The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-15
LAKE FOUND IN CRATER
OF AN EXTINCT VOLCANO
In the Midst of a Cavern on Mount
Rainier, Washington.

There is a Lake of water in the crater
Of Mount Rainier. Its depth and extent
are not known and may never be. The
discovery Of the lake was made by Prof.
John B. F1ett. who has charge of the
botanical department of the Tacoma
High School, and two men. ArlSsr Gil
lespie and Frank Weymouth, whC are
students of the high school. The three
have just returned from the mountain.
having made the ascent from the east
side by way Of the White River glacier.
The ascent was made over long. vast
snowheids~and up great reaches OF
glacier. These glaciers were bisected
with numerous ,crevasses, which caused
the scalers to angle back and forth
across the face of the mountain. Much
time was lost in this way as the
erevasses could not be seen until the
climbers were almost upon them. 1t
was after o'clock Saturday evening
before they arrived at the rim Of
Crater Peak A furious wind. accom-
panied by driving snow. simultaneously
gathered over the top of the mountain.
and the three began TO hunt for shelter.
Passing around the I'm Of the crater.
steam was observed issuing from a hole
about the size OF a mans body, and.
squeezing through the hole. Prof Flett
found himself in a commodious cavern
the bottom of which was composed OF
rocks and volcanic ash making up the
rim Of the crater. while the roof con-
sisted Of the ice formation covering the
mouth Of the crater. The boys follow
ed into the chamber and the three found
themselves warmly and cozily housed
for the night. the dry steam coming up
from the bowels Of the mountain tenn
-
The chamber sioped away toward the
center OF the crater agreeable to the
contour of the crater rim. but the slope
was such that the three could lie down
on the large stones without danger OF
sliding into the darkening cavern be-
meath Prof. F1ett's alpenstock dropped
from his hand and rolled seventy-five
feet down the throat OF the cavern, and
a rope was tied around Weymouth, who
ventured into the darkness beneath and
secured 1t. AS he descended he lighted
matches. carefully exploring his way,
and finding that the mountain beneath is
honeyconbed with passa ges. which emit
quiet jets Of steam. but probably IN the
remote past have yomited forth red hot
lava The three then began to roll
stones down the incline Some Of these
would clear all OF the partitions separ-
ating the passages. against which a few
of the stones lodged. and after sending
back d Tumbiing roar for a minute. as
they rebounded from side to side Of the
caverns. they could be heard splashing
into the lake beneath
The lake has its source in the melting
of the tremendous quantities of snow
that fan within the crater. and which
is perpetually acted upon in certain
portions OF the crater by the steam jets
rising from the interior. There is no sur
face outlet for this water over the rim
of the crater, and II there were the low
I Temperature of the crest OF the old
mountain would soon freeze and close il
up. A subterraneous channel. leading
down through the heart OF the noun
tain. may give temporary vent TO tho
pent-up waters. The three wi.aessed an
incomparably grand sunrise from the
summit the next morning and on that
day, which was Sunday. descended into
Paradise Valley by way of the old route
by Gibraltar Rock.
On the way down they met five young
men from Seattle. who were starting to
make the ascent. n which endeavor
they were successful, they reaching the
rim Of the crater the next day Mon
day. at noon. Prof F'Iett and the two
boys went around the side OF the noun
tain. crossing the Cowlitz and other
| glaciers. and finally arriving at their
camp on a ridge overlooking the White
River glacier Prof. Flett believes that the
route from the east side is one of the
best that. could be selected. the slope
gradients being easier. there being no
dizzy precinices, with the trail follow
ing shelving OF rock, as there is on
the Gibraltar side OF the mountain, and
no dangerous and untoward cleavers TO
be traced.-Tacoma (Wash) Dispatch.