TRAGEDY OF THE ALPS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 23 October 1907, Page 4

TRAGEDY OF THE ALPS.

OFFICER FROZEX TO DEATH ON THE MATTERHORN. CAUGHT IN A STORM. Geneva, August 31. Dr Robert Bribing, of the Swiss army, has given a vivid account of the terrible experience which he and two friends, Major Sporri, also of the Swiss army, and Herr Karl Imfeld, an engineer, undewent near the summit of the Matterhorn last week. e started from Zermatt with the object of passing the first night' at a but on Lac Xoir,'' said Dr Hclbing. "Darkness overtook us two hours from the hut, however, and we spent the night on the Col du Lion. "We continued the ascent at daybreak, but as we climbed the weather grew steadily worse. Nevertheless, after a consultation we decided to puMl on. Major Sporri was especially anxious to stand on the top of the Matterhorn, 'for the first and last time,' he said. "At 2 p.m. we reached the dangerous portion of the journey, where ropes are attached to rocks overhanging deep prccipaces. Then the storm broke. "It is impossible to describe the fury of an Alpine storm in the higher altitudes. The hail and snow forced us tn seek shelter under a ledge of rock, wliicli was, however, exposed to (he terrific wind. There was no other shelter near. AX ALI'IXK STORM. "There we crouched all night long, while the storm raged with increasing fury. We were being gradually buried by the drifting snow and frozen by the icy wind. "Thunder and lightning added to the horror of our situation towards morning, and although we were not actually struck by lightning we received many electric shocks. One was so violent that Major Sporri lost consciousness. "Altont 11 a.m., realising that if we remained longer under the ledge we would be frozen to death, f persuaded my companions to risk the descent. ".Major Sporri was in a state of exhaustion bordering on collapse and af--t taking a few feeble steps he fell face downwards on the snow. " Herr Tmfeld and I worked for several hours trying to revive him with brandy and massage, but he died without regaining conssiousncss:

"Roth Ilerr Tmfeld and myself were so weakened that we could only walk very slowly. We hoped that we might meet a rescuing party, but we did not see a living creature, and so plodded on until nightfall.

STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. "The snow was again falling thickly, but we did not seem to mind it. We continued walking as in a dream. "Finally we threw ourselves under a ledge on the Epaule, utterly worn out and disheartened, and hardly caring whether we lived or died. I worked hard throughout the night trying to keep Imfeld from freezing to death. His feet and hands were gradually freezing, and he begged me to let him die in peace. "At tTTe first streak of dawn we again started the descent, which, under ordinary circumstances, should be accomplished in a few hours. Rut poor Imfeld, whose legs had been badly frozen, conld scarcely drag one foot liefore the other. *He finally insisted that I should go on ahead to the little hotel at the Lac Xoir and send up guides to assist him and to recover the body of Major , Sporri.

"There were no guides at the hotel, and just as I was about to start for Zermatt Imfeld stumbled into the hotel more dead than alive. I left him in good hands and went on to Zermatt, A party of guides returned immediately, and Major Sporri's Iwtdv was recovered."

Herr'lmfeld is now in a Zermatt hospital in a critical condition. Roth legs must be amputated in order to save his life.

Dr. Hclbing has recovered from the effects of his terrible experience.