Year: 1861

large clasp knit, in my pocket, and deter
m med to try to rescue rnys If with its aid.
called to my fellow travel T above that was
going to attempt it. II, implored me not to
try but my situation was 81 desperate. that
did try. began by making Il little hole
IN the ice, as high up as could reach,
large enough ID admit one hand My next
endeavor was to cut deep t)ot-hole about
two feet above the ledge. succeeded in this,
and found that by placing nv foot in it,
holding fast by the place had made for my
hand. and, at the s me time, pressing with
my buck against the opppsit' side Of the
crevasse witt all my str rangth, | was able to
rals myself. and stand firmly in my new
position. | again let myself dlwn on the
ledge, and commenced cutting another foot
hole, about feet above the last It seemed
to me possible that yht escape from my
ICY prison but single slip or false step.
and | knew | must be precipitated down the
crevasse.


was working diligently at the second
ot1thold when heard a joyful shout from
above They are in sight--three mon with
ropes-running as hard as they can ~


| steadied myself on my terrible narrow
and slippery footing, in order t. be able TO
seize and attach the rope when thrown TO
me. saw the end Of it dangling over my
head "Mercifu G ID II will not relch
me 1t is too short :" We have got another
rope" was answered from above and it was
knotted on and lowered caught the end,
and tied 1t firmly around nv waist. Grasp
ing the rope above, with both hands, gave
the word. The strain began, and felt tha,
was safe. In another minute | was stand
ing on the glacier. | had been fifty minutes
in the crevasss during which time bad not
lost Consciousness for a single instant.


When | felt myself once more upon firm
footing, an all-pervading sense of gratitude
for the wonderful escape | had had came
over me and made me faint, and | should
have fallen if they had not held me up.
This was soon over, and we prepared to
start for Montanvert. Before leaving | took
4 last look at the mouth of the crevas;e,
which had SO nearly been my sepulchre. I
saw that it would have been utterly imp1s-
sible to climb out, as had been trying. The
mouth was 50 wide that, as approached it,
| could have had no support. not even cat
could have sealed the perpendicular wall.


Our guide was in terrible state, and had
run the whole way to Montanvert; but could
find no rope fit for the purpose in the house.
lie WAS IN despair, and was starting OF to
Cham )uny, when two mulet, ers met him.
Their mules were laden with wood fastened
On with ropes. he begged hard for those
ropes telling the men that young Eng
lishman was being frozen to death in Gre
vase. They threw the wood from the backs
OF the mules, an came to my rescue with
the guide, bringing the rop with them.
Knotted together, lit seemed there were three
IN all } they made up length-about sixty
teet-enough 70 reach me.


With the assistance of nv deliverers.
was able to walk slowly back to Montanvert.
Here was Immediately put into a comfort
able bed, where the injuries which had re-
ceiyed (Which were Insignificant considering
the depth l had Ellenl were carefully
dressed. | dreamed, with unspeakable
dread, of what had happened, when lying in
that he'd. and have dreamed OF it in many
beds since. | believe nothing would induce
me to g among ice and snow now, without
IA long and stout rope. | Offer the caution
10 all other travellers in Switzerland, out Of
a great experience and great escape.