NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, July 8, 1998

                               *** NOTICE ***

              There was no Morning Report on Tuesday, July 7th.

INCIDENTS

98-346 - Servicewide - Fourth of July Weekend Events

Although many of the reports that appear today occurred over the Fourth of
July weekend, the following were specifically related to the holiday:

o     Washington Area Parks (DC/VA) - Several hundred thousand people visited
      the National Mall, adjacent President's Park, and the George Washington
      Memorial Parkway on the Fourth of July.  Events included the annual
      Folklife Festival, a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra, and a
      20-minute fireworks display.  Traffic was very heavy.  Increased
      alcohol enforcement efforts resulted in the seizure of 2,400 cans of
      beer.  USPP officers made 33 arrests; of these, 16 were for disorderly
      conduct or alcohol, seven were for drugs, three were for assault, and
      the balance were for a variety of other offenses.

o     Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island NM (NY/NJ) - In May, the Supreme Court
      issued a decision in the case of state sovereignty on Ellis Island. 
      They decided that the original three acres would remain a part of the
      state of New York, and that the remaining 24 acres, formed primarily
      from landfill, are part of the state of New Jersey.  Since the island
      is entirely federal property, the decision only affected items such as
      taxes, criminal and civil law, and tort proceedings.  On July 4th, New
      Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman and senator Robert Torricelli
      held a ceremony/press conference on Ellis Island.  The governor signed
      a bill into law and announced that a new postal zip code (07305-1776)
      had been assigned to the New Jersey section of the island.  The New
      Jersey state flag was raised under the U.S. flag by a military honor
      guard and was followed by a 50-gun salute and an F-16 flyover.  The
      governor left the park by walking over a temporary construction bridge
      to Jersey City.  On July 3rd, Jersey City sponsored a cleanup of the
      New Jersey part of the island and held a press conference.  Media
      interest in all these events has been very high.

o     Mount Rushmore NM (SD) - The largest fireworks event in the state's
      history was held in the park on July 5th.  Over 1,200 rockets were
      fired during the 15-minute program, which was watched by an estimated
      20,000 people in the park and many thousands more from areas just
      outside the boundary.  According to local law enforcement officials,
      the traffic associated with the event was perhaps the heaviest ever in
      western South Dakota and was backed up for over five miles at times. 
      Over 130 people from six NPS areas and a variety of cooperating
      agencies worked the event.  Rangers responded to numerous minor
      incidents, but there were no serious injuries or significant law
      enforcement incidents.  The program had originally been scheduled for
      midnight on July 3rd, but had been postponed due to fog obscuring the
      mountain.  Over 20,000 people were on hand for up to five hours
      awaiting the fireworks that evening.  It took several hours for traffic
      to clear out of the park each evening.  This event brought more
      visitors to the park at one time than any other event in its history.

o     Independence NHP (PA) - The park hosted several special events
      associated with Independence Day.  Surgeon general David Satcher headed
      a ceremony commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Public Health
      Service, which was established in Philadelphia, on July 3rd.  On the
      morning of the 4th, the 10th annual Liberty Medal ceremony was held in
      front of Independence Hall.  Former senator George Mitchell received
      the medal for his efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland.  The
      event attracted extensive media coverage, including CNN and the Today
      Show.  The "Let Freedom Ring" ceremony, in which descendants of the
      signers of the Declaration of Independence gently tap the Liberty Bell
      13 times, cuing the ringing of bells nationwide, was held in the early
      afternoon.  A permitted First Amendment protest was held shortly
      thereafter in which about 250 demonstrators voiced their support for
      Mumia Abu Jamal, convicted 17 years ago for slaying a Philadelphia
      police officer.  Although the number of demonstrators exceeded the
      expected number on the permit, coordination between rangers and
      Philadelphia police helped assure that the event occurred without
      incident and without impacts on park interpretive programs.

o     Sagamore Hill NHS (NY) - The park celebrated Independence Day and the
      July 1st centennial of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders' famous charge
      on San Juan Hill in Cuba during the Spanish-American war.  Festivities
      included speeches by an actor portraying the president and by the
      commander of the Navy aircraft carrier named after him, and cavalry
      demonstrations by reenactors.  A capacity crowd of 2,000 visitors
      attended.  The event was managed under ICS by staff and volunteers;
      ranger Scott Gurney was event coordinator.  The event mark's the start
      of centennials in Roosevelt's public career as governor of New York
      (1898), vice president (1900), and president (1901-1909).

