Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-29

miles. AT such distance It stands alone
No other peaks break the even line of the
horizon anywhere in its vicinity, showing
that it overtops all its neighbors.
Since the discovery of Mt. St. Elias by
BeriEg in 1Sl many expeditions have
Ssiied along the coast to the southeast,
known to navigators as the ''Fairweather
grounds Among the celebrated explorers
who visited this region about q century
since were Cook, La Perouse, Malsspina
and Vancouver. These navigators, how
ever, confined their attention to what could
be seen from the coast-they did not ven-
ture into the interior. 1t is only within
the past few years that attempts have been
made to explore the land and to climb the
mountains
Reaching for the Mountains TOP.
The first expedition aiming to reach its
summit was sent out bv the New York Times
IN 1886 in command of Lieutenant Friedrich
Schwatka. This expedition landed at Icy
Bav, 50 miles west of Yakutst, marched
finland about 20 miles and reached an eleva-
ticH of 200 feet on range of foothills
skirting the southwest side of Mount ST.
Elias.
The second attack on the mountain was
made bv an expedition in charge of Mr..
Edward Topham. of England, in 1888. An
markable successconsidering the difficulties
encountered.
A third expedition visited the st. Elias
region in the summer of 1890 This was
sent out bv the National Geographic Society
md the United States Geological Survey,
aud was placed in my charge. We landed
at the head of Eakutat Bay late in June,
and marched northwest for about so miles
over moraines and glaziers and across snow
covered passes to the northwest base of the
eliminating pyramid of st. Elias. The
storms Of winter coming or, we were
obliged TO abandon the hope of reaching the
summit, but found that the northern slope
Of the mountain was far more practicable
than the sleeper southern face, and could
probably be climbed in favorable weather.
Professor RusseIPs Second Attempt.
Explorations made in 1890 showed that
the region about Mount ST. Elias was one of
unusual interest to geographers and geolo-
Eists. and having failed in the first attempt
to reach the summit of the great mountain |
q second expedition, under the same aus
spices as the first, was decided on. / was |
placed in charge of the undertaking and |
sailed FOR Fort Townsend, WASH, on the |
United States revenue steamer Bear, on
MAY So
Ny companions were six camp hands, who |
were selected on account of their experience |
IN frontier life. Three of the men-Thomas |
+ Stamy, J. n. Crumback and Thomas !
White-were connected with the expedi- |
tion of the year previous; Neil McCarty, |
VIII c. Moore and Frank S. Warner gained !
their first experience in high mountains /
during the season Just ended. The success
that attended our efforts is due in no small |
degree to the willing service rendered by /
nv faithful companions.
Our voyage from Fort Townsend to Yak
Mat Bay was uneventful, but exceedingly
pleasant, owing to the kindness of Captain
N. a. Healy, the veteran navigator who
commands the Bear, and his wife, who for
the third time was to share the hardships of
Bn Arctic voyage with her husband. We
left Yakutat early in the morning of August