The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-06

Carriers where sto-e,h his treasures the
thunder.
The lightning his falchions-h.s arrows. the
hail.
The higheS, mountain in North America
is still surrounded by the darkest mystery.
II towers cat Of a comparatively unknown
land. where no human foot has ever trou.
IL fronts upon an unfreqGented and dan
serouS coast. seemingly n the confines or
the Arctic regions. In lonely grandeur. III
awfuineSs. IN white splen1or 81. El.as 8
not sQusied. Nowhere else is there an alp.
nearly four miles high. rohed down 10 Us
very base in eternal SHOW. and pendtnS
above the dark azure of the sea And very
rarely Is The mountain seen. for the warm
and rnoiS;urs-ladeR winds OF the Pacific
break upon these mighty heights and
shToud them in almost perpetual clouds.
The southern shore of .tlaska. far dis
tance Of 2t1 miles along the bases OF the
Eairweather and ST. Elias ranges. Is
formed OF low tahie-Iand intervening be-
tween the mountains and the sea. faku-
tat bay i the only hight in this plateau
sufficiently deep 70 reach the mountains 10
the northward. west and east OF Iakutat
bay the shore is equally inhcspataoIs-
iakutat bay seems therefore the natural
starting point OF all expeditions 10 eN-
Piore Mount ST. Elias.
The height OF ST Elias is about 1900
feet. and IL rises from range. here about
le.0 feet high and skirting the coast
from Cross sound TO the western limits of
Alaska These alps of 81. Elias are Of vol
canic origin, many of the SUBMITS Still be-
Ing IN active eruption.
The fact that ST Elias lies within the
disputed boundary line between the United
states and the British possessions is nota-
= Sc ar,ss .sa.~- xNa.. ,s,iN - Of
ali claim and title TO the great mountain.
Sueh an emergency will make Uncle sam
tear his hair. as his reputation depends
upon his having all the biggest on earth.
whether they be cyclones. or cireuses or
swlndies. The American eagle will. how
ever. be able 10 console himself with the
thought that there is no money I'm it
anyway"
Perhaps there is no money in the owner
ship OF ST. Elias. but there is most GER
tainly glory in the exploration OF this gi-
gantic mountain. Many brave and daring
men have tried to accomplish the ascent
OF It's summit. bat SO far all expeditions
nave failed 10 gain the goal. Many i'm
portant discoveries have been made. many
minor questions have been answered, hut
the main mystery OF this sphinx of ice
and snow still remains rnsolved. Each
previous expedition has been only hasty
reconnaissance. during which hut little de-
tail work could be undertaken. The ae-
tual study of the ice fields OF the St Elias
region remains for those who come later.
Before these lines appear in print an
other party Will have started for the rid
die of the Far North under Henry q.
Bryant.
The longing for the distant and for
hidden things is a singular trait of the
human character. Robinson CruSoe in the
silent solitude of his island yearned for
the busy throng OF crowded cities. ON
the other hand. the bohemian spirit is
sometimes SO strong IN our breast and the
artificial restraint OF civilization often so
irksome, that the homing instinct is not
unfrequently reversed and leads irresist-
IDLY to the wilderness OF silent mountain
top. The poet says:
A fir tree stands so lonely
Upon a Northern height:
he shiSereth-with their covers
Stroud him the snow flakes white
He dreams of a Southern palm tree
On burning deserts strand.
That mourneth far and forgotten
On burning deserts sand.
Distance is a great enchanter and the
longing for the unknown is deeply rooted
In the human heart. Perhaps a similar
feeling prompted the last of all eNplor-
ers. the youthful prince from the South
east, 10 WOO the proudest and most beauti-
Northern fAiry Alaska. Prince Luigi OF
Savoy. Duke of Abruzzi a nephew of the
king of Italy. is coming TO Seattle as fast
as steam can carry him. 10 start from
here for ;he North and to explore the
mysterious st. Elias. He has reputat ton
which has preceded him here for energy
and skill as a mountaineer, undoubtedly
he is as gallant and brave as his great an
cestor, Prince Eugene of Savoy. the no.
BILE knight; II SO. he will he dear 10 our
soul. The party of the young duke will
be composed of about twenty-five men all
told. They are mostly Italians. Ten men
Will accompany them from Seattle, and
they will leave here early in June.
We may hope for very wonderful dis
coveries In the strange regions of the
North. which attract once more the eyes
of the civilized world in their direction,
So far no human foot has ever stepped
upon the summit OF Mount st. Elias Only
the snow king and the ice fairy of the
North wreath their dances there: only the
playful eobins of the pole roll thunder
ing avalanchcs adown the steep prcci-
pices. The sunbeams careSs the eternal
snow during the day and at night the rays
OF the moon stray there. And thou, i'm
movable North star:
At morn's rosy birth
Thou iookest at the Ice peak evermore:
And eve that round the earth
There noontde finds thee and the hour
that calls
The shapes OF polar fame TO scale heav-
ems azure walls.
VIII Luigi OF Savoy ever scale st. Elias
fey walls? That remains 10 be seen. one
hopes for the best. And you. American
boys. who viii have the distinction TO be
members of this Italian party, do your
very best. FIX your eye upon a star-the
start of purpose. n purpose firm and true
and perchance YOU might stand upon the
summit OF Mount ST. Elias. There are
dangers ahead, but brave men know no
fear, and glory Is waiting. royal sa-
lutte to the royal leader. manly cheer
and a hearty shake TO the rnen-good luck
and success to them all. And don't you
forget boys. when you sail from Seattle.
anything you may do and accomplish is
also for the fame of our dear own Queen
city. Fix your eyes upon the North star;
he Viii guide you through the watery
waste or the ocean and upon the virgin
snow upon the summit OF your mount.
And so. Sorthward ho. on TO 81. Elias!
Put out 10 sea.
stand not tainsiy on the shore.
Trembling at the breakers roar:
Ride cut beyond the bar,
And let The corfage strain
TO winds upon the open main:
Ride out beyond the bar,
Never aid ship drift aimle5sly
Held steady TO the STAR
Make yonder height
Stopping not for cliff or crag.
Upward, Let the coward lag.
Take you his scats and scar;
Win yondef summit bare
And plant your single standard there.
Climb toward the light