Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-09

"a huge prism of granite, or granite gneiss
terminated the arete, and from IL knife-edge
Of pure white snow ran up to little point.
We passed along the edge, reached that point,
and instantly swept with our eyes the whole
range of the horizon. We stood upon the crown
Of the redoubtable Weisshorn."
EARLY in the Summer Of 1862 Tyndall and
Bennen were together again, this time In
company with a scientific associate Of the
professor, John Lubbock. They decided on an
ascent Of the Jumgfrau. Two porters were
needed for this expedition, and in his home
village Of LAX Bennen found one, young man
with reputation for courage and strength. He
the only son of his mother, widow. An
other guide was found later. The plan was
to bivouac the night before the ascent in the
Grotto Of the Faulberg, a gloomy cavern only
to be reached up long stretch Of crevassed
glacier. Thither the two porters were sent
ahead with provisions. The ascent Of the
glacier was thought to be without danger for
them, as the crevasses were plainly visible, 30
they were not instructed to rope together.
An hour and q half after the porters the two
scientists started and were soon on the Ice.
After two hours march they saw solitary
human being standing on the moraine at the
side Of the glacier. He stood immobile, watch
ing them, and as they drew near their Curl
osity was excited by recognizing him as their
second porter. When they came up to him he
still stood rooted In his tracks a stupehed look
on his face. Bennen addressed him in the local
patois. The man replied and Bennen started,
then looked around with a wild, bewildered
stare Great heavensI" he cried, ''the other
guide is killed in crevassel"
For a moment all were so stunned that the
reality of the situation did not come home to
them. Then Bennen cried aloud in despair
that the young man had been under his pro-
lection q 90 Ia
mother?
Where Is the MANI" demanded Tyndall
There in the crevasse," replied the porter,
pointing. Evidently he had stood for an hour
or more as If in a trance doing nothing to
rescue his comrade, not even hurrying to get aid
from Tyndalls party.
Lead the way to the place, you blockhead."
said Tyndall. and they were soon at the spot
where the accident had happened. Traces in
the snow told the story. Footsteps led up to q
wide, jagged cleft in the ice, down which one
peered to blue depths far below. A snow bridge
had spanned the crevasse, but this was broken
in the middle. Evidently the porter had come
to the spot had lacked the patience to find the
way around and had taken a chance ON the
stability of the bridge. The chance had gone
against him.
They peered over the edge. Forty feet below
was mass Of snow and newly fallen debris, but
OF the man they could see nothing. They
listened with ears strained. From below came
faint moan. For moment Bennen lost his
self-control; he tried franticaly to get into the
crevasse, but its smooth walls made him recoil.
Tyndalls hand was laid heavily on his shoulder
IF you behave like man we shall save him."
The only rope in the party was with the man
In the crevasSe. Extra pieces of clothing
shirts, waistcoats and braces-were knotted to-
gether. At last Bennen was dropped down TO