The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-03
Noted Personalities in the Current News and Why
Miss Alice Houston Draws Largest Salary for
Woman in Wall Street---Gen. Fayolle Amer
lean Legion's Guest = Professors
Wife Climbs High Peak

~ YOMAN forged to the front in sports
M greatly within the last few years.
And just to show that the so-called
weaker sex can even do its part success
fully in such strenuous and arduous sport
as mountain climbing Mrs. Winthrop Ellis
worth Stone, wife Of the president of Purdue
University, recently climbed Mount Assini-
boine. She thus gained the distinction OF
being the first American woman to reach the
top of what is among the highest and
steepest of the hundreds OF snow peaks In
the Canadian Rockies and Selxirks.
This feat Mrs. Stone did under conditions
highly creditable to her as mountaineer.
Hardy men have often tried to make the
ascent and have failed
From distance Mount Assiniboine pre-
sents an imposing appearance. 1t is SIT
uated about thirty miles south Of Banff, from
which it is reached by a three days journey
over a perilously rough and steep pony
trail. 1t is 1850 feet high and conspicuous
for its pyramid shaped peak, which rises
5000 feet above all the surroundings. Be
cause Of its inaccessibility as we'll as the
difficulties which it offers. the mountain has
only been climbed a few times by men. Pre-
vious to Mrs. Stones ascent, and then only
with the assistance of Swiss guides. in 1904
a Miss Benham of England climbed Assini-
boine. This ascent lasted more than sixteen
hours and was the only other time that the
peak of the mount had been reached by
woman.
Has Climbed for Years.
OF course Mrs Stone is not a novice In
mountain climbing. Her experience in that
arduous outdoor sport covers about ten
years and may be regarded as training for
her recent great climb. With her husband
most of her summers are passed In the high
mountains of the Northwest and Canada
She has made more than forty first class
ascents.
Several years ago Mrs. Stone became an
active member OF the Alpine Club of Can
AGA. She is the proud possessor of the AL
pire Club badge, q special mark of distinc-
lion awarded only to those who persistently
and successfully pursue this form of sport
She is also member of the mountaineering
club known the Mazamas of Portland
Gre.
During the last summer the Alpine Club
OF Canada established a camp near Assini-
boine. Thus a large number of it's members
were enabled to reach the mountain. but of
these only comparatively small percentage.
including Mrs. Stone were enabled to make
the ascent When she won the distinction
CT being the first American woman to reach
the top OF the peak, Mrs. Stone was accom-
paned by her husband and two other men,
including A. II. Mccarthy. who acted as
leader The party dispensed with profess
sional guides, preferring to climb as anna
tours. as has been the practice of the Pur
DIE University president and his wife.
Mountain climbing is not only One of the
most exhilarating and pleasant of pastimes,"
said this woman devotee Of the sport when
questioned about her feat. but it Is one that
Is an excellent medium to the attainment of
good health and physical perfection of
women. or course such an ascent as that
the peak of Mount Asslnboine requires
technical knowledge which only comes from
years of experience among rocks and ice
and snow.