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Show AGAIN CMSGFiEDITED NO TRACE WHATEVER OF DR. COOK'S ALLEGED ASCENT OF MOUNT McKINLEY. The Fairbanks Expedition Reaches Highest Point on the Contlnet With Little Difficulty After Climb of a Month. Fairbanks, Alaska. The Fairbanks expedition to Mount McKlnley, tho tallest peak In North America, reached reach-ed tho summit April 3, after, .a climb of one month from the base. No traces of Dr. Frederick A. Cook's alleged ascent as-cent woro found. Thomas Lloyd, leader of the expedition, expedi-tion, arrived horo Tuesday night. His companions were Daniel Patterson, W. R. Taylor and Charles McGonnlglo, and all reached the top of the great mountain. Tho expedition, which left Fairbanks December 15, while tho controversy over Dr. Cook's disputed uscent was still raging, was financed by Gus Peterson Pet-erson and William McPheo of this city. Tho plan was to go Into camp on the mountain as high an possible, and, probably about J. he middle of May, make a dash for tho summit. The obstacles encountered were not so great as had been predicted. Four camps wore established during tho ascent as-cent and a trail was blazed all tho way to tho crest. Up to 12,000 feet the climbing did not present unusual difficulties. diffi-culties. For tho next 4,000 feet the way led over a steep Ice field, which at first seemed to forbid further progress, prog-ress, but through which, upon exploration, explor-ation, It was found possible to locato a patn. Tho final dash to the top was made from tho lC,000-foot camp. Mount McKlnley terminates In Twin Peaks of equal height, one somewhat rounded and covered with snow, tho other composed of bare and windswept wind-swept rocks. On tho rock peak the Fairbanks climbers placed nn American Ameri-can Hag In a monument of stones. Tho expedition, which was provided with Dr. Cook's maps and book, endeavored to follow his alleged route, but utterly failed to verify any part of his story of an ascent. |