Biner_Leseprobe

58. Was your son recruited as a guide or a carrier?
On the first day as a carrier, on the second day as a guide. In the beginning,
the gentlemen wanted to send my son back; they argued that
Croz and I would be enough in terms of guides necessary. I then urged
them to take my son as a guide, which they did.
59. At what time did you leave Zermatt on July 13?
Sometime between 5 and 6 o’clock in the morning.
60. At what time did you arrive at the campsite where you spent
the night?
Around noon.
61. When did you leave the campsite on July 14?
Around 2 o’clock at night. We then had a delay of about half an hour.
The gentlemen were in good spirits and had even uttered cries of joy.
62. (Astonishingly, this question and its answer are missing from the
transcript.)
63. Mr Whymper said in his statement that Hadow was the first to
slip, which dragged Croz down, and both of them then pulled
down Hudson and Douglas. He further stated that he and the
Taugwalders were able to gain a solid foothold in the meantime.
That was the moment when the rope broke, according to
Whymper. In your answer to question 30, however, you state
that Hadow slipped first, then Hudson and Douglas, and then
Croz, only after the rope had broken. Due to the discrepancy
between Whymper’s statement and yours, you are herewith
asked to tell us whether you want to adhere to your original
statement.
Since Mr Whymper was located above me, he probably had a better
view of the situation and might be able to give a more detailed account
on what happened. Therefore I do not want to set in stone that Croz
only fell after the first three had slipped. Everything occurred within the
blink of an eye; we were too surprised as to be able to give an exact
account of the incident.
The conquest of the Zermatt Mountains
49