MONT BLANC.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 610, 22 February 1921, Page 3

MONT BLANC.

ALPS IN DANGEROUS STATIC. Seldom in the recent history ox the Alps has such a terrible avalanche occurred as that which fell fi'om the highest pyramid of Mont Blanc, a distance of 10,000 feet, on to the Breuva Glacier,. according to the Genoa coiTespondent of the London Observer. Owing to the sweepingforce of its fall, the avalanche detached the side of the moraine of the glacier, and annihilated a forest of ancient pines, which both protect Courmayeur from avalanches, and was the pride and ornament of the Val Veni, as the upper valley of the River Boire is called. The Doire was blocked so that it overflowed its banks, and had it not fortunately been very low, the Italian village of Purtud might have been swept away hv the water.

As it is, the avalanche stopped a few yards from Purtud. The valley for several kilometres was entirely overstrewn with ice-blocks and' fir tree trunks. The Italian authorities sent several parties of men to help to close the village street, and also remove the inhabitants, because it was feared that as the forest was destroyed, Purtud was too dangerous to live in. It was also feared that more avalanches might descend from the summit of Mount Blanc, especially as the weather throughout the Alps has been dry since the beginning of October, and the condition of the mountains is sometimes made still moie dangeious by the warm south-west wind, known as the fihn.