Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17
IUROPE's HIGHEST PEAK.

Ascending Mount Efbruz, I'm the Can
casus-kxpiorinx an Extinct Vel
eano-Alptae scenery Overshad0we ell
az asst.
f. C. Grove, OF the Alpine Club, sends the
following account Of his ascent OF Mount FL
bruZ, in the Caucasus, TO the London Times:
Since the ascent OF Elbruz in 1868 by Messrs.
Freshfeld, Moore and Tucker, it mas, [ believe,
become generally known that the title OF the
highest mountain in Europe has been wrong
fully bt slowed on Mount Blanc. and that Ii be-
longs OF right to the huge Caucasian peak. A.
the usurper has received all possible homage,
while the true monarch has remained so long
unrecsgniZed, IL is only fair that he should have
some attention now that his rights are at length
known. and venture, therefore, 20 give an sc
count Of q second ascent of Elbruz which two
other English travellers and were recently for
tunate enough to make from the village of
UrusPieh, at the head OF the valley OF Bakssn.
After journey through the rsrely-visited
country which lies between the head-wRters OF
the Tcherek and those of the Bakssn. A W.
Moore, secretary of the Alpine Club; Horace
Walker. T. Gardner and arrived at Uruspieh
on the I'D of July last. After waiting four DAYS
while the weather, which for the previous three
weeks had been continuously bad, cleared, we
left ruspieh on the 26th, and reached, on the
evening Of the 27th, q small rocky plateau on
the right bank OF the southeastern glacier OF
EibruZ, where we made our camp for the night,
at point slightly lower than that selected hy
Mr.. Freshields party in 1865. The height OF
our sleeping place was IL 400 feet above the sea.
AT O'Clock on the morning of the 18th Mr..
Walker, MIR. Gardner, and /, with a Swiss
guide, =. knubel, started for the mountsin,
MT. moore being at the last moment nnluckily
prevented from coming with US. Two Russian
officers were very anxious to ascend the mouu-
tain, but, as they had to travel from Patti
cork, they had not been able TO reach our camp
al the time We left. 1t was inexpsdient for the
whole party to lose such magnificent weather
as prevailed, 40 we three, with the guide,
started, while Mr.. Moore renamed behind to
Wall LOT the Russian gentlemen, intending 70
ascera with them the next day. We were thus
TO our great regret, deprived of his experienced
aid. Fortunately, the problem OF ascending the
mountain "A mn
sists of t1 huge peaks, lying roughly speaking
southeast and northwest OF each other. They
are both extinct cIsters of what was once
mighty volcano. The difference In height be-
tween them is very small, amounting 70 only
LOG feet, the higher of the two being the north
western peak. They are connected by a mar
row col more than IL 600 feet high and SIRE sur
rounded by q vast field of glacier, undulatinR in
slopes Of varying steepness.
when We left the camp the lower or south
eastern peak was straight in font of Us, the
northwestern being to its left and further from
us. Striking across the immense snow-field
which separated us from both, We made for the
left of the lower peak, intending to pass round
il some 800 feet below the top and reach the col
connecting it with the twin summit. This course
we were able to pursue, but it proved tedious
one. For several hours our path Law over the
most wearyiDg snow-slopes. SO far as the actual
ascent was concerned nothing could be more dull
but the monotonous labor was redeemed by the
magnificent views of the neig hborng mountains
which revealed themselves we rose. Atdawn
especially, the hard work and the cold which was
wonderful sight ofthe vast SD adow OF ElbruZ cast
upon the western sky-a spectacle for which
could find 10 parallel in the recollection of many
an Alpine sunrise. At a little after eight we
reached the col, and found ourselves as we had
expected, at the foot of the final slope OF the
northwestern peak-the WALL in fact, OF the
crater. This we proceeded TO ascend; il was
sleeper than the snOw-slopes we had crossed
some rocks had to be Climbed, some stems had 10
be cut, and we foresaw that a little care would
be necessary in descending these, as is slmosE
always tie case with snow ice hut rha
difficulty was Of the slightest, and danger there
was absolutely none TOR men accustomed 10 high
mountains. Wien We reached the top of rGts
slope We found ourselves on the rim OF the eX
tDct crater. Some two thirds OF this still exist
but on the southwestern side huge piece OF
the wall has fallen away. The interior ct the
crater has now become a great spow-Geld; the
highest point is small peak or tooth iutting m
on the western side OF the circular ridge nearly
opposite the place where we struck II. Cros.lny
the snow-heid, We walked up this little emit
neDce and reached the summit of Elbruz
The way 10 it had been labOTious In the eI-
Teme, and, so far as the work was concerned
exceedingly dull; but any eudurable labor
would have been well rep aid by the transcend
ant view which we gsZed on from this great
mountain. When IL is remembered that Elbruz
Is 600 feet high, and that II stands. not 10 tbs
main chain, but at the end Of a spuT some dis
lance TO the north OF it, so that all the high
mountains stand arrayed, so to speak, in line OF
battle for distance OF $50 miles, some cOncep-
uon may be formed OF the OverpOwering gran
Geur of the scene. kssbek was visible in one
direction, the Black Sea in another; to the
south the magnificent valleys could be seen
over the crest of the intervening mountains
while 10 the north the green hills arose one De-
hind another like the waves OF the sea- tii q
distant ridge told OF the last high lana between
US and the illiDitable steppe. OF the wonder
full range, far boider and more abrupt than ri e.
alps, which forms the boundary OF rhis mighty
bic from ElbTuZ.
We had hoped to obtain barometrical read
iDgs on the summit, but ana sorry To say that |
an sneroid of a previously uuimpeacha bic
character thought lit grossly TO misbenave
Having marked heights very accurately during
part of the ascent, it suddenly jumped to %
eco feet, and would give nothing out this high- |
ly incorrect reading.
IL Is not certain whether the point reached bv |
us IS the same as that attained by Messrs Flesh
held, Moore and Tucker. Mr. Moore is inclined |
TO believe that it Is not, and that the peak then
assembled was the southeastern or sli ghly lower /
one. AS, however, upon that occasion, one OF |
the peaks was concealed by the clouds when me /
travellers were on the summit OF the other, aud /
az Mr.. Moore's ascent on the day succeeding
ours, which would have enabled him 10 deciie |
the point, was defeated by bad weather the |
question, which Is not an important one. must |
remain open until a third ascent is made
Descending very rapidly, we reached the /
camp early III the afternoon anu got to the val
ley for the night. The next morning Mr /
Moore, the Russian officers, aud two chiefs of
Uruspieh started for the mountains; but m PSI
unfortunately, violent storm broke over FL
bruZ and rendered the ascent an impOssIbilty.
should be adding onsiderably to a letter
already. fear, too long, were 10 attemD evan |
the shortest account Of the interesting and lit
tie known country which we trayersed or oar
way 10 ElbruZ; but at time of the year when
u Is no uncommon thing to see complaints from
EDgllsh travellers of bad treatment abroad /
am glad to record how happily contrary our ex-
perlence was. Nothing could exceed the cor
dial assistance we received from the Ruasi an |
authorities; indeed, without the thorough aid
which they gave Us, we should, / think have
round IL impossible TO pursue our journey
through the secluded valleys which lie on ehs
north side OF the great chain.
KIDNAPPING OF AN ALLEGED MURpg.ER |
Some weeks since one George " SmIrn vas
kidnapped from Messac county, Ill, ana taken
TO Tennessee, where, it is alleged, he is uutcr |
Indictment Tor murder. The attention OF Gov
ernor Beveridge, OF Illinois, was called to the
matter, and he demanded from Gnrarrnr |