Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-07-28
Ascent Of Mt. Rainier.

iIiiIuC E'CCeSciui ASCENT Oh wv. haln-
Ter, this week, feat that could
not have been successfully performed
except by adopts at Notwithstanding
and that too with some knowledge OF
the peculiar characteristics OF the
mountain before them. Gen. Stevens
w"-, therefore, IN ideal guide, for he,
III company with two or three other
intrepid climbers were the first white
men to reach the top, third OF cen
tary ago, when the obstacles and perils
were not a. we'll known rs now or the
means OF overcoming or avoiding them
SO easily obtained.
While 1t is, OF course, a tempting
opportunity to magnify the dangers
in the narratives OF those who carry
pencil and tablet TO jot down a read
able" account, there is no doubt but
that the climbers were at times in great
peril and much labor, not 10 say suffer
ing, was involved in the trip amid the
clouds. over yawning precipices and up
precipitous walls OF ice. 1t is, however,
amusing to read the claim made by
one correspondent that when bould.
er started to roll down steep slope, n
professor of the State University saved
eight lives OF party be was plotting
by simply shouting, make for the
right bank" There does not appear
to be the slightest doubt in the mind
OF the relator of the incident but that
all would have been killed had not the
stentorian command come in just the
tone Of voice it did and with the en-
ergy it was uttered. It may be true,
but it must be admitted that it is m UGH
easier TO write what has not happened
than the absolutely correct details OF
sanguinary event. One is not capa-
bic of disputation and the other may
be assailed from many points.
The most serious incident that had
happened was at Paradise Valley.
where tho party seems to have made
quite long stay and frequent incur
sions evidently to accustom them to
the greater labor to follow. 1t was the
ducking Gen. Stevens and his sister,
Mrs. Brigham, of Portland, had in a
mountain stream, while on one OF
these expeditions. But being pioneers
OF the West, neither seemed to mind it
in the least.
The real ascent began Tuesday, and
was made in several parties; 61 of the
Sierras are reported to have reached
the summit, several of whom were
ladies. The barometric readings made
by the party indicate height OF H.
535 feet, which is 81 feet more than
the old-time estimate, based upon like
means of calculation, which had the
merit OF being easily RENE m bered from
being a string of fours-14 .4i4-and at
least 20 feet higher than Mt. Whitney
which has hitherto been regarded as
the highest mountain in the United
States. One party of Mazamas, under
o. H. Sholes, of Portland, who made
the attempt by new route, failed to
reach the top. They came to an
impossible barrier in the form OF a
chasm, after leaving the valley known
as Indian Henry's hunting grounds.
Another party OF Mazamas, led by
]. B. Fleet, OF Tacoma, including Gen.
Stevens, reached the summit. Mr..
Fleet had assembled the mountain twice
before. Gen. Stevens says that the
top Of Mt. Rainier has changed con.
siderably since his ascent in 1870;
there is much less snow on the crests
of the triple peak. When he was
there before, what he calls " a monu.
mental hummock" or hill of snow,
rose by the side Of Gibraltar, which he
and Van Trump climbed. From its
top they had rather an easy slope to
the top. The ledge around Gibraltar,
which is followed by climbers, was
narrower than it is now. "On the
whole, however," he concludes, be.
lieve the dangers and difficulties now
are about equal to what they were
then, thirty-five years ago."
The haze prevented communication
by red-fire, and the boosters of Ia
coma and the idiots" as John Rea
calls them, of this city, who awaited
the lurid glare, failed to see it.
A NUMBER of labor leaders met Presi.
dent Roosevelt at Oyster Bay, July 18th,
for the purpose of discussing Mr.. Roose-