The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-07-08

l had been shooting downward.
went slower and slower until my
momentum ceased altogether Then.
there being nothing to hold on to. be
gan to descend again. But this time
the incline was not so steep, and when
reached the bottom l was able to
stop myself
l made my way down the mountain
as best l could Fortunately the path
by which we had been descending
crossed the depression in which
found myself few hundred yards be
low, and, having once struck 1t,
found no difficulty in reaching the vii
lage. l kept my part Of the rope to
show that it had been broken as proof
that l had not saved myself at my
guides expense
The tragedy ended my climbing ca
reer for years. Indeed. it did not seem
to me that would ever wish to ascend
mountain again. 1t was not the dan
ger to be encountered. but the death of
Otto Marx, who had lost his life in
my behalf.
Ten years passed. during which
devoted myself to mercantile pursuits
Then | decided to take rest in trip
to Europe 1t was summer, and
Switzerland is the camping ground for
about going to the region where l had
received my shock, but finally decided
to go among the Alps. though not
where 1t had occurred Instead of
Chamounix went to Interlaken.
Roundabout Interlaken there is fine
scenery. There are the Eiger, the
Jungfrau. the Wetterhorn. There are
Lauterbrunnen, Murren and Grindel.
valid stayed awhile in each of these
places. combating desire to go to
Chamounix While at Grindelwald !
fell in with a party of Americans who
were devoted to climbing They were
composed of both men and women,
and, though they made no regular
ascents Of the larger mountains. they
spent much time far up on their
sides
One of their trips was up the Wet
terhorn, and l could not resist a temp
tation to go with them We had a par
ty of six persons, conducted by two
guides, the one in advance and the
other In rear. The day was fair when
we started, but during the afternoon
when we were well up on the side OF
the mountain it clouded over and be-
gan to snow.
A snowstorm on mountain not only
covers the path, concealing pitfalls, but
since one can't see about him he can
have no idea of direction. Our guides
who were both young and not over
experienced, lost their heads and show.
ed plainly their fear. and they did
not know what to do. 1t showed in.
cessantly and so thickly that one could
not see a dozen feet from him. We
stopped where we were, on ledge,
when it began and waited.
We remained there huddled together
for three hours Some Of the women
who at first had not appreciated the
danger as the men did, were becoming
very much frightened A cold wind
was blowing, and exercise for the pur
pose of keeping warm was impractical
BILE The snow. instead of abating, was
growing thicker. Thinking l might
find less exposed position, l started
walking cautiously, for the purpose.
had not proceeded far when heard OF
thought heard familiar call:
HERR
Was that Otto Marks voice7 No
Otto was dead knew that he was
dead.
"Komt"
| At the moment l saw something
through the fakes just dark enough
10 distinguish from the snow. 1t was
vibrating like heated air. 1t moved
away from me- | called to the others
to come to me, but when they reached
the place from which l called | had
gone on, but they followed me.
I in the lead. following the shade
we proceeded over freshly fallen snow
l felt no fear as to where / should
place my foot-why. / know not We
had proceeded in this way for short
distance when we came to chalet
AS soon as l saw it | lost sight of that
which had guided me- In few mo
ments our party were sheltered and
warmed by cheerful flames on 6
| hearth.