Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-18
DEFY THE STRENGTH OF NAN
Himalayan Psaks Lure the Daring and
Mock Their Efforts.
SUBMITS UNTOUCHED BY HUMAN FEET
Tragic Pate of = Party OF Mountain
CIimbers-Limit Of HUMAN En-
durGnce in Raroaed AIR
Already Attained.

No one has yet stood on the summit OF
any OF the higher Himaiayas. Strenuous
attempts have been made to reach one
or another OF these eliminating points, but
all have failed. The man who holds the
record for high climbing. DR.. Workman.
Of Massachusetts, Is not sanguine that
any Of the highest peaks will be conquered
Coxwsll and Glsisher attained in their
balloon a little higher altitude than the
top OF Mount Everest, but that was a very
different thing from reaching the same eie-
walton above the sea and the same strata
Of extremely rarehed air through the ire
Inendous exertfon- and strain OF pulling
ones self up the steepest Of ice slopes.
Dangers are multiplied on the Hima-
laysn submits that are from 400 to nearly
5000 feet higher than workman's recent
climb. Every danger Of climbing in the
Alps and Caucasus is intensified and the
peril of rock or snow avalanche is greater
than has been met in any other mountain
region. We have only recently heard Of
the accident that last fall cost the lives
ot four men who were struggling up the
south slope OF Kangchenjunga, the third
highest mountain in the world
Magnificent spectaeIe.
As the traveller leaves the train that
has carried him to Darjeeling he sees to
the north of him one OF the most magnifl-
cent speetacles that the earth affords. He
sees the green of subtropical verdure
stretching far away: and seemingly just
beyond the green, but from fnrty-five to
nifty miles from Darjeeling, the dazzling
white Of the Kangchenjunga range is lifted
into the upper air. The high Hlmalayas OF
Neral and sikhim are spread before his
eyes.
All of these higher mountains have an
elevation OF more than 5000 feet. Some
Of them are more than 5000 feet high; and
n little west OF the center NJ tR range
rises the mighty mass OF Kangchenjunga,
overlapping all its brother submits. 1t
il 2s,15O feet high The top Of Mount
Everest may just be discerned far to the
northwest, so dwarfed by nearer mountains
that with all it's % 900 feet It seems insig-
nificant; and hundreds OF miles further
west Is K3 OF the Indian Survey which.
with ifs $3.50 overtops Kangchenjunga by
only $50 feet. The whole southern slope OF
Kangchenjunsa is often plainly In view
from Darjeelipg and It was on this south
ern slope that the accident occurred.
Tragic Fate OF CIImbeFs,
Mr. Crowley had organized q party OF
alpinists to attempt the ascent Of the third
highest mountain. He was Joined from
France by Messrs t-Guillarmod, Pach'
and Reymon. and the Indian government
save them an escort OF Gurkha mountain
eers. II was thought that their prospects
were favorable They left Darjeelng IL
hOh hope of brilliant success.
Few particulars of the accident have
been received, but IL II known that aftel
the party had assembled to a height u
about 21,OC0 feet. struggling upward II
two groups, six men who were rope(
together were swept from their feet b,
IN avalanche and carried over a prec
ipice. Pache and three Gurkhas were
killed. and Jacot- Guillarmod and De RICH
were badly wounded. Further climbing
was abandoned, but ny, Crowley say
that he will renew his attempt.
This is the only attack Of mountaineer
upon the higher peaks Of the Kangchen
fimEa tRpge, and it remains to be seei
whether the trsgical result will very sooi
whet the appetite OF slpinists for furthe
cSpcrience on the slopes Of these for
mid3b'4 mountains. Douglas Freshhel
visited them several years ago to do som
high climbing, but a fall Of three feet o
snow just as he reached the base OF Ksng
chenjunga put an end to his progress
lie succeeded in passing entirely aroun
tho range and In making fairly good ma
og h; aud the clear atmospheric condi
tlons after the storm enabled Mr.. Sells
the famous mountain photographer. {
obtain series of magnificent views o
these highest Of the eastern Himaiayas,
CnattainAbIe Heights.
II was Ear Ia the west that DR.. Work
man made his record ascent OF 1854 fee
on Pyramid Peak Last summer he CAV
to the British Alpine club his reasons 70
thinking that Mount Everest is not likel
20 be conquered In the near future. II
believes II cannot be assembled withou
means of transport superior to any no.
obtainable, and after prolonged sieges. dun
ing which the mountaineers will have I
meet and overcome. not only the physics
obstacles presented by the peak itself. b.
also those offered by altitude. heat. col,