Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-02-07
TAz oLpssr cauacA rowEa.
e Is the Trunk of a Giant Fir Tree on
Puget sound.

Tne Puget sound steamer was near
ing Tacoma. the new city leapins into
life an Commencement bav. SAYS the
liouti'S COnpdRioH. The long twilight
ii the north was fading: the Puget
sea was quivering with light; and over
il uuas Mount Tacoma or Rainier.
.nure tnan l4.O00 feet Ligh. like Il tent
Of cloth of gold. its glaciers mingled
with sunset tire.
"YOntler. in Old Tacoma said Il
young man ON the deck of the steamer.
lis the oldest church tower in the
United States. 1t is the trunk OF an
ancient pine
Following the direction pointed out
BY the young mans hand. | diScerned
cross. bell. and dark. leaning
tower, 10 which a curious ladder led
from the roof Of a small church.
The boat slowed in the clear. green
waters amid the cool shadows of the
long points Of fir and pine The sound
of church bell broke upon the still
air. The great dome of Mount Ia
coma was changing from gold into
pink and violet; the shadows in the
water were deepening and the new
city of Tacoma was close mt hand.
The oldest church tower in the
I United States The story haunted
me even amid the confusion of land
! ing, and rs soon as had taken supper
| ] made inquiries about the means of
conveyance to Old Tacoma.
The way was simple and easy-a
| ten-minutes' ride on q street-car.
was soon there. and it was vet light,
for the twilight fades very slowly in
these northern regions. have seen
the Salvation army ut Seattle singing
| from their hymn-books on the open
plateau at s o'clock in the evening by
daylight, and there is still light in the
summer evenings at Tacoma until
much later.
1t was easy to find the little church
with the pine-tree tower. and | was
soon admiring its beautiful ivies.
1t is simple Episcopal chapel with
the trunk of giant FIR tree or pine
! for bell-tower. The sexton was Just
closing the little door.
How old do you suppose the tower
to be?" | asked, appearing upon the
rude step.
.-old?h Some say 500 years; some
StlN IlRAGr II was HEbUdDAN - EItIE
tree before America was discovered.
Ask Mr.. A. the lumber dealer; he
and the bishop built the church. The
church was built in week. Would
| you like to see the ivies inside?"
The iyies inside?n My curiosity
was again excited. | accepted his in-
vitation. We entered the little church,
whose lamps he quickly lighted.
The chapel was rude. but I never
saw more beautiful altar, except at
Christmas. The chancel was filed
with living ivy, which had grown into
it through the seams of the rough
boards. The church was always
trimmed with ivy. How simple and
beautiful it was!
| / met friends in Tacoma and ex.
pressed my delight Mt the poetic beauty
of the old Tacoma church. / was in.
| troduced to Mr.. A, a wealthy lum.
Der dealer, who may be said to have
built the church.
II caused the great pine to be
sawed off," he said, and the bell
and cross were placed upon it. 1t was
the year when the surveys of the North
ern Pacific railroad were completed.
As soon as it was known that Tacoma
was to be the terminus people came
hurrying here, and pitched their tents,
and built their cabins among the great
trees on the hills. With them came the
bishop and we agreed that these peo-
pie should at once have a place in
which TO worship. We began the
church on Tuesday and held service in
it on the next Sunday"
The region about the city of Tacoma
is full of giant pines, some OF them
200 feet high. This tree was evidently
the monarch Of the primeyal forest. II
rose over the inland sea and was famed
by the soft winds of the Kuro Siwo, OF
Japanese current, before Columbus
sailed into the west.
Thousands of Americans will wish
TO say to the bishop of the state Of
Washington. Spare forever that
pine-tree tower" This tree stands
for national sentiment. for primitive
religious principle. 1t is sacred tree.
Long may its slender cross be lighted
by the sunset reflection of Mount Ia
coma, and its bell be heard in the
respondent twilight of that placid
1 4 n