The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-07
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a result which bids fair to become his
torie-
The broken barometer, a cut Of which
appears herewith. viii appeal powerfully TO
every lover OF science. II. as has been
suggested. 3 monument be reared to
mark the spot where the young scientist
gave up his life. no filter design could be
adopted than a stone shaft bearing on
its face a bas-relief Of the historic instru-
ment which he bore or his back with sa-
cred care. Il Is entirely probable that
this barometer. coupled with his unset
fish solieituce Tor the safety of other
members OF the expedition. was the Inn
mediate cause Of his death. He carried
II ia double case. wooden one which
his own hands had constructed, ard out
side OF this a strong leather tube. From
the latter stout thongs enabled him to
strap the instrument on his back. much
as a pioneer huntsman would wear his
trusty rife While standing on the peril
Gus ledge whence he took the fatal
plunge. he turned TO sound warning to
his companions whom he was leading in
a search for the lost pathway down the
mountain. Don't come down here; Ii is
too steep" he called, turning so as TO
make his voice more audible. These were
his last words. He vanished in the night
and the abyss. 1t is likely that the tube,
three and half feet in length. caught
as he turned and helped to hurl him from
his precarious footing. Like his own
high strung frame. the delicate instru-
ment was shattered; but neither of the
twain went away from the world without
leaving an imperishable record
1t Is interesting 70 note the close CORE
spondence OF his independent observations
with those made by others. The height
of the mountain had been measured many
times before he essayed TO measure IT,
Some observers had measured 1t by tri-
angulation. and others. notably Maj f. :.
Ingraham, OF Seattle had given it's aiti-
tude from the readings OF mercurial
barometers. Mai IEgraham gave the
height at 1881 feet. II viii be noticed
that the result obtained by Prof Mcclure
was just four feet greater. a remarkable
coincidence at that vast altitude and
among conditions of hardship. exposure
and uncertainty. Prior 90 Prof Nc
Clnre's record. the latest measurement
OF RAINIER had been made by George r.
Hyde, Of the United States geological sur
vey. in 1896. he pursued the method OF
triangulation. and. taking as his base a
line at Enensburg. IN connection with the
sea level gauge at Tacoma. he figured out
the extreme height Of Rainier al 145l9
feet
The value of Prof. McCiures determina-
ton Will bc heightened rather than less
eued by the peculiar difficulty and
raFeness OF scientific work in an
UNEMPLOYED territory and from a base
which has not all the appurte-
nauces and advantages OF the older
scientific stations Of the East and Of
Europe. In this respect his work IS Ike
that OF Agassiz and Of Audubon. Not I'M
like those great masters was he IN his in
tense and lofty devotion 70 science Not
unlike Them he wrought with rigid ac-
curracv where others had worked almost
ar random Not unlike them he aroused
among his friends and students the con-
Niction that be Was born high priest OF
nature. whose chief mission in the world
was 20 reveal her secrets 20 mankind.
He offeted zap his life virtually a sacrifice
TO tho cause Of popular and practical
science. and tu as lofty a sense as ever
d.E9ned "a Roman arena ne was a martyr
- The c8use Of truth. To use the match
less 0gure employed BY Byron ia descrlb-
Ing re death OF Henry kirk White who