BILL TO BE INTRODUCED IN STATE LEGISLATURE TO OFFICIALLY NAME 'THE MOUNTAIN' TACOMA
Seattle, Washington (JFK+50) In a letter to the editor published on January 19, 1923 in the Seattle Star, M.G. Mitchell, Secretary of the Mount Tacoma Club, writes that "there is a movement on foot...to have a bill introduced in the legislature declaring 'Tacoma' to be the official name of the mountain."
The bill will say that "it is incongrous to have the noblest natural object in the state honor a man who fought against (George) Washington (namesake of the state) and tried to destroy us when we were an infant nation."
Native Americans called "the mountain" Tacoma*, but George Vancouver named it in honor of his friend, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier**. Mount Rainier*** became the official name in 1890.
*Tacoma (alternate form of Tahoma) from the Puyallup Tribe means "that frozen water."
*Rear Admiral Peter Rainier (1741-1808) was born in Sandwich, England & became a Royal Navy officer serving in the 7 Years War, the Revolutionary War & the Napoleonic Wars. PR was badly wounded in capturing an American privateer during the Revolutionary War.
***Mount Rainier is a stratovolcano located 50 miles S-SE of Seattle, Washington. Elevation 14,411' it is part of the Cascade Range.
SOURCES
"Legislature to Be Asked to Name Peak 'Tacoma,'" The Seattle Star, Seattle, Washington, January 19, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"What does Tacoma mean?," Think Baby Names, www.thinkbabynames.com/
