The sun., 1906-12-07
MISS PECK BACK FROM ANDES.
TWICE FAILED ~ HER ATTEMPT
TO SCALE HUASCiN,


Miss Annie Peck, who climbs mountains
Cor fun and who has probably been higher
hp in the world than any other American
komsn, returned to New York from Peru
yesterday, acknowledging herself repulsed
but not beaten by the peak Huascan. Twice
she attempted TO reach the summit of this
che loftiest OF the Andes and twice she
failed. She says she will try again.
To climb this unexplored volcanic peak
(which bears the name Of one Of the incas
Of the ancient Peruvian empire has been
'the ambition OF Miss Peck since she made
her drst trip through the Andes several
wears ago Last May she left New York
determined to place a little silk American
nag on the summit of the patriarch Of all
che Andes.
With an outfit chosen through her eX-
perience ss a mountain climber Miss Peck
made her way into the Hiatus Valley, which
lies at the foot OF one of Huascans spurs.
Choosing two South Americans to act as
guides and five Indians as porters. the
young woman set out in the early part of
July to climb the more than 10000 feet to
the summit of the cone.
Miss Peck began 10 realize the frailties
of mere man before the first 5000 feet were
achieved. One Of the South Americans
she had selected to accompany her was
crazy-just crazy, as Miss Peck puts it
ana the otner was a coward. When the
party found themselves far up in the wilder
ness OF snow and glacial ice the man who
was a coward quit without shame.
The woman and the six remaining men
pushed on up the white flank OF the noun
tain. Troubles came in assorted lots.
The snow blindness began to affect the
Indians. Food ran short. The crazy man lost
A. - - IL l.
On the third day Of the climbing, when
5000 feet had been scaled, the Indians de-
rnanded three times the amount OF pay
Miss Peck had promised them. She refused
and then all five of the porters began to
take the downward path in long strides.
The one woman there alone with the crazy
Peruvian citizen in the cloud waste called
the Indians back and agreed to their terms.
The upward march was again commenced.
but before an hour had passed Miss Peck
thought she discovered the cause for the
Indians belligerency. Six quarts of raw
alcohol brought along for the purpose Of
heating the canned food had been absorbed
by the Ave Indians during the progress up
the mountain. Raw alcohol at the elevation
n 900 feet began 60 have an effect.
There were devils in the air, Ehe Indians
said and II they gained the summit, where
no man had ever set foot and where the
spirit Of Huaecsn slept, they would all be
turned TO stone.
The woman gave il up. She could not
60 on alone and her porters refused to go
on with her. Back down the mountain
the party took its way
In August the American woman surprised
tue natives about the village OF Yungay
st the foot OF Huascan by announcing that
she was going to 60 up the mountain again.
This time she chose new porters and she
took double precautions against their
failing her in making her choice.
But all Indians in South America are alike,
says Miss Peck; they are all just as bad al
IKE he first. In failure. The porters wore
Iissyi vperssitious end sullcn. Each IN.