THE CAUCASUS ALPINE EXPEDITION.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7441, 15 October 1889, Page 5

THE CAUCASUS ALPINE EXPEDITION.

TRACES OP MESSRS DONKIN AND FOX DISCOVERED. Mr Clinton Dent, the President of the Alpine Club, dating from Karaoul, Cherek Valley, July 31st, has given the result of the search expedition organised by members of the Alpine Club in order to ascertain the fate of Messrs Donkin and Fox in the Caucasus. "It will be remembered that last year (judging by the entries in Mr Fox's diary, which was sent back to England) and various other circumstances," writes Mr Dent, "we came, to the conclusion that the party had perished on the mountain marked Dych Xau in the Russian official flve-veret map. The la. ft news we had was that on August adch of last year the party started from a bivouac in the Doumala glen, and proceeded up the Uilu A.uz towards the Dych Tau. On July 25th last the search party, consisting of Messrs D. W. FreshQeld and Hermann Woolley, Daptain C. H. Powell, and myself, arrived at KaraouL in the Cherek valley. With us were Mr Woolley's guides, C Josai and J. Saufmann, of Grindelwald, the two guides being EL Maurer and, A. Fischer, Both of Meiringen. Fischer, it should be mentioned, was a brother of the guide who was with Messrs Donkin and Fox, and had volunteered to accompany the party. Hβ worked admirably. We felt tolerably certain that the party had crossed the pass on the east flauk of Dych. Tau, and had camped out on the southern side. Our first duty was therefore to search for this camp. Fortune , favored us throughout. Even the illness of one of the guides was not without iqs good results to the expedition, for, being delayed in canmsome of the party ascended a hill above Karaoul, and, obtaining a good view of Dych Tau, were enabled to form a correct idea of the glacier topograohy, which in the flve-verst map Iβ hopelessly misleading. ' ALL BTXBI&D IW THB lOE. "On July 28th we camped out at the head of the Tutlne glen, close to the glacier. Kaufmann was left behind in the camp. The next day the weather was absolutely perfect, and we made straight for, the southern side of the Ullu-Auz Paea, if such it may be called. Just at mid-day, when within twenty-five uajnutes of the summit of the pass, there came a audden shout from our leading guide, ' The sleep-ing-place.' Wβ had climbed straight to the very spot at the first attempt. There . seemed little enough; a low circular wall of stones, built carefully on a ledge at a height of about 14,000 ft, and almost overhanging ft great cliff. Bat what a tale it told. A cooking-pan lay in one spot, l a knapsack j containing extra provisions, half buried in snow and ice, £a another. A loaded revolver was found under a projecting stone. The sleeping-bags, waterproof coate, &c, of all four members of the party were frozen in so firmly that it cost three hours' work to dig them oat with the iceaxe*. THST HAD fiTARTBD FOB X HIGH CUMB. "Mr Donkin'a camera was not in the 'sleeping place, and there was no rope. The whole of the uncertainty as to the fate of our lost friends was c eared away in a moment. Beyond question they had staited from this bivouac for a 'high expedition, in light marching order, intending to return to the same spot. This expedition could have been none other than the ascent of Dych Tau, which was less than 3000 ft above them, but the only line of ascent lay along a moat formidable ridge. As we looked along the stupendous din's ot this great peak we felt that any accident whatever in such a place meant almost instantaneous death. Along the first part of the actual ridge (or arete, aa mountaineers term it) there was no possible route. It was necessary to make a traverse along the face, probably the southern, and the fall no doubt took place on this side and in aacendlue. There was scarcely anything to arrest the fall until the great bergaehrund at the foot of the slope was reached. The cliffs on both sides were most carefully scanned with the telescope, but nothing was seen. Search in the snowfields and avalanche debris below could have led to no result, ihe results of our search, such as they are, may at least put an end to vague rumors prevalent in the villages of the district. These would hot be* worth mention had we not good knowledge that the almost wild idea that the party had met with violence at the hands of the natives was believed in far more important quarters. The bivouac place is accessible only to trained moontaineer*. No native could, have reached it: - v ' •- • ' - ■ "Some of the smaller effects were brought down, and will be taken back to England. No letter or message was found. It is bat right to add that from the very moment-we set foot in JBuasia we hare received the most valuable assistance from all with whom we have come in eontaeV*