Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-08-05
PROFESSOR Mcclure KILLED.
Was With the Mazama Party
on Mount Rainier.
EELL THREE HUNDRED FEET

His Body Was Found Soon After by
Searching Party and Taken From
There to Tacoma.
Tacoma, Aug. 2.-Porfessor s. z.
Mcclure, of Eugene, Il member of the
Mazamas' society that made the ascent
OF Mount Rainier Tuesday, lost his foot
ing while descending the mountain
Wednesday and fell 800 feet. He
struck on a pile of rocks and was in
stantly killed. His body was recovered
several hours later by a searching party,
and was brought to Tacoma tonight.
The Mazamas encamped in Paradise
valley Monday, and about 80 OF the
party began the acsent to the peak that
day, arriving at Gibraltar rock that
night, where they camped.
Early Wednesday morning Professor
Mcclure, Professor Balie, Professor
Mitchell, of New York, and DR.. E.
Dewitt Connell, of Portland, started
ahead of the main party, and arrived
at the mountain top about noon. Pro-
fessor Mcclure carried barometer for
the purpose OF taking observations on
the top of the mountain.
Returning, they met the remainder
of the party near the summit, and, ar
irving at Gibraltar rock, awaited their
return.
They arrived at Camp Muir about
$50, on their way to Paradise valley,
and soon after leaving that point, lost
their way. The leader and the vari-
Gus members OF the party began cau-
tiously to search for the trail. The
lights of the camp in Paradise valley
were plainly visible, and, although it
was tramp of nearly four hours, the
way to this camp seemed so plain that
nobody felt the least alarmed.
Professor Mcclure ventured toward
the edge of cliff, and announced that
he saw large pile of rocks a few hun
dred feet distant, and thought he had
discovered the trail DR.. Connell
stood within so feet of him, keeping
up conversation, and attempting to
direct his movements.
Darkness had fallen, and the only
light came from the snow, which rem
derd the members of the party only
half visible. DR.. Connell says he had
just answered Porfessor McClure's call.
and was peering intently in another
direction, when he heard sudden
crash, like the falling of rock. He
looked in the direction where Professor
Mcclure had stood moment before.
but he was not to be seen. He at once
called to him, but received no re-
sponse, and the members of the party
began systematic search, hut, failing
to find Mcclure, concluded that he had
fallen off the cliff.
1t was nearly an hour before the
trail to camp was found, and the mem.
bers of the party, with the exception OF
DR.. Connell and lady and gentleman
from Oregon, started to come to report
the accident.
A searching party was instantly or
ganized, and under the direction of DR..
Nunn, of Portland, began the search
for DR.. McClure's body. The place OF
the accident was SO closely described
by the members of the party who had
been with DR. Mcclure that the search.
ers were soon able to reach the point
on the side of the mountain directly
underneath.
Daylight broke about $3.50, and the
body of DR.. Mcclure was found lying
on great pile of boulders, forming d
great, forbidding shelf.
Professor McClure's body fell a shee,
300 feet, and bounded about 40 feet out.
ward toward the edge of the cliff. |,
lay within l2 feet of the face of the
mountain, and, had it fallen over,
would have dropped two or three miles
and in all probability would have dis
appeared into one of the huge crevssses
which seam the mountain there.
Professor Mcclure carried heav,
roll of blankets and his barometer
strapped upon his back. The baromete,
was broken, but all of his papers anC
notes Of observation We're found in hi.
pockets intact.
DR.. Conneii had remained on tn,
mountain all night, to enable tn,
searching party to locate the spot wher,
the accident occurred by shouting tc
them through the darkness. The lady
who remained at this point was pu
into a sleeping bag, and passed fairly
comfortable night.
The Suns Eclipse.
st. Louis, Aug. "A partial eclips,