The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1941-10-24

reached the ledge above. When his
two companions arrived at the
chimney'S top, they assembled the
slab easily with the help of Rufus
tight rope.
That night the party camped on a
ledge scarcely wide enough for all
three of them to lie down side bv
side. Directly beneath them was a
drop of some thousands of feet.
Above, the summit was scarcely 700
feet away, a good half-mile of climb
ing The temperature was far be-
low freezing. The air had become
light and was difficult to breathe.
Every step during the past three or
four hours of climbing had been tor
ture lung-racking A rest was re-
CURED every few feet.
Rufus eyes began to burn with a
strange light. No man had before
reached the height to which the
three had assembled.
As usual they were up before
dawn. and at the faintest hint of
daylight had begun the climb.
Progress was snail-like, every foot
gained meant a tremendous Strug-
gle A slip now would mean de-
struction to all three, SO precarious
were footholds. BY noon they had
accomplished but a scant 200 feet
An hour later heavy mist en-
shrouCed them. Rufus knew the
signs. and great as was his eager
ness he was not fool. He led his
companions back to the upper
camp. and for two days they re-
manned inside the shred of a tent
that was their camp, while a fierce
storm ragged without
On the third day it cleared, and
again they attempted TO gain the
summit But again a storm over
took them and they were forced to
retreat.
That night they held a conference.
1t was. they agreed, an impoSSibility
for all three. to gain the summit
Someone must be left behind. An
other camp would have to be estab-
lished further up, and it would be
out of the question to transport
enough food and equipment for
three
Daniels and Flagg were younger
They realized that if the thing could
be done it would fall TO them. And
yet they hesitated, knowing the OBJ
session that fairly haunted the mind
of Rufus Little.
Rufus was silent for a long time.
But at last he looked into the eyes
of his two. youthful companions and
nodded. The two youths carried a
memory of that look for many a
year afterward.
Early the next morning Daniels
and Flagg started out All day
long Rufus awaited in the camp be-
low with his thoughts. At dusk the
two youths returned. 1t was
impossible, they said, to gain the
summit. An insurmountable over
hanging ledge jutted out and pre-
vented progress from all angles
Rufus listened to the pair and said
nothing. The next morning he an
nounced he was going to attempt
the ascent alone. Daniels and Flagg
tried 10 dissuade him, but the old
veteran was obstinate. He depart
ed with his companions pleas ring
ing in his ears.
At night their companion had not
returned and Daniels and Flagg fell
into n dOzo sP1, rO,n of tho rov4 dow
they began to lose hope BY mid
afternoon they knew that no living
thing would have been able to with
stand the ravages of exposure for so
long a period.
They held on for another day,
however, and then descended to the
next camp. Here they waited three
days more and then sorrowfully be-
gan fighting their way downward
That was the last time Rufus
Little had ever been seen. The fol-
lowing spring two aviators an
nounced their intention of flying over
Glaciers summit, no small feat in
itself. And in May of the same year
the act was accomplished.
Among other things. the aviators
reported seeing something that
looked like torn piece of jacket
plastered against tiny mount on
the summit Daniels and Flagg,
both of whom heard the announce
ment, exchanged startled chances.
And then, joyfully, they knew. Old
R11f1IS little had rea1izod bic am hi
ton. Mount Glacier had been
conquered!