The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1900-10-04
A Hard Climb.

Climbing mountain twenty -thre
thousand lest high is no chlld's play, q
the party that, With Mr.. Fitz Gerald TO
leader, climbed the great mountain
Aconcagua found to their cost. Mr.
Filz Gerald, in bis recent book, "Th'
highest Andes" gives an account OF biz
experiences In this. the first ascent O
the mountain. Aconcagus is situated
on the frontiers OF Chile and the Arger
tine Republic, Mr., Fitz Gerald is sr
American, known for his explorations
among the mountains OF New Zealand,
Three Englishmen shared lis exploits
upon the present occasion. OF the slI
Swiss and Italian assistants. Matthias
Zuibriggen wss the leader.
The great difficulty was the cold OK
perienced at high altitude. The party
sscended eighteen thousand, seven hun
dred feet to a camp chosen by Znrbrig
gen. bat after one night descended to Q
lower level, Although the temperature
was not unusually cold, the minimum
recorded being one degree Fahrenheit,
men actually sat down and cried like
children.
On December 30th midsummer in
these parts -the party again went to the
high camp, and next day tried to reach
the summit. 1t looked so near that they
thought il could be reached In five or six
hours. An honr after starting, however,
Zurbriggen's face began to get very white
He protested that be fel. well but &C
knowledged that be was SO cold that
there was no feeling whatever 10 bis feet.
He tried dancing about and kicking his
feet against the stones.
As frozen feet are one OF the great dan
gers OF mountain climbing, the leader be
gan to be alarmed. he hsd the guides
shoes taxed of. and set the porters to
rubbing bis feet. To the horror OF sll, it
was found that circulation had practical
ly stopped, Snow and brandy we're used
for rubbing. but all to no purpose.
II began to seem as II amp utation would
be necessary. Bat gradually sensation
snd with 1t such intense psin
that the rubbing could hardly be borne.
At last the boots we're slipped on again
without being laced, snd Zurbriggep,
supported between two OF the party, |
was sseissed down the mountain,
Next day three Of the party, including
q arbrisgen, made another tiisl. bat were
Sickness and giddIness 81
,scked them. sni they we're obliged TO
lie down from sheer exhaustion. Com
ng down was almost worse then going
,p. Fatigue and numbness constantly
% used them TO fall. A terrible depres
ZION took bold upon them, and DO one
,sred not even 10 speak. Their oDe de
lire was 10 get back TO camp,
I.wss not until the sixth attempt thst
me Of the party, the guide Znrbriggen.
cached the summit, He went forward
' shep the others we're obliged TO descend
dr. FIX Gerald says:
| sbsIl never forget the descent.
vas 20 vesk that my legs seemed 10 fold
10 upder me 81 every step. and l kept
slling forward aud cutting myself on the
iones. DO 90. know bow loog crsw
q 10 this plight. uskiug for . patch o.
nov in q sheltered spot. oa reaching
1 lay down: and haslly I rolled down
grfs. portion Of the moubtsiuside.
As I.ot lower down MI strength re
urrea. snd tbs nsnses disappeared, !
esehed our tspt sbou, Eve O'Clock. zar
,rieeen srri,ed IN hour snd . bali later.
Is had sslne1 the sanmi. snd pisnted
o ice-sIe there, bat be y. 30 weak and
Irea thai be could hsrdly talk, A mouth