The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-09-16


cans who visit it in vacation time. 1t should have
good American name change in name, or
course. changing the name of Mount Raj
nier since the mountain is one-third OF the whole
park.
Peter the Great on his deathbed in 1925, de-
creed that Vitus Behring, a Dane in his e10pOy,
should cross Siberia to the unknown western sea,
build two ships and search for the tabled passage
to the Atlantic. Thus came about the Russian pos
session of Alaska and of the north Pacific coast
Perez. in 1773. and Haceta, in 1774. both Span
iards explored the Pacific coast discovered Moot
ka sound and suspected the Columbia river from
the breakers on its bar. In 1T77 Capt. James Cook
discovered Cooks inlet but missed both Juan de
Fuca's straits and the Columbia Capt. Robert
Means Of the East India company discovered the
straits in 1888 but dared not cross the Column
bias bar.
international jealousies brought about the Moot
ka Convention OF $780, which gave the British the
right to fish and trade, provided they did no colo
nizing.
Then In 1872 came an American. Capt. Robert
Gray of Boston in the Columbia, the first Amer
ship sail around the world (17901. 1t took
this dauntless American sailor nine days to get
through the breakers the Columbias bar. He
sailed 80 miles up this noble river and named 1t
after his gallant ship.
That same year Capt George Vancouver of the
British navy was sent to enforce the Nootka
vention. He explored Puget sound. but baked at
trying to cross the COlumbia's bar. He met Cap
tain Gray, who told him Of his ascent of the river.
But the British commander baked at the break
ers, took possession Of the country in the name
OF his sovereign and left Lieutenant Broughton
IN the Chatham to explore the river If he could
BroughtOn got into the river and assembled 100
miles by launch. He Mount Rainier about
100 miles away and was struck with awe. Like
true British naval officer he named this magnif
cent mountain. rising 14,408 feet almost from sea
level after Rear Admiral Peter Rainier.
Mount Rainier is ~ miles from Tacoma and
81 miles from Seattle. It is the sight of sights
from either city. AS is well known. these two
cities have a feud the Tacoma calls
1t Tacoma and Seattle calls 1t Mount Rainier. This
Is not to say that the controversy should be de-
cided in favor Of either city. But 1.-THE mountain
that God" of the Indians of the most
impressive of EARTH should have a better name
than Rainier.
Here are some random extracts from the intro
ductory pages of Uncle Sans booklet:
"Of all the fre-mountains which, like beacOns.
once bazed along the Pacific coast Mount Rainier
is the noblest." wrote John Muir. 'The Mountain
that Was God" wrote John D. Williams, giving
title to his book
Easily king of all Is Mount Rainier" wrote
F. E. Matthes Of the United States geological sur
vey, reviewing that series OF huge extinct volca-
noes towering high above the sky line of the Cas-
cade range almost $50 feet higher than Mount
Shasta, its nearest rival in grandeur and in mass
it is overwhelmingly impressive both by the vast
ness of it's glacial mantle and by the striking
sculpture Of its cliffs. The total OF its gla-
eiers amounts to less than 4S square miles an
expanse Of Ice far exceeding that of any other
single peak in the United States Many Of its
individual ice streams between four and six
miles long and vie in magnitude and in spIendor
with the most boosted glaciers of the Alps. Cas-
cading from the summit in all directions they
radiate ike the arms of a great starfsh."
Seen from Tacoma or Seattle the vast mountain
appears to rise directly from level so insig-
nificaLt seem the ridges about its base Yet these
ridges themselves are OF no mean height They
rise 1900 1900 feet above the valleys that cut
through them. and their crests average 5000 feet
| in altitude.
But so colossal the proportions of the great
| volcano that they dwarf even mountains OF this
size and give them the appearance of mere foot
hills. In height It is second in the United States
only to Mount Whitney
Mount Rainier stands. in round numbers. 1000
feet above its Immediate base. Is nearly three
miles high, measured from sea level and covers