The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-09
UP $4,000 FEET.
The Highest Mountain Of the Andes
successfully scaled.


successfully Scaled.
The highest mountain of the American
Andes Aconcagua. 1900 feet high. has
been assembled. On January IA Zurbrig-
gen. the Swiss guide OF the Fitzgerald
expedition. stood on the summit-an ele-
walton of more than 1900 feet above sea
level He has thus anticipated the feat
upon which Mr.. Fitzgerald had set his
heart, and for the accomplishment of
which he organized the expedition. The
difficulties of the ascent were numerous.
The cold was intense, and apparently In
terminable slopes of snow stretched up
ward and Knocked the hopes of the weary
climbers But this was not all. Noun
tain sickness, due to the thinness OF the
air. also tested their physical powers and
endurance. II must be a great mortif1ca-
ton TO Mr.. Fitzgerald that the superior
physical powers of his guide carried him.
to the summit before his courageous
leader. but Illness for time forbade
further struggle on the part Of the latter.
Mr. Fitzgerald and his party set out for
the ascent OF the mountain on December
@. expecting TO reach the summit four
days later. On the 18th the party BIZ
xouacked at an elevation of H. 900 feet, on
the neck of the mountain, in a gale of
wind and snow. All suffered from sick
ness and the intense cold. Next day two
porters had to be sent back Ill. Zurbrig-
gen, whilst prospecting around. found
Gussfeldfs card In a tin box, dated
March. 1883. This was az height of 1900
feet. The Russian furnace. upon which
so much of the comfort of the party de-
pended, would not act. and exploded.
Thenceforth there was no hot food.
which was serious deprivation. and this
want forced the party TO descend to the
valley on the 9TH. There they remained
three days TO recruit. meanwhile sending
up wood and water TO the neck of the
mountain in readiness for another attack.
on the Goth they braced themselves for
second attempt. The boiling thermome-
tiers were useless. for they were not rated
high enough. During three days the low
est temperature was deg. Fahrenheit:
the highest, In the sun. 2s.4s deg. On the
3lst they were struggling painfully up
ward, and Zurbriggens feet became
frosted. They had TO halt for two hours
In consequence. After constant rubbing,
they succeeded In restoring circulation.
Struggling upward. height OF q. 500 feet
was reached. and then exhausted nature
gave in. They returned on January 10
the starting point 10 recruit. On the 9th
they made a third attack on the noun
tain. the cold then being intense. On the
f4th a height OF 3 600 feet was gained
and there. unfortunately. Mr.. Fitzgerald
had 10 turn back H. when only about
Il GO feet from the summit II was very
Notifying. Zurhrfggen continued the as
cent and stood on the apex Al o'clock.
Zurbriggen's feat crowns all similar
achievements. Humboldt, I'm 1902 climbed
Chimborazo tls.cos feet. and in 1890 was
followed by Mr.. whymper. whose record
as a climber Is familiar to all. Among
the Himslayas. In lss2. Sir Martin Conway
climbed Pioneer peak. estimated at % coo
feet. and Mr. Mummery and Mr.. Hast
ings reached q 900 feet on Manga Parbat
only very sanguine climber can indulge
in the hope OF scaling Mount Everest CO.
600 feet) and Dapsang %. zoe feet which
/ tower above the giants OF the HimaIayas.