Rainier's first casualty

[tvashtarkatena]

"GUN FELL FROM POCKET, STRUCK IN NECK" is listed as the cause of death for MRNP's first recorded casualty, a Mr. E.H. Hudson, on New Year's Day, 1897.

 

C.W. Ferguson died in 1915 in the Paradise Ice Caves after he "POKED ROOF OF CAVE CAUSING COLLAPSE".

 

John Moskin was the only park visitor/worker to be killed by "PREMATURE DYNAMITE BLAST" in 1939, near the Ohanapecosh Campground.

 

One unidentified victim drown in the Ohanapecosh Hot Spring during that same fateful year. Dangerous place, apparently.

 

The second leading cause of death, at 68, just under "FALLING (88)"? "AIRPLANE CRASH".

 

14 people have committed suicide, 4 have been murdered. and 4 had trees fall on them. Surprisingly, 2 people died after they "CAPSIZED". although one of these also went over Sylvia Falls, which may have been a factor.

 

There have been 3 drug overdoses - all involving prescription drugs, one from an Albuterol inhaler (!?)

 

At 93, climbing accidents (involving summit attempts) are vastly in the minority among the 394 folks who have died in the park since its first recorded fatality.

 

 

 

Edited September 12, 2012 by tvashtarkatena

[ivan]

i like the account of aleister crowley in his early attempt on k2 when he, right around the same time as mr. hudson, "produced a revolver" when necessary to encourage his sherpas to keep moving their asses up the hill

[KaskadskyjKozak]

i like the account of aleister crowley in his early attempt on k2 when he, right around the same time as mr. hudson, "produced a revolver" when necessary to encourage his sherpas to keep moving their asses up the hill

 

Mr. Crowley, did you talk to the dead...?