86 SPARKS FROM A GEOLOGIST'S HAMMER. 



of a dreadful catastrophe. On the 5th of September, 1870, 

 a successful trip to the summit had been effected by two 

 American gentlemen, Mr. Randall, of Nevvbur^'port, and 

 Dr. Bean, of Baltimore, accompanied by Mr. Corkindale, 

 of Scotland, and eight guides, in all eleven persons. Not 

 one of these ever returned. They were seen from Cha- 

 monix to have begun the descent. In a few minutes 

 they were concealed from view by thick clouds, which 

 were followed by a violent tempest of snow. At evening 

 they had not returned. Two days after an effort was 

 made by a rescuing party to reach the summit, but the 

 unchained tempest compelled them to return. It was not 

 till the 17th of September that relief could reach the 

 spot where the party had been seen enwrapped in the 

 whirlwind of snow. Relief, of course, was unavailing. 

 At the summit of the Mur de la Cote were found the 

 bodies of Corkindale and two of the guides; a little above 

 were the bodies of Dr. Bean and another guide. These 

 corpses were completely congealed. The six remaining 

 victims could not be found. Some notes in a pocket 

 diary of Dr. Bean impart all the further knowledge in 

 our possession respecting the last anguish of these unfor- 

 tunates. 



" Tuesday, September 6. I have made the ascent of 

 Mont Blanc with ten persons, eight guides and Mr. 

 Corkindale and Mr. Randall. We reached the summit at 

 half-past two o'clock. Immediately after having quitted 

 it we were enveloped in clouds of snow. We have passed 

 the night in a grotto dug in the snow, which affords us 

 only a very imperfect shelter, and I have been sick all 

 nicrht. 



September 7, morning. Cold excessive ; much snow, 



