Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-22

has cold feet" Now, cold feet are
quite in keeping with mountain climb
ing in Alaska. where the slopes are ice
most of the way up, but Barriil seems
to have got them little early in the
game.
1t was early morning-at least early
by New York standards-when l
sought out Professor Parker recently
in his Brooklyn home. He was born IN
Brooklyn. by the way, and the fact
that he has lived there ever since,
period of approximately forty-three
years. shows something of the heroic
fortitude OF his nature.
4 Lover Of Pictures.
The first thing one notices on enter
ing Professor Parker's home is the
large number of original paintings and
pastels that adorn the walls. Many of
them are of mountains that Professor
Parker himself has climbed. Mr. Bei-
more Browne, by the way, intends co
ing n painting of Mount Mckinley
while on the present trip. and this
will doubtless be added to the Parker
collection. Parker himself talks of art
as though he knew about it. BE Is
member of the Salmagundi club ana
only the true art lover is supposed to
break in there. The impression Pro
fessor Parker conveys is that he IS &
thoroughbred In whatever field he en-
terS He has shown the world that hn
is such as Il scientist and a mountain
climber, SO why not also in his appre-
citation of beauty on canvas? The true
art lovers enthusiasm is one not to
be mistaken. and this cold man of sci
ence certainly displayed a touch of 1t
in talking OF his sketches in water and
oils, some of them signed by famous
names.
Speaking Of pictures, the accompany
ing portrait of the prospective con-
one I ever saw that conveys quite a
correct impression OF the man. His
face is like a knife-not that it is
sharp or thin, but that it cuts its way
into things. 1t has a bold, keen look,
the expression of one who sees far
and stops at no ordinary obstacles.
The lips are thin, the nose sharp, the
eyes unwavering. the chin held high.
The words intrepidity and determine
ton perhaps best express its quail
ties. The skin is tanned and weather
tested like old leather. 1t is the face
of a man who viii go to the top in
he attempts.
Ships For Alaska May 5. d.
Professor Parker talked freely of his
trip. On May 5 the party will take the
Pacific coast steamer Portland for
Alaska. The Portland runs between
Seattle and Seldovia, which is on Cook
inlet The Parker expedition will take
with them a power boat, to Which they
Will transfer at Seldovia, and will then
run up the Sushitna and Chulitna riv-
ers to a point about forty miles from
the base of Mount Mckinley, where
the first base viii be established. They
will then go to the east Of the noun
tain, establish another base and at
tempt the ascent over the eastern
ridges. If they fail here they will
then go to the west and try it from
that side. From the 1906 expedition
they know that the southern slope Of
the mountain is impossible. They !
could not attempt it from the north /
because of the wide detour necessary
to get through the range and the
amount of valuable time that would |
thus be lost One Of the chief factors
on which Professor Parker depends |
for success is that they viii reach the |
base of the mountain in June and will |
thus have the entire summer for their /
work.
There are several peculiar features |
to the trip. One is that no horses will /
be used. The 1906 expedition employed |
horses and found them an actual i'm /
1ediment in the difficult trips over the
ce and through the gorges about the |
foot of the peak. On the present trip
men will pack all the burdens. Be |
tween the two bases is 6 distance of |
sixty miles over a glacier, and here the
going will be hard even for men op
foot 1t would be we'll nigh impossible
FOR horses.
Another interesting feature is that
he party will go over the same ground
hat Cook traversed in 1906. Not only
80, but they purpose climbing the same
peak that Cook is said to have photo.
yraphed and claimed to be Mount Nc,
IIinley. Professor Parker intends to
photograph it from the same position
md thus furnish indisputable evidence
hat will settle for all time the Mount
Mckinley controversy.
Professor Parker spoke most posi-
lively at this point. I'VE do not
hink but know where Cook went"
lie said, and Mr.. Browne, who was
present at the interview, confirmed
lin. 1--WE did not depend on what
3arrill said. We rather expected Bar
Ill to support Dr. Cook. as he had
lone in the beginning We made up
,ur minds from Cooks own story and
and from our knowledge
f the country"
Likes Cook Personally.
At the same time Professor Parker
poke in a most kindly way of DR..
look, saying that he was a pleasant
ompanion, brave and persevering.
Professor Parker took pains to mark
!