Overflow crowd for Wellington talk
Blog: Winemaker's Journal
March 4, 2010
The Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center's small auditorium and lobby were packed Wednesday night for Gary Krist's talk and slide program on the 1910 Wellington train disaster. Some people literally could not get in the door while others stood shoulder to shoulder or sat on the floor. Museum spokeswoman Chris Rader estimated about 210 people were crammed into the area meant for about 150 tops. She said it was the best attended presentation the museum has had.
Krist took his own photos of the crowd because "my wife will never believe this many people showed up to hear me speak."
I don't think anyone who stayed was disappointed. Krist, author of the best selling 2007 book about the disaster, "The White Cascade," gave a stirring, well-narrated account of the avalanche that killed nearly 100 train passengers on Stevens Pass. He also presented a great overview of the importance of the Great Northern Railroad in the early 1900s. His talk was accompanied by a powerpoint of dozens of historical slides of railroad construction, the disaster's aftermath and the people involved.
I wrote an article for Monday's paper on the disaster quoting Krist, who flew out from Maryland for several presentations commemorating the 100th anniversary of the March 1, 1910 disaster. It remains one of the two or three most deadly train accidents in U.S.history. If you missed the Monday article, it can be found at http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/20...
Krist, who has written for Esquire and National Geographic magazines and has a number of novels to his credit, would have sold many copies of his non-fiction book had they been delivered to the museum on time. The museum is still taking orders for the book, however, which will include a stick-in label signed by Krist.
Krist tributed the museum, curator Mark Behler and Washington railroad historian Bob Kelly among others for assistance during his three years of research.
A display of photographs and memorabilia about the disaster continues at the museum until April 24.
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douglas 1 year, 11 months ago
Overflow crowd for Wellington talk
If you haven't been to either The Iron Goat Trail... http://www.irongoat.org/ ....or the Wellington/Tye site, they are both worth exploring. Alas, the old Cascade Tunnel has a cave in so you can't hike through it anymore..... http://microvoltradio.com/railroad/tye.htm ....but the work unearthing the historical artifacts is well worth a visit. Before you go, stop at the Leavenworth Ranger Station and pick up a brocure and a Trail Park pass. The access to Wellington is just east of the summit of Stevens Pass and follows both the original (pre-tunnel) alignment of the Great Northern, and the old highway before the current road was built. It's a beautiful ride. Rough, but beautiful.
douglas 1 year, 11 months ago
Overflow crowd for Wellington talk
BTW, the east portal is accessable. Probably the easiest way would be to drive over the portal at Yodelin (hang a right at the T) and walk down. It was here the UDub conducted lazer light experiments in the early 50's. There's a good picture of how it looks now here.... http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=f9c1c84f-6e15-40bb-9f0b-a6746f1c22de
scottworthy 1 year, 11 months ago
Overflow crowd for Wellington talk
It was a very good talk. Probably would have been better if I hadn't had to crane my neck to see only a corner of the screen, but that's my fault for not being earlier. Also, Krist's book is absolutely riveting. Its got the storytelling skill he developed as a novelist with the commitment to accuracy and research of a historian. Do yourself a favor and get a hold of it. After reading it before bed, my wife was so into it she would wake up expecting to see snow outside the window.
JaayGeee 1 year, 11 months ago
Overflow crowd for Wellington talk
I thought Krist did a particularly good job too. He was well prepared and well organized and the topic was wonderful. I'd read the book but did not find Krist's talk just a repeat. Thanks to our Museum for sponsoring this event.
steigmeyer 1 year, 11 months ago
Overflow crowd for Wellington talk
As a reporter, it was good to hear from Gary during his presentation and in an e-mail afterwards that during his three years of research involving many newspaper archives, he found The Wenatchee World to offer by far the most accurate reporting of the 1910 disaster. The Seattle papers and others sensationalized the tragedy much more and often made things up in lieu of facts, he said.
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