The sun., 1890-01-02
Kilima-Njaro Scaled At Last.

The sixth attempt to reach the snowy crown
OF theloftiest of Africa's submits has proved
successful, and forty years after the humble
missionary REBMANNr" weaponed only with
an umbrella" discovered the mountain, the
German flag has been raised on the highest
point OF Kilima-Njaro. DR.. HANS MEYER is
the fortunate climber, and this is his second
attempt to reach the pinnacle Of Kibo, the
At an elevation Of 1850 feet he stood on the
| highest point Of the Dark Continent.
In most OF the previous attempts the ex-
plorers, unaccompanied by white comrades,
have found their native escort useless above
the snow line, If indeed they could tempt the
blacks into the snow region. They have
therefore been defeated by the difficulties
and pertls Of making the further ascent
alone. Among these snow gulfs and along
the slippery ridges, ever mounting upwards,
there Is abundant peril, and the last 5000
feet Of Kibo demand the skill Of the trained
mountaineer. EHIERs, who made the last
ascent before this recent successful climb,
and DR.. MEYER, In his first attempt, were
the only explorers who succeeded In inducing
few members Of their black escort to &C
company them above the snow.
DR.. MEYER and Prof. PURTsCHEnLER
reached the snow line on Dot. 8last. They had
with them only one native carrier, whom
they had brought from the coast. After get
ting within less than 2000 feet of the sum-
NIT they rested day before making final
assault on the steep ice slopes above them.
In the very brief report thus far received
nothing is said Of the precipitous wall Of ice
that defeated MEYER in his first attempt,
and he merely reports that the summit
formed Of rocks jutting out Of the snow,
was gained without any great difficulty.
The six attempts to put Kilima-Njaro be-
meath the feet Of the mountaineer have been
scattered over period Of twenty-five years.
Mr.. NEW barely reached the lower edge Of
the snow line. Mr.. H. d. JOHNSTON pushed
through the mists and snow drifts to within
nearly 1900 feet of the summit, and then had
to give 1t up. An accident to him meant
almost certain death, for his black comrades
were shiverlng around fire 5000 feet below.
Count TELEKI rested fortnight on the slope
OF the mountain to gather strength for the
ascent, but after all he failed to reach the top
OF Kibo. MEYER tramped to the height Of
1900 feet till he was brought up short by a
glacier Ice wall which he was unable to scale
owing to the desertion Of his native follow
ers and to the exhaustion Of his one white
companion, who was completely worn out
by the long struggle over the snow-clad lava
fields In the raref1ed air. EHLRRs spent two
days above the snow line. most of the last
day alone, for his five negroes throwing
down In the snow declared that
they wished to die. and their leader sent
them slipping down the mountain side. and
in due time followed them when he found
the perpendicular ice wall which he too was
unable to surmount alone.
Other feats of snow climbing await the |
in that country of wonderful |
contrast whore few miles below the region |
Of eternal winter there are palm trees,
banana fields and endless summer Count |
TELEKI did not succeed In reaching the snow |
clad crater Of Kenia, which. he thinks, oo-
cupies nearly as lofty place In the world as
the top OF Kibo. Lieut.. STAIRS also, who has |
recently reached the coast with STANLEY,
had neither the time nor the outfit required |
10 take him up the snow-capped peaks of the
Ruwenzori range, one OF the most interest
ng Of STANLEY's recent discoveries.