The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-05-08


.-------~--
Letter Received BY Mr.. and Mrs. Y. i.
Hin from their son. Pvt. Hervie W.
Hill Of Go. !. 5sth Infantry. Seventh
Division, A. + r.
Ci.amonix, Fraicc,
April s, 1919.
Dear People at Home:
Have some time before dinrer, II y
now s o'clock, and Ill try and write
YOU some more about the most won
derful vacation I've ever had in my
life. 1t surely is great treat 70 come
70 such place as this and III thank
the American people who are footing
the bill. | tell you ! appreciate and
enjoy Il. II surely is treat to visit
the Alps, place where only the very
wealthy can visit in ordinary times.
Yesterday ! loafed in the morning
and in the afternoon took hike onto
the west mountain, or one OF them.
The view was wonderful: fine view
of Mt. Blanc and the Bosson Glacier.
Went up about 1000 feet above the
town. II was hard climbing through
the snow two feet deep, and as steep
as the steepest part Of Mt. Equinox.
Had our pictures taken and then start
ed down. In coming down we siid
more than half the way. Some expert
ence--and how we came. One OF the
fellows broke his ice pick and came
down head first on his stomach. Can
YOU beat it, down steep mountain
head first and landed in little brook.
Have not had 80 much fun since ! lett
Springfield. We landed up in a great
open space at the foot of one OF the
highest peaks where slides had clear
ed away all trees and rocks. The
weather is mild and the snow is melt
ing; just the right time for snow
slides. | have seen my first one and
let me say that ! don't want to see
another so close again. We were
crossing an open space to find another
place to take slide when we heard q
noise and looking up saw one coming
toward up. 1t was about 100 feet IN
width and five or six feet deep. bc-
lieve me. haven't been so scared since
I hit France as was thsn. When one
Of those, even a small one, that could
be nut on six or eight freight cars,
starts your way, it is no place to linger
and surely did beat it for tall timber
on the side Of the woods. However, ~
stopped before it got to where we
were. Had rather see Hun division
coming after us than be in such q
place again.
Many persons have been caught a
long time ago party was crossing tne
Bosson Glacier when an avalanche
came along and carried a man down
into one OF the great crevices q the
glacier At the rate they move down
the mountain it was figured that his
body would come out in 81 years and
I have ben told that it did, of course
being frozen into the ice. These
glaciers thaw from the under side
nearest the valley and in the summer
they move down from the ever IN
creasing pressure from above. In June,
1914, an avalanche came down and
carried away part of hotel and some
cottages.
We'll. we returned to the hotel, had
supper and one of the boys played
the piano. So they and the hotel girls
danced until about II o'clock,
This morning got our lunch tof
noon and went to the Mer de Glace
Glacier and it was some hike, more
than 5000 feet up and at the lower
end at that. Went to the end OF the
trail and the guide stopped, telling us
we were as far as it was safe to go
The boys wanted TO go farther, SO we
did but at our own risk. Had fine
view, but was up only half way One
of the boys fell and slid down a ways
rot scared and went back. When we
came back, stopped at little hotel
While there we saw another snow
slide. II is a wonderful sight. The
snow goes like a stream, the front
rolling over and over like broken
waves, taking rock and trees along
with it. ~,
After a little refreshment, we slid
down the mountain and went back TO
town. Is surely is some experience
climbing these mountains. One can
not realize their height by looking at
them. Well, must close now and ga
to chow.
With love,
1 IJEpVIE