The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-04
THEY CLIMED MOUNT ARAFAT
Two Bicyclists Place the united States
& %G 5Erfau ~, 1tS Snn,,nit 4E& %G$ z

Two Bicyclfsts place the UNITED States
Flag on Its unmit.
Allen and Sachtleben, the Ams1icans who
are making a tour of ths world on bicycles,
have made a signal demonstration of their
pluck and endurance by ascending Mount
Ararat without guides in the face of great
difficulties. Traversing Asia Minor from
Coustantinop pie by way of Angora, C@area
and Erzroom, they reached Bayezid, near
Mount Ararat, June %, intending to climb.
this famous mountain. In Bayazid they
passed four days in buying their provisions
and making preuarations.
Th day before they Wero to make the at
tempt two European travellers arrived from
Van-one o Greek, Of Salonica, on his way
to Persia, and this other 81 Iyloless artist,
Mr.. Roffi, from Meran. MIR. Roffl il a mem
Der OF an Alpine club and is familiar with
the methods of ant climbing in
Europe. He thought the season altogether
too early for the attempt, and the ice and
10Y would be insurmountable. The Ameri-
cans, says tbs Now York Sun, however,
were not to be discouraged. On the con-
trary, they persuaded these gentlelnonto
accompany them, and the following dayxthe
party started for tho mountains with bag
gage, animals, a servant md Turkish
guards. They had no guide and depended
upon the information furnished by. tho
4ASSV0 NJ g 0W ~
sonss.
TN mountain cannot be seen from Bay
aid, as the town lies in q valley behind a
high range OF hills. On emerging from
). this valley upon the level plan, Mount
Ararat rises in clear view, covered with
pure white snow. They had little trouble
the first dav, and reached a kurdish vii
lage, where they passed the night. On the
second day everything seemed to combine
to tax the endurance of the party. AT night
- --.S - san A,.n% ~ 1A nnn III
and on tho third morning the Americans
found themselves obliged to shoulder their
bedding and food, and, in company with
Mr.. Rofa, to proceed to their second camp,
Rs their other com panlons were not willing
to venture further. 1T waa q hard days
work, and the improyiged camp afforded
little opportunity for rest or repoBe, SO they
wcro far from fresh tor the last day q eff
fort.
Starting out from their camp at four a.
NJ, on July 4. they pushed on, gaspinR for
breath and often obliged to lie down and
haustod. thsy reached tho SUNNI. Of the
mountain. During tho last twenty-sevsn
hours OF the climb they could find no
water, and we're obliged to queneh their
thirst with snow. Their way, too, was full
of danger, az they made tho last 5000
feet of the ascent on the verge Of a tree
mendous gorge, where a single Etep or one
weak place in the snow would have proved
fatal. Reaching tho top, they planted a
small American flag on an iao-pick and
fired a salute with their pistols in honor of
tho glorious Fourth.
The top Of the mountain is a snow field of
three or four acres. with four prominens
peaks. The view was INDISPENSABLE IN its
grandeur and extent, but in a few moments
after their arrival the usual afternoon
storm came on and tho summit was envel-
oped in clouds. The descent was made in
safety and comparative case. and the tour
ists were received with great honor by the
Turkish governor of Bayazid.
The ascent Of Mount Ararat 10 not often
made, as this mountain 10 far from the ordi-
nary lines of the worlds travel. Id il re-
ported that two Russian, two German aud
two English pnrties have reached the top,
but no American had hitherto mad the Mt
tempt.
DIR. G. q. Dodge, dentist, over Sanford'H
furniture store. 1esti, extracted bOc, gas
&1s ethar, ehaoroform administered. nrii-
ficinl tseth $40. CrcwA and bridge work.