The New York herald., 1921-07-30
MRS. STONE DANGLED
ON ROPE In MIDAIR
Tried to Get to Her Husband
After He Had Fallen Down
Mountain.
READY FOR DEATH DROP
Life Saved When She Strikes
on Ledge She Is Likely
to Recover.

BANFF, Alta, July 29.--Thc story
of how Mrs w. E. Stone. wife of the
former president OF Purdue University.
dangled at the end Of rope in mldalr
and then dropped exhausted on a four
foot ledge. the only break IN a precipi-
tous cliff hundreds or feet high. after an
unsuccessful attempt to save her hus-
band. who had fallen into a crev.ce
below. was revealed to-day In a despatcn
received here from the correspondent Of
the Calgary Herald.
Mrs. Stone is now in an improvised
camp on the mountainside, recovering
from the experience of lying on the
tiny ledge for eight dayB without food
or water until rescued by Rammer, a
Swiss guide. who carried her down the
steep mountainside to safety. The COR
respondent told how she had watched
her husband fall as they were trying to
climb Mount Eanon. and then attempted
to lower herself with the rope. In the
hope Of rescuing him.
The rope, however, was too short, and
after hanging alongside the mountain
and finding she was unable to pull her
self back up she let go. expecting to
plunge to her death in the abyss below.
Fate interviewed and she landed on the
narrow ledge, a drop of ten feet
The search for DR.. Stones body has
proved unavailing and members of the
rescue party are nearly exhausted from
their efforts to flnd him. It Is probable
that the body will be left until another
and better equipped search party can be
organized.
Mrs. Stone Tells story.
Mrs. Stone is still weak. but although
she has had little sleep and nourishment
since she was found. she was able on
Wednesday evening to speak briefly of
her terrible experience.
The accident occurred on Saturday,
July is. she said, and not Sunday, as
was at first believed. Mrs. Stone said
that on Saturday morning they set out to
climb Mount Eanon without being fast
ened together by a rope. In the after
roon they had nearly reached the sum-
init and were negotiating a particularly
stf1 bit Of almost perpendicular cliff.
Mr.. Stone was slightly in advance.
Mrs. Stone said she suddenly looked
up and saw her husband slip. Then he
fell past her and she saw him strike the
race OF the cliff several times, his body
turning over and over until he disap-
peared In the abyss below.
Although Mrs Stone held out faint
hope OF saving her husba nd's life and
realized the grave dangers that con-
fronted her In the task that lie ahead.
she endeavored to 20 to his rescue.
Fastening rope TO the edge OF ledge.
she climbed rapidly down until she
reached the end Of the rope. There was
no foothold and she found herself
dangling against the steep mountainside.
Exhausted at Ropes End.
For some time she hung there, trying
vainly to draw herself back up again.
Finally. exhausted, she loosed her hold.
expecting to dash to her death. Instead
she landed on the four foot ledge. the
only one In sight, about ten feet below.
There sho remained for eight days.
During that time clouds often sur
rounded the mountain tops and fire.
quently rain and wind storms, accom-
panied by lightning and thunder. broke
about her. Long before help arrived
she had about despaired OF ever being
rescued, but her remarkable stamina
carried her through.
On Friday night. by forced march.
the first section OF the rescue party. led
by Rainmer, the guide, arrived at Mount
canon The search was Immediately
started. and on Sunday morning, after
riding hard from Banff all through the
night. Gen. Mitchell head OF the Alpine
Club OF Canada. and Or. Bell Joined the
rescuers.
Last Sunday evening. Rammer found
Mrs. Stone. Letting himself down to
her ledge with rope he fastened II
about her body, a difficult task for she
was badly bruised. Drawing her up to
where foothold could be gained he
performed what Gen. Mitchell described
as = wonderful feat, for he carried the
unconscious woman down the side Of
tho mountain In his arms