The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-19
A FLAG ON RAINIER.
1t Floats From the Summit,
Even if You Can't See 1t.
STORY TOLD BY THE CLIMBERS.
A umble Bee Found at an Altitude OF
$4,000 Feet-Red Snow-Photo-
graphing the Crater.

ENUMcLAw, July 1S.-TSpecial. THE
party which left here June 22nd to plant
the stars and stripes on the summit of Nit.
Rainier, consisting of Oscar Brown, the
well-known mountain explorer, z. L.
Markey, local station agent of the North
ern Pacific railroad company, Silas Balls
ley and Albert G. Rogers, owner and edi-
tor OF the Overland Evergreen, all of this
place, returned at noon yesterday, well
and hearty, and from a member of the
party the following data was cleaned:
Leaving EnumcIaw June 22nd, we pro-
ceeded by way of Wilkison and the Sue
cotash valley, arriving at Longmire's Hot
Springs June Goth. Longmire's Hot
Springs are located at the base of the
mountain, at an elevation of about 200
feet, and possess peculiar and varied prop
critics. One is spring of liquid mineral
paint of a brownish color, which, when
mixed with oil and applied to wooden sur
faces, withstands the test of the rains and
SHOWS of that altitude. A second spring is
gas spring, which makes constant throb-
bing sound, and whose gases produce
when inhaled peculiar sensation in the
chest, which can be felt for several hours
afterward. The greater number, however,
are soda and magnesia springs, the tenn
perature averaging about 81 degrees fab
renheit.
The following day we moved to Para
disc camp. which is located at the timber
line, and at an elevation of 1000 feet. On
June % we spent the day in selecting and
preparing the hagpole and getting ready
for the ascent. The fiagpole, which is %
feet inches long, of Alaska cedar, was
shaved to make it as light as possible, as
every pound of burden adds greatly to the
task and danger of making the ascent,
and when finished weighed about fifty
pounds, but being of dry timber, which
had grown where subjected to constant
whipping of the mountain winds, was as
tough as seasoned hickory.
The last day of June was spent in NOV
ing the flagstaff and camera to point as
near the summit as could be reached and
permit return to Paradise camp, where
wood for cooking could be obtained.
Early on the morning Of the End of July
hasty breakfast was prepared, and at 40
the ascent was commenced. About 8
O'Clock the foot of Gibraltar rock was
reached, where the flagstaff and camera
had been left. Here, before commencing
and cooked some coffee with the aid of
some fagots which had been left with the
bag few days before At $50 the long
climb for the top of the mountain was be-
gun, and for several hours, while climbing
around the base of Gibraltar rock, the as
cent was very slow and dangerous-slow,
because We had to pick the frozen ground
and ice in places to obtain footing, and
Il r L
frequently came with great velocity down
from above. The last 1000 feet, although
the climbing was less difficult, consumed
considerable time, as all were very much
fatigued, and when, at 2:45 D. m. the
southeastern brink of the crater was
reached, search was commenced for a
suitable place where the flag could be Sc
curely planted.
The highest points of the mountains
were covered with snow and ice, with the
exception of the rim of the crater, which
necessitated the planting of the flag there,
where the rocks were kept bare by the
steam issuing from the heated rim of the
crater. A hole was picked in the lava
rocks two feet deep, the broken rock from
which at the bottom were SO warm that
they could not be removed with the bare
hands. The flag pole was firmly planted
and the space around the pole firmly filled
in and tamped. after which boulders and
rocks were piled around the staff several
feet high to prevent its being carried
away or blown down by the winds. At
the top of the staff iron rings had been
placed to permit the flag to turn on the
staff without winding up, and when all
was completed the dag, TO which was at
tached streamer ten feet long bearing
the name "Enumclaw," was raised. and
there being cool stiff breeze toated
beautifully in the clear atmosphere on the
peak of the grand old mountain.
The party then admired the beauty and
| grandeur of the surrounding country. The
Sound was plainly visible. but the cities of
Seattle and Tacoma were invisible, al
though the town of Enumclaw could be
distinctly seen, and with the aid of q field
glass several buildings of the town could
| be identified.
Looking to the north, Mt. Stewart and
| Mt. Baker, to the south and southwest
Mt. Adams and Mt. ST. Helens, further
south Mt. Hood and beyond its western base
| Mt. Jetferson-giants Of the Cascades
raised their snowy peaks up to the skies.
| In the Coast range, Mt. Constance and Mt.
| Olympus lowered above the surrounding
| snow-capped crags.
| Several views of the flag and crater were
| taken. At $50 p. m. the descent to camp
was begun, and at 8 O'Clock the fat gued
| party were refreshed with cup of coffee
and lunch al the foot of Gibralter rock.
and Paradise camp was reached at IL 80
| by the worn out party who had left il
| nearly twenty-one hours before The flag
| is planted on the west rim of the crater.
| and as viewed from Seattle will show
| against the sky. The under side of the
rocks which were piled to support the
| staff. when taken from their beds, were so
| warm as to be uncomfortable to handle
without gloves.
| The greatest elevation at which animal
| life Was found is about l., 900 feet, at which
| point large bumblebee was seen. AT an
| elevation of from 5000 TO 9,o00 feet red
snow was found, the cause OF its coloring
| being unknown TO the members of the
| party. Small worms were also found in
| great numbers in the snow, they appear-
| ing IN the afternoon until an altitude WAS
reached at which no vegetation was grow
ing.
OREGON AND CALIFORNIA CROPS.