Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-08-05
HURLED TO HIS DEATH
Professor McClure's Fail OF.
Mount Rainier.
DEATH WAS INSTANTANEOUS
He was With the Mazam"s'
Was Found by Searching far'v
and Taken to Tacoma

Tacoma, Aug. 2.-Porfessor >: r.
Mcclure. of Eugene, member OF the
Mazamas' society that made the ascent
of Mount Rainier Tuesday, lost his loot
ing while descending the mountain
Wednesday and fell 800 feet. he
struck on pile of rocks and was IN
stantly killed. His body was recovere"
several hours later by a searching party
and was brought to Tacoma tonight.
The Mazamas encamped in Paradise
valley Monday, and about 30 OF the
party began the assent to the peak that
day, arriving at Gibraltar rock that
night, where they camped.
Early Wednesday morning Professor
Mcclure, Professor Baillie, Professor
Mitchell, Of New York, and DR.. ~.
Dewitt Cornell, Of Portland. started
ahead of the main party, and arrived
at the mountain top about noon. FRO
lessor Mcclure carried barometer Tor
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
9:3O, 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 eau
tiously to search for the trail. The
lights of the camp in Paradise valley
were plainly visible, and, although 1t
was a 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 a large pile of rocks 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.. Cornell says he had
just answered Professor 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-
Spouse, and the members of the party
began systematic search, but, 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.
beers of the party, with the exception OF
DGC onnell and lady and gentleman
frdl 1nsaa- started to come to report
the accident. ~OA
A searching party was instantly Or
ganized, and under the direction of DR..
Num-, of Portland, began the search
for DR.. McClure's body. The place oil
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 a
great, forbidding shelf.
Professor McClure's body fell sheer
800 feet, and bounded about 40 feet out.
ward toward the edge of the cliff. II
lay within II 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 crevasses
which seam the mountain there.
Professor Mcclure carried heavy
roll of blankets and his barometer,
strapped upon his back. The barometer
was broken, but all of his papers and
notes of observation were found in his
pockets intact.
DR.. Cornell had remained on the
mountain all night, to enable the
searching party to locate the spot where
the accident occurred by shouting to
them through the darkness. The lady
who remained at this point was nut
into sleeping bag, and passed fairly
comfortable night.