Guide Through Switzerland and Chamounix (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 edition. Excerpt: ...in the extreme distance. Zug is agreeably situated between the lake and mountain of the same name, and contains a population of three thousand inhabitants. The preservation of the old walls, towers, &c., gives the town a picturesque appearance. The opening of the year 1435 was so cold in Switzerland that even the lakes were frozen. On the 4th of March, when the ice began to melt, the earth was seen to open in that part of the town of Zug which was nearest to the shore. On the approach of night a frightful noise was heard, succeeded by the total disappearane of two entire streets with part of the town walls, which sunk into the lake. Amongothers, the chief magistrate perished; but his child, named Adelrich, who was found floating in his cradle on the lake, was saved, and became in process of time Landamman of the republic. The archives of the town were lost in the convulsion. Some public works, commenced in 1433, for the purpose of drawing off the waters of the lake, are considered to have been one cause of this catastrophe. In 1594 a similar calamity occurred, and in 1795 great part of the town was destroyed by a conflagration. Zug is so ancient that its origin is past record; it is supposed to have been one of the towns destroyed by the Helvetian inhabitants, as mentioned in 'Caesar's Commentaries.' The parochial church, dedicated to St. Michael, is situated without, a little above the city; it contains some paintings by John Brandenberger, of Zug, who died in 1729. The adjoining cemetery is adorned with flowers which are most carefully tended; some of the ornaments cost as much as three hundred francs. In the ossuary are preserved thousands of skulls, with the names of the individuals annexed to some of them. The church of St....