The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-23
Alpine RECORDS BROKEN.
Mr.. Conway's Feat in Climbing the Tall
Peaks Of Kashmir.


The news Of Mr.. w. MConway's achieve
ments in the exploration of the vast
mountain range on the borders OF Kash-
mir will stir the ambition OF the Alpine
Club and its rivals or copysts all over
the world Following closely upon Mr.
Whympers remarkable contribution TO
the mountaineering geography Of the An
des, Mr.. Conway's work brings into
prominence as a practical question the
possibility Of ascending and surveying
the very highest peaks that are known
20 exist. II appears from the teiegraphic
account sent us by our Calcutta CORE
spondent that Mr.. Conway has met with
no insuperable difficulties, such as have
been apprehended I'm some quarters from
the extreme rarefaction of the air though
he believes that he has "broken the
record" as a climber. having reached an
altitude greater by 1000 feet or more
than Schalagintweit's browning ascent in
Nepaul The actual measurements are
dependent on the veriication OF Mr.. Con-
ways instruments, for which purpose
he has now gone 20 Leh, where a British
and a Kashmir commissioner have Joint
authority, and whore proper standards
are kept. II. however. Mr.. Conway is
not mistaken in his data, he has attained
n height considerably exceeding $1,000
feet or between 1000 feet and 5000 feet
higher than the summit Of Mount Blanc.
But this record-breaking adventure is
really the smallest part Of what he has
done. He has explored for the first time
a mountain range, OF which the represen-
tation on existing maps is little more than
fanciful. and in which the peculiar phe-
nomena associated with the word AL
pine" are exhibited on a scale so gigantic
as 10 leave all European experience hope
lessly behind.
Mr.. Conway does not seem 10 have suf-
fered so much as Mr.. Whymper during
his explorations at lower level I'm the
Andes. but probably the atmospheric con-
dltions were different The difficulties
that are really formidable do not arise
so much from the rarefaction OF the air
as from the exaggeratt0n Of some ordt-
nary incidents Of mountaineering The
mountaineer I'm all countries is at the
mercy OF the weather. Events In the
Alps. close TO all the appliances of civilt-
cation. and with large supply OF trained
guides, an unexpected storm, or even
sudden fall or rise of temperature, may
turn quite an easy expedition into very
dangerous one In the mountains on
the northern frontier Of India these dan
gers are Increased not only by the actual
height Of the ascents and the length
Of time spent upon the ice and snow,
but by the complete absence OF local
guides and trustworthy maps, and the IN
accessibility Of supplies. The Alpine
climber is rarely out Of reach for twenty
four hours NJ a time Of some place where
he can obtain food fire and shelter. MI
Conway's party plunged among the ga.
ciers. parting with all hold upon ,INHi@.u
life for weeks together and carrying WIN
tbor everything that hey required Tor
their subsistence and preservation curing
tb,t neriod. ANY one who has slept IN
- hut In the Alps can imagine what II
must have been 10 camp 2OOD rect aDoFe
the sea level. To establish ana Vlctuai
ono such camp involved an expenditure
- four DAVIS before Mr.. Conway couid
venture 10 move on. just as he was ABOUT
20 make his final effort 20 reach the
Golden Throne. Bad weather came On
mon the 9th Of August, precisely TWO
months after the start from Magyar bnt'
oven II this had not been the case the
exhaustion Of provisions would nave COM
pered the party 10 descend Oh one
occasion. during a snow storm, MT Con
wav was obliged 10 pause WINE tne
coolies were sent back-no DOUBT 10
,.or, Great distance-tO collect firewood.
=. a. e,tisfoctorv that IN spite OF these
formidable difficulties. Mr.. conway mas
-, ohIa IN make such good use OF the
a,,,h. or nine weeks that were available
a. ovnIoratfon There Is nothing In MS
+,,,orience so far as we can see. 10 dis
.C,,ra,,s the hone that the Hindu Kush
and the Himaylayas will be forced TO
surrender their uttermost secrets to the
enterprise Of mountaineers. II Is curious
49, roeect that barely two generations
400 the Alps. now "the playground OF
r-,,rone " were universally regarded as
hardly less mysterious and DANGEROUS
Than the unknown region into the heart
~ which Mr.. Conway has lately pehe-
trated.-London Times.