The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-08
Up In the World.

Nathan Randall, of New York, and Louis
Clemm, OF Germany, recently ascended
aray's Peak, Colorado AS a usual tbinn
This peak can only be assembled for about
two months in the year, beginning on the
llrst OF July, and then not without great
Iatlgue, no little risk, and great difficulty.
Next TO Sierra Blanca it is the highest peak
ON the American continent, being ID, ,342
1eet above the level of the ocean, No one.
unless 1t Is Sulktau and George West, has
ever ventured up before the 4th of july or
after the last of September. The mountain
is pile OF crustcd snow. The gulches, so.
oUo' ana, In some places, 200 feet deep, are
illled with ''the beautiful snow" From the
Dase OF the summit isa field of it. AT this
season OF the year there is no path whatever
open. Well, some one said that Randall
ana GLENN, having tenGer-feet, could not
ascend the mountain. They thought thew
could. Bets were offered ten to one TINT
they couldn't. They concluded that thev
could only fail, at the worst, and 80 deter
mined to make trial. They obtained n
guidc named Lane, and off they started for
the summit of Gray's Peak 1t was a peri
lous trip. Neither Of them would care to
repeat the experiment. They consumed
Just fifteen hours in the journey to and from
aeorgetown, starting at 8 o'clock a., M
ascent of the peak, and three and three
quarter hours in making the descent. They
thought at first that they would be able to
follow the course of the old trail; but they
discovered, afterproceeding short distance,
that they could not do this. They were
ompclled, to break boldly and def1antly
across ''the ridges" and gulches, and thus
followed path never before made. The
snow was Just beginning to melt. This
was worse than if it had been frozen hard
Progress, at times, seemed out of the ques-
ton. They were unable for miles to make
their ponies useful. Upon the whole, their
ponies seemed to have been drawback.
The poor animals were constantly sinking
through the crust Of the snow to their bel
lies, and were, of course, plunging and ca
vorting about. The riders were compelled
to dismount, and then there was an appar-
ent contest between man and brute as to
which should do the greatest amount of
plunging. Often the poor fellows would
sink to their waists, and would only pull
out to sink again. This was the experience
going up, and that coming down was mere
| ly counterpart. The young men often
wished themselves well out of the scrape
Their legs were bruised, black and blue
from being struck against cragged, Jagged
rocks. The only relief they found was In
the ludicrous situations in which they were
placed, and in the two quart TASKS of bour-
bon which they carried with them. The
guide declared that none of this was left
when. Georgetown was reached. Their
greatest fear was that of snow-slide, and,
with the snow melting as it was, it was 9
very great wonder that they did not en-,
counter one. They remained on the peak
but twenty minutes, for it was 80 cold there,
although the sun was shining with great
brilliancy, that they could not remain longer
The gentlemen are proud Of their expert
ence, but they do not want a second dose O
it.