The sun., 1896-09-06
DEATH OF MOUNTAIN cLIMBEn.
The DyinG Man Stopped by the Ropo on the
Brink OF n Preeipieo 1900 Feet High.

FrOw the hireavkee SennnsL
DR.. William r. Becker. who was one Of the
party that left Milwaukee q week ago TO bring
back the body OF Philip Abbot from Banff,
Alberta, arrived homo . few days ago. while
Howard Morris, 4. Ii. Gill; and Il. b. Tweedy
went on 70 Boston with the romains. The story
OF young Abbot's death, as told by tho surviving
members Of the party. is very tragic, and Its sad
details emphasize tho dangers of mountain
climbing. Or. Becker tells the story a. follows:
son, who accompanied Pnilip Abbot, bot had aV at
tempted TO climb Mount Lefroy year ago. but
.aea AIS ~ Is ayery steep mountain covered with
a. almost inaccessible. The attempt OF the three
professor. had been written mp IN the paper Of
they to make another s Mas
for they believed that they had discovered an
second trip that Mr.. Abbot lost his life
orn,ep Lhe party set out from Lsgs1n early Monday
evening had reached a point only a few hun
dred feet below the summit OF tho mountain
and snsn far sSSyo any point which had hitherto
chimney before them and sioping field OF Ice
nearly 1000 feet below them hem cSimney y'P,sG Is
perpendicular furrow or reentrant angle OF
against the sides with hands and feet. Abbot.
who was the leader and by far the hest climber
the the osss S msh. have 20 ]
ance in the steep climb. Mr. Thompson
%1a psG Sn5sd a % nS Ls
When Pref Little had assembled about twenty
Feet and Mr. Abbot was some distance above
Of the rope and struck Prof. Little upon the
head. 1t aazed him for few seconds. and then
he called out to MIR. Abbot:
shall unropeT
MI: Abbot answered that he had better do
so and when the ropes were loosed continued
upward through the chimney. carrying the rope
alone. Prof. Little was Standing upon narrow
protection of rock. braced against one face OF
a "a nj fhAr fNsnA nj bud
died close to the clitf to escape the piercing
wind. upon the ledge NJ the base OF the chimney.
\ few minutes after Prof. Little had unroped.
MIR. Abbot. who was more than forty feet up
the chimney now. cried out:
have found q very good Lead
were falling down the chimney from where A b.
pot was m a M and none on tns party could
suddenly dark object rushed past Prof. Little
and striking the base ledge rolled down the Icy
descended 1000 feet sheer. Instantly the truth
flashed upon the three men who were perched
sea. but they could do nothing save watch their
companion as he tum6led down the edge of the
Weh 1oud
the body beyond recognition. his course was
stayed: The ropes had gone with Mr.. Abbot.
and the others now had nothing TO assist them
In their descent TO where he lay. Prof.
Little slowly wormed hts way down the
to Mr.. Abbots assistance without waiting for
him: Prof Fay and Mr. Thompson started
nu.
Without ropes the trio scrambled down the
steep mou ntain SIDE. ana 1t is doubtful II they
excellent work Of their njared comrade during
the ascent. Mr.. Abbot had handled the ice axe
experience in mountain elm bins had made him
easy descent. They toiled downward for three
hours. part OF the way over untried paths bo-
fore they reached the side Of Mr.. Abbot. He
was SIN breathing. but unconscious. and they
their burden to regain the pathway by which
they had ascended: They had gone only a hun
dred yards when Mr.. Abbot lied. He had made
no outcry when he plunged from the dizzy
chimney. and his last words were the eIultant
".i have found a very good Lead
When life was extinct the party halted be-
temporary grayc In the hard snow, left the body
OF their com panion until they could return with
aid. They had regained the ropes now. and
But the late twilight Of the mountain region
came on. and. descending with all possible
iia,Is more 1a than GOO feet below the summit En
by 10 o'clock. Here they spent the night in
M with mo sseteT s.
had erected. II was intensely cold. and during
tho night fierce snow storm began 70
. IRE. for they were still high aboye the tim Der
line, and they were without food. They sat one
shelter of the cairn. carried stones to build 1t
higher, to keep the blood from freezing In their
circulation throughout the night and At the first
beams OF day resumed the descent TO Laggan.
ss as hsy ss a Isd
longing to the Canadian Pacific bridge gang. re-
turned on "Wednesday to fetch the body.
beyond that which had ever been attained be-
fore. was made without accident During the
heard the roar and rumble OF an avalanche
tearing down the mountain side and into tho
vas Was buried % in the the snow. Now they could e soe
where the great boulders and masses of ice had
ans Gp' Psd Gs
scent had been checked by the dragg! ng ropes
and had they left the body where be lay or had
carried into tho gorge or buried deep under
masses OF snow and Ice and dirt.
placed in a stout canvas bag to protect it from
the Jagged points In the descent. The two men
enesd whE hea oeem ouDSin IN and neary ali
the labor devolved upon the three men who had
been upon the moSnlan for almost three o., days
from ledge 70 ledge with ropes. They t9i!ed
embalmment, and Friday weEs sent to Boston.
nesday. reached Medicine Hat, ASA. on Friday
night. tho time when the party Of which Mr..
awaited them at that place. we came east to
Moose Jaw. on the Canadian Pacific and TOOK
the 500 road to 81 Paul while pr,fs; Little and md
Canadian Pacific TO Boston. Messrs. Morris.
Tweedy. Gill ana Other officials OF the Wischn-
sin Central went TO Boston to attend the funeral.
Tho preeaution which Mr.. Abbot had sane
toned, to have Prof. Little unrope, probably
prevented the loss Of another llfe Prot. Littie's
foothold was very insecure and had Mr 4 nbot
have been dragged down the clin, TOO Pref.
Little said that he has an impressio ion that MIR.
Abbot was hugRing large piece Of rock when
he fell, as though he had seized II In his fall or
had attempted to raise himself when II broke
of. but 1t ia, only an impression, he says, for II
remember just what he did see for the Instant.
Mr.. Abbot was chosen as the leader because
he was by far tho most proficient climber.
He had made number OF difficult ascents, and
had great deal OF experience on the Matter;
horn. He was daring, but not reckless. and
never, neglected 70 take every PreGautioh posss.
steps which lie left for their descent, and by
which the remainder OF the party returned In
safety without the use of ropos and over por-
tion OF tho mountain which no one had been
able TO scale before"
The post -mortem examination and inquest at
Banff showed that tho occipital and pArietai
bones were fractured. This probably occurred
when Mr.. Abbot fell TO the first ledge. and It 10
probable that he never reRainod consciousness.