The Nome daily nugget., 1937-09-04

panions arrived at the chimney's top, they ascended the slab easily with the help of Leonards tight rope
 That night the party camred on a ledge scarcely wide enough for all three of them to lay down side by side. Di- rectly beneath them was drop of some thousands of feet. Above, ths summit was scarcely 700 feet away, a good half mile of climbing. The temperature was far below freezing. The air had be- come light and was difficult 10 breathe. Every step during the past three or four hours of climbing had been tor ture, lung-racking. A rest was required every few feet.
 Leonard's eyes began to burn with strange light. No man had yet reached the height to which the three had as cended. The summit, realization of lifetime of dreaming, was in their grasp
 As usual they were up before dawn,t and at the faintest hint of daylight had begun the climb. Progress was small like, every foot gained meant tremen- dous struggle. A slip now would mean destruction to all three, so precarious were footholds. By noon they had ac- complshed but a scant POO feet. An hour later heavy mist enshr0uded them Leonard knew the signs and great as was his eagerness. he was not a fool. He led his companions back to the upper camp, and for two days they remained inside the shred of a tent that was their camp, while herce storm ragged without.
 On the third day it cleared. and again they attempted to gain the summit. But again storm overlook them anu they were forced to retreat.
 That night they held a conference. It was, they agreed an impossibllity for all three to gain the summit. Some one must be left behind. Another camp would have to be established further up, and it would be out of the question to transport enough food and equip ment for three.
 Cameron and Markham were young CT. They realized that if the thing could be done. it would fall to them. And yet they hesitated. knowing the obsession that fairly haunted the mind of Neal Leonard.
 Leonard was silent for long time. But at last he looked into the eyes of his two youthful companions and nod ded. The two youths carried mem- ory of that look for many a year after ward.
 Early the next morning Cameron and Markham started out All day long Leonard waited in the camp below with his thoughts. At dusk the two youths returned. It was impossible, they said, to gain the summit. An insurmount- able overhanging ledge jutted out and prevented progress from all angles.
 Leonard listened to the pair and said nothing. The next morning he an nounced he was going to attempt the ascent alone. Markham and Cameron tried to dissuade him, but the old vet eran was obstinate. He departed with his companion's pleas still ringing In his ears.
 At night their companion had not re- turned. and Markham and Cameron fell into a doze. By noon of the next day they began to lose hope. By mid-after- noon they knew that no living thing would have been able to withstand the ravages of exposure for so long pc riod.
 They held on for another day. how. ever, and then descended to the next camp. Here they waited three days more and then sorrowfully began fight ing their way downward.
 That was the last time Neal Leonard has ever been seen. The following spring two aviatOrs announced their in tention of flying over Glaciers sum init, no small feat in itself And in May of the same year the ac; was ac complishe1.
 Among other things the aviators re ported seeing something that looked like a torn piece of jacket plastered against tiny mount on the summit Markham and Cameron. both of whom heard the announcement, exchanged startled glances. And. then, jOyfuliy they knew. Old Neal Leonard had real ized his ambition. Mount Glacier had been conquered!