The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-04
AN EXPLORER BAFFLED
DIR. COOK FAILED TO REACH SUMMIT
OF MOUNT M'KINLEY.
stopped by an impossible Granite
slope After Reaching an Altitude
of 1850 Feet.

NEW YORK, Oct. 3.-An attempt made
by DR.. Frederick Cook, of Brooklyn, the
well-known explorer, to scale Mount Nc
Kinley in Alaska has failed. DR.. Cook, ac-
companied by two or three other men,
among them a Columbian University stu
dent, left this city several months ago and
no news of the expedition mad been received
until to-day, when the following telegram,
signed by the leader of the party, was re-
ceived from Valdez, Alaska:
'The assault upon Mount Mckinley re-
suited in our making an altitude of 1000
feet on the southwestern side. AT this
point we were stopped by an impossible
granite slope, which extended 5000 feet
above US. We searched the entire western
side of the mountain for route to the
summit which might offer a prospect Of
success but none was found and the ascent
from the western slope seems practically
impossible. On Sept. signs of winter al
ready were far advanced and although we
should have liked to search the northwest
ern ridge, as well as Muldrow glacier, the
rapidly advancing season forced us to a
point where we could get out of the coun-
try with our horses. Therefore it was
decided to cross the Mckinley range at the
first northerly break in the mountain.
Our previous travels had been over the
route made by the geological survey ex-
petition under Brooks last year, but now
we travelled over unknown ground, marching
about forty-fve miles northward and
swinging eastward into the mountains at
every available opportunity. We crossed
the divide Sept. 8 over a new pass at an
elevation of COCO feet and camped in the
valley of Chulitna. Our aim was to reach
the eastern slope of Mount Mckinley and
on our way out. If the season permitted, to
make another attack from that side
A forced march was made down the
Chulitna, 1t being necessary TO ford and
swim the river many times; but We were
compelled to abandon our horses and build
RATS twenty miles north of a great glacier.
The latter afforded the first easterly route
to the great mountain peak. We explored
IL and made rapid examination of the
eastern slope, but the rapidly approach ching
winter would not permit OF another at
tempt to climb the mountain, and with
much regret we Were forced TO take to our
of Cook inlet, which lay $50 miles to the
south. Before us was journey of sixty
miles down the Chulitna river, of which
nothing was known as to the possibility Of
navigation on a. raft Considerable appre-
hension was felt on this score but the river
proved navigable and the expedition reached
Tyonek in six days.
1.-The net result of the expedition was a
march of coo miles with horses. nearly 400
miles voyage in boats and RATS, the explo-
ration of good deal or new territory, the
discovery of several mountains, glaciers and
rivers The summit of Mount Mckinley
was not possible for US. but the members
of the expedition feel that We did all pos
sible in the short working season of an
Alaskan summer. Every member of the
party has enjoyed good health and will
return directly to the United States"
Dr. Cook was accompanied on his trip by
Ralph shinwald. of Columbia University.
and Robert Dunn