American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1909-10-30
UP BANN0CK PEAK.
Dix American Falls Men Claim They
Reached the Summit of This
High Peak.

Editor Press:-It is currently renort-
that party of six young men of this
town, who, by the way, are more or
less popular and well known. made an
attempt to reach the summit of Ran
mock peak, Sunday the oath. am in
formed that they were absent from
town twelve hours, and claim to have
proof that they not only reached the
summit of the mountain but spent con-
siderable time making scientific obser-
vatlons, collecting specimens and data
concerning the characted of the country
WIND currents, temperature, etc.
understand that the rations of pemmi-
can, dried fish, gum drops, ETC., which
they took with them were not sufficient
to sustain party of six the entire
distance there and back, even on a
forced march. Best authorities claim
that the amount of provisions thew
took with them would have been con-
sumed long before the summit of the
peak could have been reached. I am
writing to you as one whom | think can
give the public the best information
ootalnable, and as considerable doubt
is being expressed that the party ever
reached the summit, whatever light
the Press can throw upon the subject
VIII, l am very sure, be gratefully
received by your readers. | think it no
more than justice that the explorers
should receive credit for just what was
accomplished and no more. am sure
that the public will appreciate
thorough investigation and will await
eagerly published account. Allow
me to say in closing that if sufficient
proof can be established that the goal
was actually reached, too much honor
cannot be given to the intrepid explor-
ers. Anxious Inquirer.
The Press is glad to report that there
is some truth in the report that Ban
mock was scaled, but just how much is
the fine point. DR.. Sykes, J. B. Bro
kaw, Raymond Austin, L. E. Sigmond
Henry Lang and F. F. Perkins started
for the tall mountain and returned very
tired. The stories they tell do not
agree, and this is the strongest evi-
dence that the peak may have been
scaled. As there are six of them to
one of US the Press will not be very
emphatic, but would appreciate blue
print of the routes followed, properly
attested and witnessed by two reputa-
BILE citizens. The stories they tell are
as follows:
j. B. Brokaw: | was first to reach
the top. had my pole climbers along,
which gave me big advantage and
made climbing easy. The peak is very
small at the top, just large enough
to accommodate party of six COM
fortably. | helped myself to beauti-
full view of Arbon valley while the boys
were coming up, and took picture of
the top of the peak which my feet did
not cover. L lett brass tube on the
topmost point which contained evidence
that was the first white man to reach
the summit.
L. E. Sigmond: | was the first of
the crowd to reach the top, and found a
beautiful plateau of about twenty
acres. Brokaw was tangled in the
brush about quarter of mile down,
conversing very earnestly with himself
in an angry tone of voice. Several of
the other boys beat him to the top, and
will bear witness that | was there
when they arrived. | got a view of
about ten million acres of land that |
would like to own, extending from
Blackfoot to Bliss, and south into