New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-08-23
DESERTED BY GUIDES
Hiss Peck, Woman Mountain
Climber, Tells of Experiences.

Mis-. Annie s. Peck who sstonished mountain
climbers the world over by announcing the other
day that she had climbed 5000 feet toward the
top of Mount Huascaran. in che Andes. IS a ma
tive of Providence. She began her career as a
mountain climber in 1885 while studying IN Athens
That year. with number OF her friends, she as
cended Hyrnettus and Pentlicus. and the expert
ence thrilled her that she became lie convert
To this form OF sport Miss Peck has been profess
sor of Latin IN Smith College. and has spoken
art and archaeology before the American Geo
graphical Society," the National Geographical So
ciety, and many colleges and institutions all over
the country.
Miss Peci's mountain climbing costume comprises
a heavy pair leather shoes. with iron nails in the
soes and heels; heavy knit sweater and a pair
Of mans knickerbockers. Her hat IS always tied
down by veil. She carries heavy iron pointed
, stick.
One of Miss Pecks favortts stories Is OF the time
when her guides. becoming faint hearted. but not
wishing TO show IL woman fixed up deal to
ask for increases OF wages so great that could
not pay them. Then they struck and refused TO
climb further
"It was on my trip up Mount Sorata- IN Bolivia.
she said, that my guides struck With me were
two Spanish-Amerfcans and five half breed Ind
ians We pushed up until the 5000 foot limit was
reached and OF the Spanish-Amertcans
turned coward and left I then found that the
other half-witted- The Indians were grow
ing disconnected continued.
They delighted in telling the story that those who
looked from the summit turned TO stone They
wanted to frfghten me- so WOulQ not 90 up any
further. Nevertheless. went Then. at the
IT. 500 foot point the guides struck for more
offered them double. and even then they were not
| satisfied Then I made It treble. but that did not
satisfy them At last they refused absolutely 70
90 further and we had to return. although within
q few hundred feet OF the top The top Of SOrata
reached 20, 500 feet into the clouds
"a second attempt, made within three months
on this mountain got no further toward
the summit for same The guides quit.
| They were afraid OF something; just what I could
never determine did want couple OF good old
Swiss guides You rely upon them"
Miss Peck in 1895 delivered address in In
fantry Hail. Providence, In which she told OF the
| desire in her to climb mountains. which, she
said, to her in the early SOS. when she was
within sight of the Matterhorn. She told her story
\ follows:
when first came IN sight Of the summit OF the
| great Matterhorn I seized with desire TO
climb top and look the great exparss
l of earth that I knew must be visible from such
| height Ever since the day first looked at It's
peaked top intended climb up there, despite the
| fact that people laughed when told them
| about my desire.
| so 1t was notwithstanding letters advising me
not to try from many other mountain climbers OF
reputation. went there one day determined 10 get
to the top. or. rather. to get the very top
/ as Il was possible for any 20 get
l 'I went Switzerland Just for the purpose OF
4 climbing the Matterhorr. and. you see. have
climbed It and back here tell you about IT.
But may be you think wasn't afraid TO start?
Well, wasn't exactly AFRAID, put tell you was
4 skepticaI-
4 Before I started up the mountain picked out
l the spot where wanted to be buried. provided
was die the trip and my body found There
is a little English cemetery IN Zerm&tt: and told
4 those about that wanted 70 rest there II
\ never to my home Many predecessors
were buried there, mountain climbers who had been
/ overwhelmed upon the sides Of the great Matter
/ horn.
THE prime requirement for a successful
| tain climber must be determination, accompanied
| with a strong heart and physical strength One
must have good lungs and steady head. and a
person who will become dizzy under any circun-
stances should try climb mountain
1T Is also necessary for person to be able 10
climb for fifteen eighteen hours day steadily.
over the hardest kind Of climbing imagine.
Before attempting the NLatterhorn went 70
the TyroI and climbed several mountains there tn
get into the hang the thing and to learn for NY
self what would have to put up with IN the at
tempt on the big mountains
Most OF the accidents due to lack Of conf
dence. too much confidence, and seldom from
anything else Folly. OF course. and bravado loss
many lives year. but among the experienced
climbers the accidents are few. comparatively. I
had as hard a climb up the Gloss Glockner in the
TyroI. did up the MatterhOrn- All the terrors
I of any climb could exceed those of the Gloss
Glockner."
| Miss Peck is about fifty years old. and is
member OF the oldest families in the state
| She has brothers living IN Rhode Island
| Peck. of Wakefield The old Peck mansion IS in
] North Main street. in section now settled by
Hebrews In the olden days this section OF the
! city was the fashionable residential district
l Miss Peck is not well OF. and IT has been said
! that her lectures mountain climbing were to
J give her enough money to continue her hobby
4
| nrrcyxrCcc MINI