Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-31
AN ARcHBlsHoP's FEAT
Mannlx, Of Australia, Does Bright
Angel Trail at the Grand Can
yon on Foot---The Physical
Strain In Figures
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

A RCHBISHOP MANNIX. Of Aus
"A tralia, looms very large in the eyes
Of the world today. His speeches In this
country on the Irish situation and Pre-.
mier Lloyd Georges declaration that,
as a result, lie is to be penalized by
refusal Of the governments permission
to land anywhere in the kingdom, have
made him an international character.
The archbishop is tall and slender,
sinewy and active, and devoted to out
door life.
A Philadelphia friend who recently
returned from southern California via
the Grand Canyon tells a very interest :
ing story Of an episode in which the
archbishop was the central figure that
occurred at the canyon during the
prelate's journey eastward.
One morning the hierarch. accom- =
panied by his two secretaries. an.
nounced to Manager Brent. Of the FL
Tovar Hotel. that he contemplated a
trip down Bright Angel Trail to the
river.
Those who have visited the Grand
| Canyon and made this tortuous and
perious journey will recall the thrills
and heart sinkings that invariably ac-
company the trip.
II is, of necessity. made on the back
of a burro, and once made is never for
gotten and never repeated by the
tourist.
T1lIE manager inquired If the arch
i bishop and his party had made
burro reservations. and was aStonishcd
to learn that the trio proposed to make
the descent on foot. His protestations
were met with smiling rcassuranccs that
they feared no danger. were accustomed
to mountain climbing and that the
beetling prccipices and narrow paths,
with space below and rocks overhead,
held no terrors for them.
but there is no parallel between
this trip down Bright Angel and the
ascent of a mountain persuaded the
hotel manager.
when you ascend mountain you re
fatigued when you reach the summit.
and the descent is the easiest part. You
may descend the trail with comparative
case. but the ascent will exhaust you.
But the archbishop and his secre-
tdG1pS Ouls at NhN A'"hNb'' -
anxiety.
He then cndeavored to persuade them
to take some lunch along. but even this
was declined. 1t was pointed out that
there was no potable water to be had
along the trail. but the idea of burden
ing themselves even with wat"r was
Objectionable.
Finally in despair Manager Brent in
sisted that each must ut least carry two
lemons in his pocket, for hc knew what
he was talking about. and to this the
prclatc and his companions reluctantly
aSSentcd.
TIIE archbishop is described as a man
L Of years Injured to walking and
climbing. wiry. flexible as to his mus
cular development, self confident and
fearless.
But Bright Angel Trail on foot was
task unlike any he had ever set HIM
self to perform.
Returning tourists. ncrveless. weary
and blcar eyed over the racking expert
cnCcs Of the day. came struggling up the
trail toward evening. They reported
the arrival of the archbishop and his
companions at the bottom in safety.
though surprised at the length of the
Journey and its character.
Night approached and the trio had
not appeared Glasses were brought
into play. but no moving figures could
be discovered or the trail in the occa-
sional places where it came into view
in the narrow and hazardous distance.
The hotel people and guides. as the
early darkness Of the Arizona evening
began falling. were arranging rescue
party when tho three churchmcn ap-
nearcd on the plateau beyond the hotel
They were about exhausted. They
had suffered from lack of water and
were in, need of food. While still
stout hearted. it was plain that the
ficsh would have conquered the spirit
had they been compelled to climb much
further.
They subsequently acknowledged that
their venture was greater than they had
ever anticipated. and had it not been
for one thing they doubtless would have
succumbed. not only to the dangers but
to the physical exhaustion consequent
to their efforts:
The lemons saved them.