The Penn's Grove record., 1884-10-11

OF New York city, was frozen to death
while making the descent of Longs
Peak. Longs Peak has an altitude Of
"A 43o feet, and is one Of the highest
mountains in Colorado. and one Of the
most difficult Of ascent. Its summit,
which towers above the clouds, is COY
cred with nov during the entire sum
mer, and while it is the least Travelled
by tourists of any OF the high Colorado
peaks, its ascent has never been consid-
cred dangerous in the pleasant summer
and fall months. The mountain is at
the head of Estes Park, one Of the
most fashionable summer resorts in the
Rocky Mountains.
Miss WeltOn has been Summering in
Colorado. and two weeks ago took up
her residence in Estes Park, stopping
at u Of the principal hotels, her
friends, among them Mrs. Warren, of
New York, remaining at Colorado
Springs, where the whole party had
spent several weeks previous. Miss
Welton spent much Of her time IN
horseback riding and visiting the sur
rounding points of interest in the
mountains. She resolved on making
the ascent of Longs Peak, which stood
as a huge sentinel at the head of the
park, and for this purpose set out re-
Gently ON horseback. Seven miles
away, at the foot of the peak, wa a
cabin occupied by a ranchman named
Lamb and his wife and son. Here Miss
WeltOn remained for the night, first
having engaged the services of Carlisle
Lamb, the son, aged nineteen, to act
as her escort and guide to the peak, he
having acted in that capacity to tour
lists on several occasions.
At sunrise Miss Welton and young
Lamb, seated on sure. footed bronchos,
were vending their way up the narrow
and Uneven trail leading to the summit.
The weather vas warm and pleasant,
and Their were 10 fOTebodings that a
delightful trip above the clouds was
not before them. 1t took five hours to
make the first seven miles, 50 difficult
was the trail This brought them to
the timber line, and the had then
become so deep and the trail 50 obscured
that it was decided to hitch the horses
aaG proceed up the mountain on foot,
as the banks of snow would bear the
weight of men, while the horses would
break through. The air at that altitude
was getting chilly, and the clouds were
just above them. Wrapping themselves
in heavy clothing they proceeded on
foot. The distance to the summit was
about four miles, and this ascent was
made after much tedious delay and
hard work, the top of the black peak
being reached at about 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, Their stay on the peak was
not of long duration. Il heavy storm
had in the meantime set IN belowthem,
and the dark clouds we're being tum-
bled about III frightful confusion. From
the rolling and tumbling of the huge
bank of clouds, as seen from above, the
guide knew that he and his fair com
paniOn had a risky descent before them.
Miss Welton, who had insisted on
going to the summit, when the guide
advised a retreat, was now thoroughly
frightened at the prospect of spending
a night on the mountain and in a rag
ing snow storm. 1t was about ) O'Clock
when the return journey was started.
They had not proceeded far when the
heavy storm cloud lifted. and the trav.
oilers found themselves in the midst OF
d binding snow storm, the heaviest,
the guide says, he ever saw in the
mountains. Miss Welton began to
complain of being w~earied, and after
having travelled two miles and a half
from the summit she completely gave
out. Before this she had been aided
down the trail by the guide, who did
all i'll his power to assist her, When
made an attempt TO carry her down the
trail. Miss Welton weighed about 140
pounds, and as the trail is 81 rough and
precipitous that travelling it without
any burden is considered a feat of dar-
ing and strength, young Lamb found
it extremely difficult to make any pro-
gress. Darkness had set in, and he
had to grope his way. For two hours
lie plodded with his heavy burden, and
was only able to make t~wo-thirds of a
mile. During this time Miss Welton
was growing 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 lie told Miss Welton of his con,
djtioH. He, too, was getting 10 be-
numbed that he could hardly walk, and
the only chance of saving either of their
] ives, he told her, vas for him to hurry
aud seek assistance. AT first she oh
ircted to being left alone, but finally
consented to remain until Lamb co ID
return.