New-York tribune., 1912-01-14

francs by the famous Grindelwald guide.
the late Christian Almer, sr, who
wanted house dog. She was then about
six months old. In 1868. when she was
three years old, her master gave her to Mr..
Coolidge. and It is from this year that her
climbing career dates. BY this time she
had become a mother, and so was able to
delegate her duties as house dog 20 her son.
OVER THE TSCHINGEL PASS.
4 Her first important expedition was the
.ernssing OF the Tschingel Pass to Lauter-
SFannen, and from this pass she took her
lsame. From 1868 to 1876 nine years she
hsed 10 go every year to the Alps with her
master and mistress, spending the remain
der OF the time in England. She soon be-
came thoroughly Injured to the dangers and
dificuties of mountaineering. True, she
often became extremely footsore. but when
little boots were procured for her she
promptly pulled them off. There can be no
doubt that she was passionately fond OF
mountains. and even on rest days after
heavy ascent. she would generally go out
over the hills hunting chamois-not pre-
icisely restful occupation.
Nv friend, Mr. Coolidge. who still lives
In Grindelwald. tells me that Tschingei In
course of time acquired a marvellous in
istinct for guessing where a hidden crevasse
lay, and also for finding the best way
across an open one. After some years she
grew so experienced in snow conditions
that she could tell by merely looking at
snow bridge whether IL were safe to cross
or not, and when she drew back from
certain spot the guides knew at once that
II was mere waste OF time TO take that
way. Sometimes she would sniff at
snow bridge, and il she felt the air coming
un from below too much she knew that
the bridge was not trustworthy
on one occasion she actually showed
local guide the way down some difficult
rocks. Her master and mistress. with the
guide. had unwittingly taken a new route
for the descent of the Diablerets, and
found themselves on a very badly Gre
vassed glacier. The guide did not know
what to do, and, seeing Tschingel going
steadily on ahead, he was not ashamed to
exclaim: The dog seems to know the
way. Let's follow her" They did so, and
Tschingel led every one down without a
slip or false step. Well might the guide
exclaim -aftervard: Now, that's what
call well trained dog"
I Tschingel actually accompanied MI
Coolidge on the first ascents ever made
Of several dificult peaks. Her remarkable
exploits were not confined TO the SWISS
Alps for she climbed in Dauphiny three
summers, ani her fame reached its apogee
after she made her ascent Of the Savoyan
Peak, Mont Blanc. in 1915. She had al
ready tried this mountain once, SIX years
earlier. when the snow happened to be so
deep that the poor dog sank in hopelessiy
and could not struggle along much beyono
the Grands Mulets. After all this lapse
Of time Tschingel remembered the locahty
perfectly. and instead Of being. as usual
eager for the ascent. she lay down and re-
fused 10 set out. Eventually however
she wa s-induced TO go by being reproached
and made to feel ashamed Of herself Tnen
she accomplished the ascent without any
special difficulty; indeed, as a matter ol
fact It was comparatively easy for her
after what she had already done.
TO THE TOP OF MONT BLANC.
Now. by 1875 two dogs had already set
foot on the summit OF Coleridges "SoVer-
elgn Blanc" bat they can no more claim
10 rank as climbers than many OF the So
called mountaineers who are pushed ana
pulled up mountains. for they were car
red up in the arms Of guides whereas
Tschingel, OF course, got up on her own
four feet Tschingel. II may here be said'
was occasionally put on the rope. though
not very often. usually only when ice
slepes had TO be ascended or descended
sbd she seldom needed any assistance In
climbing On her return from Mont Blanc
TO Chamounlx she excited the greatest pos
slble interest and a cannon was even fired
specially in her honor. She trotted into
the village with her head erect and her
tail wagging. immensely proud Of herself.
and next day. lying luxuriously on sofa
In the hotel drawing room. she held kind
OF state reception. which was attended by
several hundred persons. including all tho
guides Tschingel herself appeared per-
fectly Indifferent TO the homage being paid
her.
This ascent. though so far from being
the most dificult' she accomplished,
brought Tschingel more fame than any
other. The following season. when she
was climbing in Switzerland, her master
and mistress found a porter at Martigny
Station giving her water and food ana
showing her TO every one as 'le chien qui
await fait le Mont Blanc" On one oc-
caslon. when they were attempting the
Matterhorn from the Italian side, they did
not want 10 have the dog with them, and
SO left her in the hotel at Breuil with
some OF their belongings. Bad weather
prevented them making the ascent, ana
they could not return TIL three days later
There they found Tschingel. still on guard
with plates and dishes all around her. NO
one had been able 10 induce her to leave
for a moment the things intrusted to her.
30 food and water had had TO be brought
10 her She had remained on duty sixty
two hours
On another occasion. when Mr. Coolidge
was camping he left Tschingel In charge
of the tent and went away for an ascent
During the descent the party were over
taken by darkness--it was the end OF sep
tember-and they had TO await daylight
under & rock II was very cold. showing
ana blowing When they reached the tent
again they found Tschingel inside peace
iuiiy asleep under a pile OF blankets while
outside. sun with cold, their teeth chat
.snng and famished with hunger. were
"o OF their porters who had gone aheao.