The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-09-30
DEAD ON THE HEIGHTS.
Particulars of the Sad Fate of
Young Lady Tourist.
MISS Weiton's Trip Up Longs Peak
begun Delightfully."-, II Ends
In Death Among the
Clouds.

Longs peak of Miss Carrie ]. Welton, of
New York, young lady tourist who de-
hghted in told undertakings, and who had
been looking at the beauties of the noun
tains in this state, has been noted in these
dispatches. The following is full account
OF the fatal trip:
Miss Welton was stopping at Estes park
and resolved to make the ascent of Longs
peak, and to this end engaged the services of
Carlisle Lamb, aged 10, the son of a ranch
man who occupies a cabin at the foot of the
mountain The young lady spent the night
before the ascent at Carlisle's cabin, and on
the morning of Tuesday the 23d inst, at sunrise
she and young lamb, seated on sure
footed bronchos, were vending their way up
the narrow and uneven trail leading to the
summit. The weather was warm and pleas.
ant, and there were no forebodings that a de-
hghtful trip above the clouds was not before
them. 1t took five hours to make the first
seven miles, so difficult was the trail. This
brought them to the timber line, and the
snow had then become so deep and
the trail so obscured that it was decided to
hitch the horses and proceed up the noun
tain on loot, as the banks of snow would bear
the weight of men, while the horses would
break through. The air at that attitude was
getting chilly, and the clouds Were Just above
them. Wrapping themselves in heavy cloth
ing they proceeded on foot The distance to
the summit was about four miles, and this
assent was made after much tedious delay
and hard work, the top of the black
peak being reached at about o'clock
In the afternoon. Their stay on the
peak was not of long duration. A
heavy storm had in the meantime set
in below them, and the dark clouds were be-
ing tumbled about in frightful confusion
From the rolling and tumbling of the huge
banks OF clouds, as seen from above the
guide knew that he and his fair companion
had a risky descent before them.
Miss Welton, who had insisted on going to
the summit, when the guide advised re-
treat, was now thoroughly frightened at the
prospect of spending night on the mountain
and in raging snowstorm. 1t was about
O'Clock when the return journey was
started. They had not proceeded far when
the heavy snow-cloud lifted, and the travel
ers found themselves in the midst of
binding snowstorm the heaviest
the guide says, he ever saw in the
mountains. Miss Welton began to COM
plain of being wearied, and after having
travelingsstwo miles and half from the sum-
NIT she completely gave out Before this
she had been aided down the trail by tn
guide, who did all in his power to assist her.
When exhaustion overcame her the guide
made an attempt to carry her down the trail
Miss Welton weighed about 40 pounds, and
as the trail is so rough and precipitous that
travelling it without any burden is considered
a feat of daring and strength, young Lamb
found it extremely difficult to make any
progress. Darkness had set in, and he had
to grope his way. For two hours he plodded
with his heavy burden, and was only able to
make two-thirds of a mile
During this time Miss Welton was grow
ing more and more numb with the cold The
storm in the meantime was growing more
furious. At 10 o'clock the guide gave out
and, sitting down, was getting so benumbed
that he could could hardly walk, and the
only chance OF saving either of their lives he
told her, was for him to hurry on and seek
assistance. At first she objected to being
left alone but finally consented to remain
until Lamb could return
The horses we're hitched about two miles
further down the trail, and for these, after
bidding Miss Welton farewell, the guide
made the greatest possible speed. The
moon had now arisen and materially aided
him on his way. The horses were found as
they had been left, and mounting one of
these and leading the other young Lamb
hurried to his fathers cabin, seven miles
away. He made this distance in an hour,
and informed his father of what had oc-
Cured. Two fresh horses were at once
saddled and as soou as young Lamb
| had got warm the two men started
for the place where Miss Walton had
been left 1t was o'clock in the morn
ing when they reached the point. Miss We'll
| ton was found stretched out In the Snow
| dead. Her features were placid. Sleepi-
| ness, the result Of the cold, had evidently
overcome her soon after the departure of
her guide, and she had lain down in the snow
bank, well knowing the fate that would soon
| overtake her Beside her was an ivory
| handled riding-whip, with her name and
| place of residence engraved thereon, and ir
her belt was a handsomely mounted revol
yer. Her heavy kid gloves had been re-
moved, and her diamond-bedecked hands
were covered in the snow. D
! HThe two men carried the body between
them as best they could to where the horses
were tethered, and at 0 o'clock the next
| morning arrived at the cabin. Then justice
of the peace was sent for and the case ex
| planned to him. He had the body placed il
box, and then had it conveyed by a wagor
to Longmont, a distance of sixty miles
where it was received by friends who haG
come from Colorado Springs.