtaken the party.
| On the 18th search party OF ..
men set out from Chamonix and the
following day the bodies Of Mr. Nc
Corkindale and two Of the guide:
were discovered about $50 feet from
the summit. Three hundred fee
higher DR.. Bean and another guide
were found. sitting. the former with
his head supported by one hand ant
the elboT on knapsack. a thor
ough search was made by % addi'
tional guides. but not trace o. m:
res, Of the party could be todo'.
The bodies which had been tounj
were brough, down to Chamoni1. and
after a service in the village church
were buried in the graveyard.
4 notebook was found in DR.
Beans pocket. in which appeared the
following penciled message TO his
wife:
MY Dear Eess;e: We have been
on Mont Blanc fox two DAVIS in a
terrible snowstorm. We have los;
our way. and are in a hole sco1pel
out OF the snow at a heigh; OF 49,
900 feet. ! have no hope OF descend
ing. We have no food: nv
feet arc already frozen aad am .:
| haustcd. have only strength to
write a few words die in the t:.':'i
rf Jesus Christ. with afcc;!cna.c c
thoughts Of my family. Ny remen'-