REMARKABLE ADVENTURES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11658, 13 June 1912, Page 2

REMARKABLE ADVENTURES.

The adventures of two ski-runners, Klotz (31) and Bauersax (21), who for four days lost themselves on the Dachstein. were so extraordinary (says the Cclogne Gazette), that they are worth living in detail. From Schladming to the top of the mountains is an ascent of about 4900 feet, the height of the Dac'hstein being, 9815 ft. : tin? ground covered comes to about rive- miles.

Klotz and Baucrsax. both experienced skiers and as hard as nails, set off on a Sunday. At one in the afternoon snow began to fall, and at "2.30 this developed into a blizzard, which again and n<rain drove them back in their tracks and loft them breathless. At tii-s time they were close to their first goal, the '•hunger-gap.'' and under normal conditions would have reached it in another half-hour, but for two hours they struggled in vain against the storm. At" 4.30 two snow avalanches descended on them, one al'ter the other, and carried them down a considerable distance. When they came to a stop, up to their armpits in flaky snow, diev wore luckily close to one another, and bad sustained; no injuries, but their compass was gone. They struggled up otit of the snow, but the storm drove them down the slope away from their goal. At last they came to a standstill, only 5 yards from a precipice, as they discovered' next day. In this last descent Klotz broke his right ski, and further progress was impossible until it was mended. The example sot them by a mountain hare and the recollection of Nansen's experiences inspired them with the happy idea of digg'ng out a cave hi.tlie snow. With the help of an ice-axe and a saucepan* they finished-this by 9.30 p.m. In. this they cooked some food, rubbed themselves to keep off frostbite, changed their clothes, patched up the ski, and, using J.lauersax's waterproof as a mattress and Klotz's cloak as a. blanket, they tried to get some sleep, taking it turn and turn about to hold the candle for 10 minutes. At six o'clock on the Monday morning they left their cave, but the- storm was still raging, and another accident to Klotz's skis forced them to return. By 9.30 they had mended, the skis, and until four in the afternoon made repeated attempts to get up to the "hun-ger-gap." It was no use; hungry and exhausted-, they were compelled to return to their cave. The- ice-crust forming the roof of the cave now began to melt, and they were soon soaked to the skin. Then the matches refused to strike, and, without any light or warm food, they had to pass tlie night as best they could.

At six o'clock en the Tuesday morning they dragged themselves again outo: their hole, wet and hungry, halffrozen and very tired, but the weather had, improved, and though the peaks were veiled, in clouds, the valley stood out clearly. Their firot concern was to get warm and dry. They were just thinking that the firs in the Brandriedfhal. which leads down to the Enns. would provide them with the necessary fuel, when the sun broke through the clouds and dried their clothes. Atfour in the afternoon the Daehstein cm mo out clearly, and us a climb up the snow of the Brandviedthal .seemed' to in- \ olve endless labor, they changed their plans, -and at .six p.m. began to climb up to the' Schladmiuger glacier. This they reached at 11 o'cl'oek in bright moonlight, while a cutting icy wind blew, and in another four hours they were across it.

By 'three o'clock on the Wednesday morning thev reached the "Knrls-iee-fiold" (9000 ft.). the chief glacier of the Daehstein. With dulled senses they we:e just going to begin the descent when Bauersax, in a -sudden access of rigor, bethought him of the danger from crevasses and called a halt. So they anchored themsevles with ice-axes and slept standing, until 6 a.m. the rising sun shone in their faces and woke them up. Then they found that they had been sleeping on the edge of a crevasse into which, another step or two would have plunged them. Skirting this, they Teached at eight o'clock the Siuibny; hut (7250 ft.),.. broke- open the

door, and made a fire. This took them a whole hour., as they wore constantly falling asleep while chopping the wood. Their-' meal —their first since Monday evening—consisted of tabloid's, crusts, and a tew onions found in the lint. After this they slept through the whole day till evening, when they dined off bread-crusts, boot grea.se, and half an onion, and slept again till the Thursday morning, when they descended, painfully to Hallstatt, getting the:c at mid-day. Bauersax, the younger of the two, suffered most, both of his feet being frostbitten ,and l amputation may be necessary. The nervous tension has turned Klotz's hair grey.