LOOKING BACK: MONTH DAY
A South Sound history through words and pictures
100 YEARS AGO TODAY: JULY 17, 1912
Starting out to make the circuitous east side approach and ascent of Mount Tacoma, P.V. Ceasar, George V. Ceasar, Frost Synder and Kenneth Ripley of Tacoma, Joseph Blake of New York and Jack Hoyt of Spokane, the last five Yale men, left Tacoma this morning and went by train to Nelson siding. The party took no pack train, expecting to transport the necessary provisions in true mountaineer style on their backs. Leaving the train, a trail will be struck across country to the Natches river, up the Natches trail to the Natches Pass and thence south to Bear Gap. From that point a line will be pursued across to Cowlitz Chimneys, up the Frying Pan river to Summerland on the east slope of the mountain.
75 YEARS AGO TODAY: JULY 17, 1937
The Tacoma Tigers and Yakima Pippins meet tonight in the second game of the Western International League series at Athletic Park. Tacoma’s own Floyd “Lefty” Isekite, will pitch for the Tigers. It will be Ladies’ and Knot Hole Gang night and a big crowd is expected.
50 YEARS AGO TODAY: JULY 17, 1962
Veteran X15 pilot Robert M. White flashed a record 58 miles into space today, becoming the first to qualify as an astronaut in a winged craft. Shooting skyward on a giant tongue of flame, White surpassed the little rocket research plane’s old mark by approximately 12 miles. “This is a fantastic view” he radioed exultantly as he floated weightless at peak altitude. White’s feat makes him the fifth American entitled to wear the wings of an astronaut, which go to those who vault 50 miles or more above the Earth.
