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1st September,1847. Two English tourists (45 and 23) left the steamer Culloden at Ballachulish and walked up Glencoe to Altnafeadh, in stormy weather with high wind and sleety showers. At Altnafeadh they took a piece of oatcake and a glass and a half of whisky - all that this 'humble change-house' could provide, and their only refreshment since breakfasting on board at an early hour. They rested for one hour and crossed the Devil's Staircase to Kinlochleven. They were seen five miles from Altnafeadh between 5 and 6 in the evening, tired and very wet. They crossed the Leven Bridge at Kinloch and met a girl who pointed out the way to Fort William, which was then a further twelve miles, by the old Military Road. 'They were not seen in life afterwards. ' After walking a total of twenty-two miles, with nine miles still to go, they died three miles beyond Kinlochleven. Their bodies, with knapsacks on their backs, were found lying close together by two shepherds, beside the road, seemingly asleep. Near the bodies were found an umbrella, a walking-stick and a small pocket spirit flask, empty. The gentlemen had become exhausted by fatigue and hunger, benumbed by cold and wet, and benighted they slept 'the sleep of death' where their bodies were found. Local worthies from Kinloch carefully removed the bodies to the small inn at Lairigmore, from whence they were taken to Fort William. They were medically inspected in the presence of the Sheriff, and the doctors agreed that no marks of violence could be found. 'There seems no reasonable ground for doubting, that, exhausted with their long and fatiguing journey on foot, drenched with rain, having encountered the cold blasts of the wild regions through which they passed, and forded deep and rapid mountain streams, the weary travellers at length sat down by the wayside to rest, and fell asleep, to wake no more.
