The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-10-07

greater degree the holiday ground Of
Europe, which means that there are
far more people climbing than there
used to be-
1t is pretty safe to say that therein
lies the explanation Of the growing
oeath roll Of the Alps. Where one
tourist trod the mountain side de-
cade ago there are probably ten now,
and the olu idea that anybody can
climb is, unfortunately, just as ram
pant as ever In regard to every otn-
erform of sport, the tourist viii will
ingly admit that training and exper
fence are essential if a man is TO excel,
but mountaineering he considers the
exception which proves the rule, and
he deems himself safe on the most
hazardous expedition if only he can Sc
cure the services Of a competent
guide. This is the crowning fallacv
OF all. for the most trusted of guides
is powerless to prevent accidents to
inefficient climbers. Mountaineer-
ing. in a word. is a risky business for
those who do not understand IT, how
ever extensive may be their Decun-
iary precautions But to those who re-
gard it seriously It is a nexcellent
and a tolerably safe sport, more cap
able than other probably of testing
the powers of human endurance fore
sight and patience.
A mountaineer should begin young
and he can make a good start in this
country either in the lake district
where there are several climbers
clubs. or in Wales or Scotland. In
all three districts a good deal Of wort
is done in winter, and good deal
may be learned about snowcraft The
snow and ice climber, by the way
looks down with some amount of con-
tempt on the mere rock climber. be
cause the latter's work is considered
to afford a less considerable test Of
endurance and ability. There is no
glacier work to be done in these ISL
ands. it is true. but the Knowledge
which is picked up gives the climber
good start, enabling him to take in
hand the smaller things in Switzer-
land, and to gradually attain to the
larger. Climbing, however, must be
climbing. and not hauling up, a point
about wnicn our Alpine club very
= particular when application is made
for membership. There are those
who. after a certain amount of climb
ing in their youth drop it for awhile,
and yet hnu themselves able to take
it up again later in life.
There are varying practices In
climbing. In the Tyrol, for instance,
there is a good deal of work which can
be done with two men on rope. An
objection has been raised that if the
heavier man slips he invariably pulls
the lighter man over, and this, no
. doubt, is Why, in other parts of the
Alps. they nave three on a rope, SO
that while one man moves the others
. may be ready for the possible strain.
Since the 1st Of January Of this
year 11S accidental deaths have oc
y cured in the Swiss Alps alone.
As if in warning each year, the
. French Alpine club issues a list OF
the accidents that have occurred dur
ing the previous season, but the req
" Alpine enthusiast pays no heed tc
the hints II gives of danger.
= Nine times out Of ten his accident
= is due to recklessness.
Z The last recorded death of an Amer
= lean was on August 2S Mrs. Wick
" ham Smith OF Brooklyn. N. Y, haC
started for a trip over the Furk'
pass. She had longed TO see the grea
:. ice cavern rising in majestic blu'
arch above the rushing stream oI
the River Rhone In this instance thu
acctNEnt that led TO death was in nj
Wine Cue 10 the carelessness Of th'
vicAm AS Mrs. Smith, filed with en-
thu.,isNm, and reverence, stood a
the entrNnce Of the grotto she wa
struck b. S huge falling sheet Of ice
2 The force OF the 1Iow was tremend
4 GUS, falling her instantly.
The great grim Matterhorn, wit
s its icy neeaie, that rises 1886 fee
j into the air. seems TO hold forth NOR
IA temptation to the defiant climber tina
ad any of the Alpine peaks.
Thirteen victims have surrendere
le their lives there in thirty-six year
3 Yet the fascination Of the snow car
'' ped peak stln entices.
Only a few weeks ago Dr. Blac
iC and Miss Bell both well known I
England started out with a party 2
& seven jolly companions and guid
rar-fwrr a. tho nrne