The Alaska daily empire., 1913-07-17
DETAILED STORY
 OF STUCkS CLIMB
Continued from Page 1.)

Arriving at the 1S,OOO-foot level on June 9th, MT. Stuck decided that from this point the final dash to the summit should be made on the first favorable opportunity.
 Up to this date the weather condi- i tions on the mountain were mOmentar- fly changeable, varying in the A hours from the soaring bite of the bowling blizzard to the swelter of Northern spring sun. Camp was made and the party pitched tent all most on the identical spot where the Parker Brown party made their high est camp. Traces of the old camp were distinctly visible, and one cigarette stub was found imbedded in the fro zen crust.
 At four o'clock next morning, un- der favorable conditions, the interpid ones set out for the final dash. It was the -Harper's-turn to take the lead, the others in order as follows: Karstens, Tatum, with Stuck in the rear. At this altitude the climb was most distressing. Breathing was difficult and the heartbeat dangerous ly accelerated For the first time during the trip creepers had to be worn on the ice-clad slope. Halts were numerous and welcomed, not more than twenty paces being made at a time.
 'Plodding wearily along on the all most vertical slope under conditions almost beyond human endurance, Har per surprised his comrades by yelling excitedly, We are here
 With considerable exertiOn the party staggered to the summit, the Archdeacon on arrival, losing con- sciousness for a few moments.
 At 1:20 D. m, on pended knees, with heads uncovered, on the summit of Mt. Mckinley, Archdeacon Stuck and party gave thanks to God for his goodness and help in enabling them to realize the mighty task which they had undertaken. An imprOvised tent was erected for observation pur- poses and the reading of the instru- ments The mercurial barometer was read and logged, whilst the boiling 1, tharpmOmatpr showed TAO
 "The party had no flag along, so Tatum got busy. Using his white silk handkerchief as a background and HaTper's blue one as a canton, he built flag which he now considers his most cherished possession.
 Thirteen white stars were sewed on and the red bars were procured from the binding of an old needle-case in the Indians possession.
 Attached to an eight-foot piece of birch-the remnant of their sled rail the flag was triumphantly hoisted and saluted by the party, after which it was solemnly lowered. In it's place stands a cross on which is the follow ing inscription: Erected by Archdea- con Stuck and party, of the Yukon, June 7th, 1913. A. M. D. e.
 "The summit of the mountain was found to be basin-shaped about 60 feet long by 20 feet wide.
 'The scene from the top of Mt. Mckinley was grand beyond descrip- tion. The sun was shining brightly, the Coast Range standing out in bold relief. A distant fog obscured the view of the sea beyond the mighty range. For almost an hour the party rested and gazed in awe-struck ad- miration at the wonderful panorama which for the first time to their knowl- edge the human eye had looked upon. "A few minutes after three o'clock the party started to retrace their steps down the mountain-side. Halt ing at the 1S,OO0O-foot level. they searched diligently for the theremom- eter left at this point by the Parker Browne expedition but failed to To- cate it. Obtaining a few days pro- visions from the cache they contin- ued their journey and arrived at base headquarters without further incl dent.
 Resting for a day, enjoying the long denied delicasies of coffee, su- gar and cream, the party struck camp and made for Dimond's in the Kantish- ma country, where they embarked on their polling boat and floated down to Fort Gibbon."
 -O-O-O
 UTUATnTU