The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-08
Miss Pec1 Tells OF Her Fa,hous Climb
To the Summit OF Mt. Hmasraran.

| Mt. Hu3scaran, the highest peak of
the Western Hemisphere, for readers
| of the Delineator. Miss Annie s. PECK
mentions hardships that are enough >
discourage the most foolharGy adven-
turer Miss Peck was accompanied
| by two starlwart Swiss guides, Rudolf
| and Gabriel. The little party started
with the severe handicap of unusual
| cold, high winds and a great amount
| of snow frozen so hard that it was
difficult to cut steps on the pcccipi-
| tous mountainside. Owing to the loss
of an Eskimo suit, the daring climber
was compelled to wear much cloth
| ing, which hindered her movements
| and provided inadequate protection
| from the fierce wind and terrible cold.
At a critical time in the ascent a.
guide lost one. of her fur mittens and
owing to this accident her left hand
began to freeze on the upward trip.
After overcoming extraordinary OBJ
stGcles the party reached the noun
tain heights.
took snapshots with my camera in
all four directions. and them turned
downward, says Miss Peck. 1t was
not moment for rejoicing. The time
for that would be when we were down
again. Higher, perchance, than any
one had ever been, except possibly
in balloon with death resulting to
most OF the party, four miles and a
half above the level of the sea, nearly
four times as high as the summit o.
Mt. Washington, we did not enjoy the
view. being two high and also too
cold
Half past three. Soon it would be
dark. Seven hours coming up!
Would IL take as many to get down?
Steep rocks or icy slopes are more
dangerous to descend than to- go up.
and after nightfall. far more per-
ilous. So, without a moments rest,
we began to retrace our steps,. The
summit ridge. a quarter of mile or
more in length. was quickly travers-
ed. but at the edge Of the ridge our
difficulties began.
Some time after dark it seemed
advisable for Gabriel to take the lead.
There vas a long traverse and Gre
vases, caverns and appalling slopes
across the wide flank of the noun
tain. Now the moon was just behino
me, casting shadow over the place
where I must step. The poncho would
often sway in the wind, as 1 was in
the act of stepping, SO as to conceal
the spot where 1 must place my foot.
1 had previously thought myself sure
footed. and my eye for distance is
good; but now my foot missed the
exact spot SC that fell as usual, in
| sitting posture, crying out to warn
the guides. 1 expected nothing seri-
Gus. What, then, was my horror to
find that thus sitting 1 was sliding
| down that CLASSY slope! We were all
nearly in the same line, so 1 slid fif
| teen or twenty feet before the rope
held. Now to get back! The guides
called to me to get up, but was all
in a heap, the rope tight around my
waist, and unable to move So the
men came together just above and
hauled me up the slope. Thankful
, once more to be in the line of the
steps I started onward, resolved to be
more careful. But again I slipped
and again slid far below. Each time
my terror increased. 1t seemed that
The way would never end! 1 begged
Gabriel to stop for the in some
cavern or crevasse. sayi. that we
should never get down alive, but he
| refused to listen and kept on. Hal
! we halted, we sh ould have frozen.
Once when 1 slipped / was astonish
ed to see Rudolf dart ty me far be
! low. l did not dream that he had
|
assist me by running down there. La
ter learned that he did slip, and only
the strength and resolution of Ga
| briel saved us all from destruction. !
| was astonished later TO hear that Ru-
| Golf never expected to get down alive
| Eoth hands and one foot being froZ-
en-. he naturally had not firm footine
Gabriel said he never despaired ex
! cept when Rudolf slipped Then h
thought we were all lost. But he stoO I
iirm though two fingers were caught
| between the rope and his ice Ak, Tor
| he knew It was life or death. He'd he
| gwen way, after sliding some distance
We should all have dropped off thou
sands of feet below.
i 1.,..A