Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-30

Two Bicyclists the First to Place the United
States Flag on Its Summit

Two Bicyclists the First to Place the United
States Flag on Its Summit.
From the New York Sun.
Allen and Sachtleben, the Americans who are
making tour of the world on bicycles. have
made signal demonstration of their pluck and
endurance by ascending Mount Ararat without
guides In the face Of great difficulties Ira
versing Asia Minor from Constantinople by
way OF Angora. Cesarea and Erzroom they
reached Bayazid. near Mount Ararat, June %,
intending to climb this famous mountain. In
Bayazid they passed four days in buying their
provisions and making preparations.
The day before they were to make the at
tempt two European travellers arrived from
Van-one q Greek Of Salonica on his way to
Persia and the other a Tyrolese artist. Mr.. Rolf
from Meran MIR. Rolf is a member of an A
pine club and is familiar with the methods of
mountain climbing in Europe. He thought the
season altogether too early for the attempt and
that the ice and snow would be instrumental
BILE. The Americans, however were not to be
discouraged. On the contrary, they persuaded
these gentlemen to accompany them, and the
following day the party started for the noun
tain with baggage, animals, u servant and Turk
ISL guards They had no guide and depended
upon the information furnished by the notes of
traveller and their own common sense.
The mountain cannot be seen fron Bayazid,
as the town lies ir valley behind a high range
OF hills. On emerging from this valley upon
the leve! plain Noun: Ararat rises in clear view.
covered with pure white snow. They had little
trouble the first day and reached a Kurdish
village. where they passed tie 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 them
selves obliged to shoulder their bedding and
nnI md in, xtitl, Ilosst
coed to their second camp, as their other COM
panlons were not willing to venture further. 1t
was hard days work and the improyised camp
afforded little opportunity for rest repose
so they were far from fresh for the last days
effort.
Starting out from their camp at a m. on
July they pushed on, gaspiug for breath and
often obliged to lie down and rest, until I:2U
pm. when. almos. exhausted. they reached
the summit OF the mountain. During the last
twenty-seven hours of the climb they could
hnd no water and were obliged to ouench 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 tremendous gorge
where single false step or one weak place in
the snow would have proved fatal. Reaching
the top they planted a small American flag on
an ice pick and fired salute with their pistols
In honor OK the glorious Fourth.
The top OF the mountain is a snow field of
three or four acres. with four prominent peaks.
The view was understandable in its grandeur and
extent but in few moments after their arrival
the usual afternoon storm came on and the
summit was enveloped in clouds. The descent
was made in safety and comparative ease and
the tourists were received with great honor by
the Turkish governor of Bayazid.
The ascent OF Mount Ararat ia not often
made. as this mountain is far from the ordinary
lines Of the worlds travel 1t il reported that
two Russian, two German and two English
parties have reached the top, but no American
had hitherto made the attempt.