The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-22
Erminio Sella Makes an Ascent
of the Famous Mountain.
FIRST TO GO UP THIS YEAR.
Peculiar Geological Formation 60
Danger From Failing Rocks
Very Great-An Interesting Trip.
but Dangerous for Amateurs
Pleasure of Mountain Climbing.

The first ascension OF Mount Rainier for
this year has just been accomplished by
Mr.. ETminio Sela, who returned to Seat
tie Saturday night from his perilous and
adventurous outing. Mr.. Sella is a brother
OF the we.l-known photographer OF that
name, who accompanied Prince Luigi on
hts trip 20 the top of Mount st. Elias last
summer, and is himself u famous mount
ain Chamber. He has been 10 the top OF
all the large peaks ard glaciers Of Europe.
Including the Matterhorn, Mount Blanc
and some OF the principal mountains Of
the Caucasian range in Southern Russia.
In his pursuit OF this, his favor.te sport
and pas.me, he has visited nearly every
section of the world where high and dam
gerous mountains occur. and some OF his
ascents have been Of most thrilling ma
ture. On the trip 10 Noun. Rainier Mr..
Se'la was accompanied by a fellow coun-
tryman. Felix Seghezza. and Mr.. John
Davis OF this city. The story OF the ascent
Is best told In Mr.. Sella's own words,
emitting, OF course, the inirniiahle Italian
accent:
We left Seattle ahou. two weeks ago"
said he. having QUILTED and made our
preparations here, going directly TO Taco
ma. where We secured q vehicle and drove
10 the base Of the mountain putting up
Tor the night There and getting things in
readiness for an early start the next morn
ing. AT O'Clock We left our resting place
and began the ascent. I have never been
on mountain whore the timber was 50
heavy CT extended up for such a distance
as II does on this one. II was glorious 30
see the great forests stretching out around
the foot of the mountain for miles and
miles. far the eye could reach and
n. passage through these woods was not
the least pleasant feature ~ our trip.
Leaving the timber belt. we skirted around
20 the right OF Gibraltar rock. That was
"a mistake. as Il turned ou;. for we soon
found our passage blocked ard were. an
able Ia proceed. necessitating return and
another attempt Ivy a long circuitous
iahsar
Half the pleasure Of mountain climbing
Is In going without Eitiaes. picking your
Tatl by y8ur own ,iiscerument OF signs
and enjoying 20 tie utmos; the fan ex-
element nf the danger attendant upon
such trip under such circumstances A
guide destroys ali this lie leeds ard YOU
follow. What pleasure can there be in
that
Wei we eoutinued on cur way. This
tts2e IN tho right direct i1n usYtiI We PASSED
entirely above tho timber line and stepped
nuf upon a broad eypanse % snow and i.e
that extended above Gs - Gar as the sy~
could reach. Turning we HAD strstt~afasf
before us the mast magnificent pYpspe,t
have ever seen. The mountain itself
s.sr-:1e! 10 6e ~utirely isolated from The
rest ci the range being in that respect
Very unidue To me-. For miles seemingly
f1ss tsaUfifG! 8nGulatsug valleys reached
o}it toward the distant mountains covered
With TREES. through wBich great fires could
e% PLAINLY dtscexnsd These a~e~ we're
ssIaL.se 70 ne IN hqrol,e the. forests are
considered TOO valuable 20 ta destroyed tn
,aFs manner. Censea gently we feel that We
cant afford such big fires
oar next trouble VAS with the loose
sno@. through which NJ hal n igat cur
way tar scIs1e distance. The tor WAS reach
~ tA0ut incident, srd after a short ress
i9T luncheon we stared a. the descent,
AFftVtf1 al eCr f8mp at p o'ctogk
III as 4 sfalesd 4 climb Ard ay{oz.ef
every Hour ~ i fi3viag gone purely for
pEsAs3f%. We ftan'f st,ggapt 20 10 anvtegf
o"5 So az tae enjoyment possible oWt -
u AF9 ff3fsN FS~ succeeded J ART !. geai-
cF5st. bat lh% try hsd - scientific sig
hif&c@fea Wa4ieFvr, tasuxh e xHS Nnasft.
:: 1.ss 20 ~ from tllat standpoint
teSsr character. Differing from anvthlng I
Hsa FF%F 3spersa1eess. AND rendering 9ae
@SSeat WY "a"ReftA'as OF acoagt ~ ths
fott-77N s1@rr>- Ta5s !s reasar ras o.s.x
dangerous tsa-u~e - .rtz. 80 ina 80. e,s
Acai5& aa;wlcr. q are t2s azst pxf..e,lss,.7s
ehalsH IN mountain climbing 80 1nseg~
S3NsSa is@ sfae lFss4s used THIS t7ss ynfAsa
.0wetfr- N4.i calm may v.ctirs e. years
80 cc:ff~ t1Tu{ga sA@ snnx sse~.mne. az those
a attempting th-' assent. III ne ans sc
STAR @tA S1ssarr ara SIS *sr,rsrr,s,s
f@a@s GntF fhe beginner Is sa.sffsi4 r..y,
f&1sst@r a&1a gaHtsiaS - a4sAr,.-~ 81 =
tA4neT s'if n - 0-f3i salt attempt sasl acre
s1A ps>l~f w3l r-ssA 81 M34at Ra.ssef
~alia9tss SGy preliminary training asa fee
ttev % szsAs.T Uses R.il 4nssotisEs<4 =. reentt
Mountain climbing - ret sacA a- sSsan-
aah%4 EAss'1c here. however. as x IS IA
sae Cd csuEsrX
! Was ssSSTs han Pleased eesf.i E1um.
EaknssT. i. Is na9st a*A&tsEua pax am3
.aTsS sssstssf.'ss%~ 70 aaa4eezgss pAlsEer
tAa1 I asSe n%geg ss&s sgrpaszssl .
NJ Sz!iz .eaTss ca 4 s1ur q Ehs, r.a.ss.g
SAFES n a fex Gays. ard expects 20 ssse
"a the GrAas Canyon. rlkss peak. YAs-