The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1911-07-28
EXPERIENCE IN AN
ELECTRIC ZONE
DEL CAMPO ASCENDED AND EX-
PLORED BY ATHENA MINISTER
Stones Writhe as Though En-.
dowed With Life, Giving
Forth Queer Sound.

A. Maoke enzie Meldrum reports a
very pleasant holiday spent in the
mountains of western Washing ton
with his friend. Mr.. r. L. Bussa bar
ger. accompanied by Mr.. Hilen Of
Everett. A big landslide on the
Monte Christie road necessitated walk
ing about forty miles into the noun.
talns On reaching Del Campo they
were royalty entertained by that gen.
ial and we'll known niue promoter,
Mr.. J. Morton. Mr.. Meldrum exam
lned the several prospects and regal DIS
them as of great value. He says;
sit is the best sulphide copper sur
face prospect have ever seen in this
or any other country" The whole
country around Del Campo is highly
metaliferous. and Mr.. Morton, with
an efficient staff of practical miners,
is systematically developing the
claims. The camp is nearly 5000 feet
above sea level and consists of Messrs.
Gust Lundberg, Fred Kaufman, Otto
and Albert Freibel.
High above the miners tents towers
the rugged c1ags of Mount Del Campo,
a peak which the visitors were told
was inaccessible. Around the foot
hills and upland valleys were seen
several wild goats and few black
bears. Mr.. Meldrum had shot at
big black bear. which was roofing
about like hog, in deep valley.
One of the party declared he hit it,
for he saw the big fellow jump as he
took to the tall timber.
Otto Friebel and MIR. Meldrum deter
mined to try their prowess on Del
Campo. Leaving the rest of the COM
pany. they began to ascend the almost
preoipitous sides of the horn like peak.
1t was Saturday, at 8 a. M, on July
18th when they started on the last
1900 feet we'll equipped with alpen-
stocks, their companions watching
with intense interest the doubtful pro-
gress of the climbers.
The rest of the story we reproduce
in Mr.. Meldrum's own words:
''The snow was cleared at 5000 feet,
and the rest of the climb was COM
pleted by the finger and toe process,
the cliffs being SO nearly perpendicular
that snow would not lie upon them.
After three bours { f strenuous effort,
the dizzy height was gained. When
nearing the top storm came sweeping
over the mountains, heavy lain fell
and the atmosphere was charged with
electricity. When within ten feet of
the tor strange whirring, sizzling
sound was heard, which Mr.. Friebel
declared was the wind whistling
against the rough contour of the crags.
"Resting an alpenstook against a
ledge of rock. we heard similar
sound, which l thought must be cleo
tIicity. AS soon as reached the top
startling experience befell me.
Every rock upon which stepped
seemed to be alive and sizzled aloud
with cracking sound. The summit
was narrow, only few feet in diam
eter, and as soon as dared to stand
erect a strange sensation seized my
head, which sent me to my knees with
pain. For moment it seemed that
my scalp would be torn from my head.
I beckoned to my companion to come
to my aid with painful gestioulations;
but as Mr.. Friebel had as yet expert
enced no inconvenience, being about
ten feet from the summit. he laughed
heartily at my inexplicable predica-
ment. But no sooner had he
gained the top than be too felt sim
liar pain which made him crouch
among the rocks. 1t was, as be ex-
pressed it, 'as il an Indian laid hold
of my hair and ran his soalping knife
around my head.
"The current lasted only for short
time and was intermittent in its vic.
lence. When wo stretched out our
hands as if we would shake hands, the
fluid jumped from hand to hand with
sharp succession of whip-like cracks.
In few minutes the storm passed
over and the current lessened. Then
we dared to stand upright. and as Mr..
II