AVALANCHES IN THE ALPS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1783, 7 March 1888, Page 2

AVALANCHES IN THE ALPS

Pkk Press association.)

Bomb, March 6

Information has been received here that an avalanche has engulphed the Hospice at Great St Bernard, a mountain pass of the Pennine Alps, between flaly and Switzerland. No loss of life ig reported.

The famous hoepke of Great St Bernard was founded m 962 by Bernard de Menthon, a Savoyard nobleman, for the benefit of pilgrims to Rome, and is largely taken advantage of by travellers ncroas the Alpa. It is said to be the highest habitation m tfuropo, and was inhabited by ten or twelve Sfc Anguatine monks, who, with their noble dogs of St Bernard oreed, have rescued many hundred travellers from death by exposure to cold or burial m the snow, which m winter ranges from 10ft to 40ft m depth. The monks enter on their humane mission at eighteen, but are frequently compelled to teave with ruined health, owing to the bardahipß of their position before they *iave completed the term of thair vovr, fit teen yeats The hospice was a snbsUnflal stone building capable of »fftrdlne sleeping accommodation to 70 or 80 travellers, nod shelter to about 3' 0, A* raauy as 500 or 6 0 person i have takeu advantage of tbe mooks' hospitality m one day, and it ib estimated that 8000 or 9000 travellers are annually indebted to their kindness. One fatnuus St Barnard dog called Barry, m the earlier part of the present century was instrumental m saving the lives of no fewer than forty human beings. His moat memorable achievement was the rescue of a little boy, whose mother had been killed by an avalanche, and whom he induced to mount his b»ok, and so carried him Bafb to the hospice. The monks are mainly supported by voluntary gifts, but draw a small amount from independent property.