The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-20
Explorers Peer Into the Craters
and Hear Rumblings.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT TACOMA.
Seven Longshoremen Thrown Into
the Sound and One Drowned.
Horrible Death OF . sawmin Kmpieye
st Spokane Paiouse wheat Yield
Twelve Miliien Bashels-unknewn
Man Drops Dead at EvsresG

TACOMA, Aug. IA Especial. l-Lesht the
son OF Chief Qniemutn. is the first Indian
known TO have ascended TO the summit of
q volcanic mountain. He arrived here to-
night from the top OF Mount ST. Helens
Leshi's father Is known TO history as the
leader of his countrymen in the war of
ls5S. After being captured hy James
Longmire. be was shot and killed in Gov,
stevens office at Olympia by an
unknown person. who poked . rifle
into the room and biazed away. Leshi
Is an intelligent Indian. aged 40 He re-
sides at Mud bay. near olympia. and after
considerable coaxing agreed TO accompany
party representing the Tacoma academy
OF science and the Tacoma Alpine Club.
which was picked out 10 explore the north
side OF Mount St. Heiens. which il is said
has never been assembled TO its summit
from that approach.
Fred @. Plummer. Harry III. Sharp and
Photographer A. c. Carpenter composed
the exploring party when ID left Tacoma
ten days ago. At Tontse river p. ".
Crabill joined the explorers and after jour
neying four days they found the mount
ain, having reached il via the Toutle river
bottom. They had walked seventy miles.
and in returning made the same distance
in two and half days. arriving at Win
lock, on the Northern Pacific railroad. this
afternoon.
The craters on the north side Of the
mountain have been in action seven times
since 1885. and the party was particularly
desirous of learning something definite
about them. Presumably because of these
and other craters nav ing been IN action.
there is q much respected Indian tradition
that the deyi. has his domain In all vol
canic mountains. and hence the care In
dians on this Coast have exercised In
keeping away from such elevations. Leshi
determined to break the rule.
At an elevation of 5000 feet two fissure
craters were found. which were filed with
sulphnric vapors. sulphur was also found
formed about the rim of the assures. Five
hundred feet higher. pair of field glasses
were found. They are supposed TO
mark the highest altitude ever
before reached on the north side
OF st. Helens. They were left there
six years ago by party that attempted 20
reach the top Of the mountain by the
north approach. Still, 500 feet higher. at
an elevation of g, 500 feet, two recent craiers
were found. These are rapidly filling MP
as q result of inaction. There were OBJ
served also two large glaciers, and at one
point where the ice had been forced mn be-
tween the rocks the ragged and torn ice
appeared in very fantastic shapes.
The total height Of the mountain Is
9. 80 feet, and the last 2.opo feet was very
difficult TO ascend, it being very steep,
fully IS degrees. and covered with loose
rocks. which frequently became displaced
and bounded down the mountain side.
At the top OF the mountain large rocks
were turned loose, and could be seen
bounding for over mile down the noun
tain. Leshi, however, did not turn n
stone. II was all rather serious
business to him. In the tradition
of his people, the rolling Of stones
in that manner will bring on violent
storm. He narrated many interesting
traditions, all of which wei noted by Mr..
Plummer for elaboration before the
Academy of Science and the Alpine Club.
Mr.. Piummer says:
''As regards those cratcrs, 10 Is evident
they have recently been In action. and IL is
my opinion they may be expected 20 b. in
action again at almost any time. We felt
tain The movement was not sidewise
but up directly from beneath. Ranchers
living Within thirty miles OF the
mountain felt il. 1t was my first expert
ence with such quake"
The eathquake experience Of this party
was not observed at this city. Mr.. carpen-
ter photographed the craters. glaciers and
other objects of peculiar interest.