In the Alps, the Matterhorn is climbed for the first time but disaster strikes the climbers on the way down

The Matterhorn, a 14,705 foot mountain in the Swiss-Italian Alps, had never been sucessfully climbed until a party of British climbers, along with Swiss guides, reached the summit after a twenty-four hour ascent. The leader was E. H. Whymper, who had made at least eight previous attempts.  Disaster struck the group on the descent, when four of the party - three British and a Swiss guide fell around 4000 feet to their deaths. Whymper survived.  (By John Osborne)