Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-09
ASCENT ON ARAFAT.
Two BicyclIsts the First Americans to
Reach its Snowy Summit.

Two BicyclIsts the First Americans to
Reach its Snowy Summit.
Allen and Sachtleben, the Americans who
are making the tour of the world on BIZ
cycles, says the New York Sun, have made
a signal demonstration Of their pluck and
endurance by ascending Mount Ararat with
out guides, in the face of great difficulties.
Traversing Asia Minor from Constantine
pie, by way of Angora, Cesarea and Err
room, they reathed Bayazid, near Mount
Ararat, June %, intending to climb this
famous mountain. In Bayazid they passed
four days in buying their provisions and
making preparations.
On the day before they were TO make the
attempt two European travellers arrived
from Van-one Greek of Salonica on his
way to Persia, and the other Tyrolese
artist. Mr.. Rolf, from Merah. Mr..
Rolf is a member of an Alpine club,
and is familiar with the methods of
mountain climbing in Europe. He thought
the season altogether too early for the at
tempt, aud that the ice and snow would be
insurmountable. The Americans how
ever, We're not to be discouraged. On the
contrary, they persuaded these gentlemen
to accompany them, and on the following
day the party started for the mountain,
with baggage animals, a ssrvant and Turk
ish guards. They had no guide, and de-
pended upon the information furnished by
the notes of traveller, and their own COM
mon sense.
The mountain cannot be seen fro. Baya-
lid as the town lies in q valley behind a
high range of hills. On emerging from this
valley upon the level plain Mount Ararat
rises in clear view, covered with pure
white snow. They had little trouble tho
first day, and reached Kurdish
village, where they passed the night. On
the second day everything seemed to
combine to tax the endurance
of the party. At night they camped at an
elevation of 10000 feet, and on the third
morning the Americans found themselves
obliged to shoulder their bedding and food,
and in company with Mr. Rolf TO proceed
to their second camp as their other COM
panionS were not willing to venture fur
Their. 1t was hard days work, and the
improvised camp afforded little opportunity
for rest or repose, so they were far from
fresh for the last days effort.
Starting out from their camp at 4 a. NJ
on July t, they pushed on, gasping for
breath and often obliged to lie down and
rest, until 20 p. m, when almost ex-
hausted, they reached the summit of the
mountain. During the last twenty-seven
hours of their climb they could find no wa
ter and We're obliged to quench their thirst
with snow. Their way, too, was full OF
danger, as they made the last 5000 feet of
the ascent on the verge of a tremendous
gorge where single false step or one weak
place in the snow would have proved fatal.
Reaching the top, they planted small
American flag on an ice pick and fired sa-
lutte with their pistols in honor of the glori-
Gus Fourth.
The top of the mountain is snow field
of three or four acres, with four prominent
peaks. The view was indescribable in its
grandeur and extent, but in a few moments
after their arrival the usual afternoon
storm came on, and the summit was en-
veloped in clouds. The descent was made
in safety aud comparative ease, and the
tourists were received with great honor by
the Turkish governor of Bayazid.
The ascent of Mount Ararat is not often
made, as this mountain is far from the or
binary lines of the worlds travel. 1t is re-
ported that two Russian, two German and
two English parties have reached the top,
but no American had hitherto made the at
tempS