Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-09-20

ZNSO lives were lost in FURIOUS
snowstorm near the summit OF the
Roof of Europe" The victims includ-
ed two Americans, one Scotchman
and eight guides and porters from
Chamonix. Not one of the party es-
capped death.
Five OF the bodies were recovered
at the time of the accident. 1t Is ex-
pected by Chamonix guides and sci
entists that the six others will be de-
hvered up by the glacier this year.
The rate of progression OF glaciers
has long been observed, and accord
ing to the calculations of the authorl-
ties the bodies held in the Ice LOT
more than 40 years should reach the
valley this season.
Scientists in Europe are much inter
ested in the case, as it may supply
evidence to prove their theories con-
corning the speed of the annual march
of glaciers toward the valleys, but
there is also a human side to the
watch which is being kept up. Miss
Edith Randall of Boston has been
waiting many years in the hope of
recovering the body of her father.
John Randall, a Boston banker. who
was one Of the victims of the disaster.
and who was fifty-four years old when
he lost his life In 1870 on the Mont
Blanc summit.
Last year Miss Randall came to
! Chamonix, as the ice axe and several
small articles belonging to Mr.. Ran
dali had been found by guides at the
! foot of the Glacier des Blossoms, which
descends directly from the summit of
Mont Blanc to the lip of the valley of
| Chamonix. Many American and Eng.
lish Alpinists, as we'll as guides, joined
in the search for the body, but with
out result. Will the searchers have
better luck during the next few
months?
The story of this Alpine tragedy
can be told briefly. On August 26
1870, two Englishmen, Messrs. Stog
dom and Marsall, with their guides
arrived at Chamonix exhausted, hav
ing been caught in a violent snow
storm on Mont Blanc. The English
climbers met at the hotel the two
Americans, John Randall and H. NJ
Bean OF Jonesboro, Tenn, who was
fifty-four years old, and the Scotch
man. the Rev. G.. McCorkingdale, ageC
forty, of Glasgow. These three haC
already engaged eight guides and por
tiers at Chamonix to conduct them IL
easy stages to the top of Mont Blanc
The weather was doubtful in the val
ley and bad in the mountains above
and in view of the experience of thu
Englishmen they were warned agains
attempting the ascent. But tn
Americans were in a hurry to return
home and the warnings were disre
garded
The first part of the ascent, up Il
the Grand Mulets. at an elevation o
1000 feet, was accomplished il
cloudy weather, but the snow wa
good and firm under foot. The part
, set out on September from the hu
for the summit in spite of a stron
, wind and dark clouds Their progress
. was watched with telescopes fror
; Chamonix. 1t was noticed that fror
time to time the whole party had t
, throw themselves down on the sno'
to avoid being carried away by tn
wind near the top.
Later they were hidden from vie'
by clouds. When the clouds parte
the climbers were seen coming dow
> near the same place. Then the snow
storm became more violent and the
were again hidden. The storm Taste
eight days and nights. Not one Of tn
II climbers was seen again alive.
A week later IA Chamonix guide
attempted to reach the fatal spot, bu
were driven back by the snow an
cold. On September II % guides an
porters set out again from Chamoni
for the summit, and amid deep, hal
, snow on the north steep slope disco
! cred the bodies Of five Of the part,
l Those of the Rev. Mr.. McCockinda
: and two guides lay $50 feet below Il
summit. About 300 feet higher wei
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