Oregon daily emerald., May 12, 1977, Section A, Page 6, Image 6

Rainier Brewing Company. Seallle. Washmgion
Can two Princeton engineering students on a Northwest jaunt
run with the wild Rainiers without getting sloshed?
No.
“Austin Harley and I arrived in Seattle at 6:30 a.m., Saturday, February 19, 1977.
We took our positions along Avenue of the Cascades, precisely where the Rainiers
would appear at the height of their run-through. Some old-time tavern guzzlers
tried to push us back among the green-beers, but we held our ground. (Pic A) Then
the Rainiers arrived in a rush, and it was too late to do anything but run with them.
Austin (at X) had his camera along, but he quickly realized the inadvisability of
stopping to snap pictures. I grasped the traditional long-cup (marked by Y) to catch
any Mountain Fresh run-off en route. (Pic B) The groves of academe certainly
proved tame by comparison. Almost immediately, some other bottles moved in
behind us — their apparent intention to “cap” a few of the spectators along one
wall. Austin (again at X) began to show signs of worry, but I was too busy
ascertaining that one cannot run well backwards. (Pic C) Then we were in the thick
of it. While Austin peered down the neck of 90 gallons on the hoof, I searched for a
way out. But as my Philosophy of Engineering 201 professor was wont to say, “A
man’s reach must exceed his grasp, or what’s a machine for?” (Pic D) One second
after this, we both went under. Getting sloshed, however, really wasn’t as I had
anticipated. It seems that Rainiers really are fresh and friendly. I suppose if Austin
and I were to visit the Northwest a second time, we might choose to run again.
Since our return to Princeton, our fellow students have persisted in asking us to
explain the Running of the Rainiers — the fascination of man and liquid beast for
this annual spring occurrence. In all honesty, I have no theory beyond the apparent
natural affinity of the Rainiers and their beer aficionados!’
—Hamilton R. McMillan, Class of 77
What makes the Rainiers run? Why do beer devotees put their thirst on the line to
scamper amongst them? Send us your own theory or other thoughts on the subject.
We’ll read every one with great interest and, who knows, maybe even put the most
intriguing ones in print. Rainier Brewing Company, 3100 Airport Way South,
Seattle, Washington 98134.