The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-10

cover my cares and a cap. To a man reared in southern cline it was fright fully cold. C. R. Clason and I were roped to two of our guides and the other three men to the other two
 We found 1t impossible to climb along the ridge Of the mountain. So at first We had to descend to the snow fields be- low. Our progress was slow and difficult. We were walking over a glacier covered With several feet of snow. This was really one of the most perilous portions of our journey. The glacier was full of Assures and at any moment we were liable to slip or fall into a chasm and disappear. As We moved carefully for ward the guides kept the rope taut all the time. SD that if one should stumble into snow covered crevasse he might be held by the others. We crossed ominous cracks of varying width and length. Three of the party at different times went as deep as their hips into the sinking snow but there was no mishap. AL length the glacier was crossed and we began the ascent.
 There were several thrilling experiences. We found chasm yawning before us. It vas only some two and half feet wide. But no one knew how deep. We could see the ice far below us as green as grass. The guide scrambled oyer and then pulled Clason. He assisted me and
 
 a struggle up an ice slope that was sim ply fierce. The front guide cut steps H. the ice but it was precarlous footing. When this almost precipitous wall had been scaled We came to the saddle" the point from one side of which rises the Rottal Satel and from the other the Jungfrau. On the far side of the sad dle there is a sheer drop of hundreds of feet. The guides, fearing we might become dizzy walking along this danger ous pass, hurried us by as rapidly as pos sible. From here was the real ascent 'of the Jungfrau It was a hazardous climb. The slip of foot meant fall down one side or the other or a slide down the slope, up which we had just struggled until we reached the edge of the precipice But we were careful, cut ting with our axes. which We held in our right hands, place for our footing, while we steaded ourselves by holding taut in the left hand the ropes tied about our waists.
 Summit Is Reached
 At last the high summit was reached and there broke upon our vision sight that was magnificent, glorious. The day was clear and the view unobscured. The guides pointed out to us peak after peak of the most famous of the Alpine summits. All the great mountains were in view A hundred miles away, but as clear as monday, stood Mr. Blanc. But shall not attempt the impossible, description of the kingdoms of this world and their glory as I saw them from the highest point of the Jungfrau
 We took a number of kodak pictures and it came very near costing me one of my fingers. It was necessary to remove my glove and so intense was the cold that my hand was all but frozen. The guides rubbed it with ice and snow and after some little time it became normal.
 We did not remain very long the point There was but little room and it was so cold that we soon decided to descend. The guides wanted to refresh us with cognac but we declined, they drank it themselves. The first part of the return was very difficult and perilous, but after we had gotten over the most dangerous parts of the slope it was great sport At one place where there was no possibility of harm we all sat down on the ice, roped together as we were, and tobogganed down for quite a dis tance. It was great fun At length we regained the station worn out, but con tent. It was a red letter day in my eX- perience. Yours with much love.
 BEN HARVIE BRANSCOMB.