The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-27

seemed 20 CONCEAL IN small, sharp crystals,
which found Judgment in every Wrinkle or
fold OF our clothing, and also made IL DIM
cult 70 face the wind. Making for the
highest ground, we did our best 70 follow
the divide. whose crest was no longer
clearly defined This. however. soon
changed its course from an easterly 10 a
southeasteriy one and also fell off rapidly
in elevation. As we felt our way along.
the CONSTANT descending course OF the
ridge led us 70 conclude that since morn
ing we had, somehow, missed the main
range and must be following a spur which
would lead 10 the Yakima river. So little
was visible that some brief explorations
only added 10 the uncertainty, ana We
spent the whole day crawling about the
northerly slopes OF the mountain, IN the
eadeavor TO find a ridge so decidedly bear
ing north as 10 give assurance that II was
the main divide. At night we brought up
near the previous nights camping place,
annoyed AT the loss of time but now quite
certain that our morning journey was IN
the right direction. and that, IL we had
pursued the ridge farther. We should have
come 70 bend 10 the north, an indication
that il was mono other than the main
range.
Those who have ever had occasion TO
trace an unknown divide, where the view
is cut OF by dense forests. understand how
easy it is 10 get astray on some spur, or
lateral ridge, and follow il, perhaps for
hours. before the mistake IS discovered.
Starting early on the 18TH with our route
for the morning, at least. quite settled
upon. and with favoring skies that light
ened our hearts. We made excellent prog
ress. A little after 9 O'Clock appeared a
sharp bend in the ridge TO the north. as
anticipated, whence we descended along
weli-dehned crest so rapidly that m less
than an hour the barometer marked only
1886 feet elevation, at point where Tor
little distance about us there were no
trees. II was evidently one of the lowest
parts of the divide To the east spur cut
off much of our view. but facing west we
looked down on Sunday creek. Beyond its
confluence with Green river were the
mountains to the south, covered with dark
fir forests, and back of them the great
snowy mass of Mount Rainier sharply de-
fined against the blue sky. 1t was beau
tiful scene, and so impressive that Tor
moment all were silent.
Thence we continued our trip northward,
finding several other depressions In the
range. but none as promising as the one
Just described We finally descended from
the divide to Lake Kitchelas, the source
of the Yakima. arriving at Thorp the att
ernoon of the 23d
The exploration now finished, although
toilsone and often discouraging, had made
the Green river region accessible. Surveys
which then succeeded were followed by
the building of the Cascade division or the
Northern Pacific, under my own direction
through the pass we had found. thus clos
ing the gap in the main line that connected
Lake Superior's waters with those OF Pu-
get sound.
The pass was for time known as Gar
field pass. in honor of the president during
whose last days ii was discovered, but lat
er it was named Stampede pass, from the
following incident Some weeks after IT'S
discovery. while encamped on sunday
creek I became dissatisfied with the prog
ress of the party cutting trails which would
be required before instrumental surveys
could be extended across the divide, ana
sent them a foreman we'll known as a nara
worker IFS arrival became the signal FOR
the flight of several men from the locality
which was but few hundred feet west or
the summit, and which thus obtained a
name, both their camp and the small lake
near 1t. and later the pass itself being
called Stampede The elevation of the
pass, as corrected by the anerold at
Thorp, whose elevation was known from
instrumental survey. proved to be Sl25
feet. AS determined by spirit level it is
1888 feet The summit tunnel, $3.50 feet in
length reduces this figure to ESQ feet.
The traveller of today, who crosses the
Cascade range with the ease and rapidly
made possible by the railway, cannot real
ize that nearly three months were con-
surned by the expedition l have described,
while at no time was the party more than
100 miles from Tacoma.
When one visits the thriving cities and
towns reached by this railway, where be
fore its construction stood mere settle
ments or unbroken forest. one begins TO
appreciate what a significant factor 1t has
become in the development of a most in
teresting and important section of the
country. and the engineer feels how great
a thing it is TO be one Of the many forces
that go to the consummation of such an
enterpriSe