The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-03-05
LOFTY MOUNT TACOMA.

The Giant Peak of the Pacific Coast
a Majestic and Imposing Sight.
New York Sun.
Mt. Tacoma is ono of row OF five or
six lofty peaks, all doubtless OF volca-
mic origin, lying between the Rocky
Mountains and the Pacific coast. This
row of peaks is one of the most re-
markable in the world. 1t begins with
the beautiful Mt. Shasta in California,
includes Mt. Hood, Mt. ST. Helens, and
Mt. Adams, and its farthest northern
representative Is, perhaps, Mt Baker
| in British Columbia. Mt. Tacoma Is
the giant OF them all, though it hardly
exceeds Mt. Shasta in latitude. Its
height, according to the government
survey, is 14,444 feet, two feet more
than Shasta. But it is q far more mas
sive mountain than Shasta. In fact,
there are few great peaks in any coun-
try that can be compared with Mt.
Tacoma in majesty Of appearance. AS
seen from the cities on Puget Sound it
looks far loftier than any OF the Alps
when viewed from an equal distance,
because nearly its entire height Is be.
fore the eye. In other words, instead
OF rising from a great plateau or on
springs to its full height straight from
sea level. Its outline is exceedingly
imposing, being that OF huge done,
the upper part of which, even in mid
summer, is white with snow, while in
winter the whole mountain is clothed
in white down to the foothills.
Sixteen or seventeen glaciers flow
down the slopes OF tho mountain, some
of them OF large size, and presenting
oil the characteristic features OF o.
rainos, tissures, moulins, and icy pre-
cipices which are to be found among
the glaciers of the Alps. There is,
perhaps, no other mountain within the
temperate zone that exhibits so extern
sivo glacier system.
The ascent Of the mountain has not
been very Difficult whom the attempt
was made late in the summer. There
Is no such climbing on dizzy precipices
| IS must be encountered on tho Matter
| horn, for instance, all the difficulty
jrising from soft snow. Avalanches
tre frequent on its tanks, and the
|fnow remains until July in some OF the
bwer ravines. Crater lake, which
ies on the northwestern slope of tho
lmountain, occupying profund depres-
lsides, is believed by some to mark the
lsite OF former crater of the volcano,
Iput during visit which made to 1t
I'm 1892 | became convinced that the
depression, whose bottom is filled by
he lake, has been produced by O
tremendous landslip, induced perhaps
Iby tho shaking OF IN eruption, but not
the direct creation OF volcanic action.
The true crater, and that from
(which all the eruptions have taken
place, Is on the summit OF tho mountain.
Ito location has always been indicated
IPy sort OF notch or scallop in the noun
uto
ther surrounding points. There is
Y tgend among some OF the tribes OF In
ians living near Mt. Tacoma that the
ftountain was once very much larger
1 lan 1t is now, and that q vast mass
ank out OF sight during q great erup-
J on. 1t Ia also said that stones have
peen shot from the crater to q distance
} Ibf many miles within historic time.
} rhose who have carefully watched Mt
: Tacoma have from time to time report
fd the appearance OF puffs of steam and
smoke at its summit, but ordinarily
: title attention has been paid to these
: bDly slumbering but not extinct.
: The city OF Tacoma is situated more
. khan forty miles in air line from the
8 erater of the mountain, and Seattle Is
, garther, 80 that under no circumstances
, eould any danger De apprehended at
Bhose points from the activity of the
3 lnountain. But as spectacle great
. Eruption OF Tacoma would be grand
t beyond description. It's huge form is
8 Tefected in the waters OF Puget sound
: ike Vesuvius In the Bay of Naples,
4 llut MI. Tacoma Is almost four times
A lls high as Mt. Vesuytus aud massive
9 In proportion, to say nothing OF the
4 aehdid appearances presented by It's
: S,st mantle OF eternal snow.
= )If you can see nothing but the bad
Tut your eyes. Better be blind than
q. n.lEtahla to SEQ tho haaniifnl and the