Notes on other significant Fourth of July activities would be appreciated.
[Henry Berberich, RLES, NCRO, 7/6; Scott Pfeninger, CR, STLI, 7/6; Mike
Pflaum, CR, MORU, 7/6; Phil Sheridan, PIO, INDE, 7/7; Michael Shaver, SAHI,
7/4]

98-347 - Saguaro NP (AZ) - Search and Rescue

On June 21st, two backpackers reported a member of their party missing from a
backpacking trip in a remote area of the Rincon Mountains.  J.M.,
a 34-year-old diabetic, had been experiencing fatigue and told his companions
to go ahead without him.  He hadn't been seen in 24 hours.  Rangers and
sheriff's department personnel began a hasty air and ground search; by that
afternoon, there were 15 searchers and two helicopters scouting the area for
clues.  Three ground searchers from the Southern Arizona Rescue Association
found J.M. late in the afternoon about 300 yards off the trail.  He was
in fair condition, having been separated from his pack - and insulin - for
nearly 32 hours.  Due to both remoteness and the onset of darkness,
J.M. was treated at the scene.  Insulin was dropped to the site.  He
was flown out in the morning, then taken to a hospital and admitted in
serious condition due to dehydration and a diabetic emergency.  He was
released from the hospital several days later.  [Paula Nasiatka, CR, SAGU,
7/1]

98-348 - North Cascades NP (WA) - Rescue

On Saturday, July 4th, G.H., 45, of Eugene, Oregon, fell and
sustained a knee injury while descending from a climb of the Quien Sabe route
on Sahale Peak with other members of a group being led by Alpine Ascents
International.  AAI guides alerted ranger Kelly Bush.  Since rain and poor
visibility prevented helicopter evacuation, Bush directed a difficult cross-
country carryout by a dozen other employees and AAI group members on July
5th.  [Galen Stark, NOCA, 7/6]

98-349 - Lake Mead NRA (AZ/NV) - Boating Accident; Rescue

Rangers and EMS volunteers responded to a personal watercraft (PWC) accident
on the afternoon of July 3rd.  C.P., 16, of Signal Hill, California,
was struck by another PWC traveling over 30 mph, but was able to make it to
the Hemenway launch ramp.  He complained of pain in his chest and difficulty
breathing and was found to have a deformity and crepitus (a grating sound
heard on movement of the ends of broken bones) on the left side of his chest. 
The initial plan was to transport C.P. to an ambulance at Boulder City, but
EMT volunteer Dave Ladd became concerned about C.P.'s condition and instead
summoned a helicopter to fly him to a trauma center in Las Vegas.  C.P. went
into shock upon arrival at the hospital and was rushed to the ER operating
room, where he was found to have a lacerated spleen.  [Paul Crawford, LAME,
7/6]

98-350 - Curecanti NRA (CO) - Rescue

Rangers received a distress call regarding a capsized boat shortly after a
brief storm struck the park on the afternoon of July 5th.  Several people
were reportedly struggling in the 65-degree water of Blue Mesa Reservoir. 
Park and Coast Guard auxiliary patrol boats were dispatched to assist the
four persons who had jumped overboard when their 17-foot outboard boat had
swamped in three foot seas.  Another three members of the party stayed with
the boat, trying to bail it out.  The winds pushed the boat towards shore, a
half mile away.  Rangers who responded by land helped pull the boat out and
provided emergency medical care.  All seven people had been in the water for
over 35 minutes and were in various stages of hypothermia.  A two-year-old
child was deep blue in color when pulled from the lake.  Paramedics attempted
to start an IV on the child, but were unsuccessful.  The entire group was
transported by ambulance to Gunnison Hospital, where they were treated for
hypothermia and later released.  All were wearing life jackets, a major
factor in their survival.  [Kinsey Shilling, ACR, CURE, 7/7]

98-351 - Shenandoah NP (VA) - Rescues

The park received a report that a 40-year-old, 300-pound diabetic male had
fallen and injured himself on the Lewis Falls trail late on the afternoon of
July 2nd.  While rescuers were responding, another report came in that a 46-
year-old woman had fallen near a waterfall on the White Oak Canyon trail. 
She was reported to be unconscious and going into shock.  Rangers and park
medics located her about 300 feet off the trail; a seven-hour, semi-technical
rescue operation was required to evacuate her.  About three dozen park
employees supported the two operations.  Both individuals were transported to
area hospitals, where they were treated for minor injuries.  [Clay Jordan,
DR, Central District, SHEN, 7/3]

98-352 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Assist; Rescue

On June 27th, rangers received a report from an injured skier who said that
he and two of his friends had been skiing the Dana couloir when they'd been
hit by an avalanche.  The couloir is located just outside the park's
boundary.  Mono County SAR asked for assistance from the park.  Ranger Keith
Lober was flown to the scene along with several members of the Mono SAR team. 
They treated and stabilized the two injured skiers, one of whom was
critically injured.  A helicopter from Fallon Naval Air Station was used to
transport him to Mammoth Lakes Hospital; he was listed in stable condition in
intensive care at the time of the report.  The other victim was flown to a
waiting ambulance aboard the park helicopter.  Helicopter operations were
hampered by altitude, warm temperatures and high winds.  The accident was
probably caused by a cornice release above the skiers.  This year's deep snow
pack has allowed backcountry skiing through June.  [Martin Ziebell, IC, YOSE,
6/30]

98-353 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Search

A 14-year-old juvenile became lost in the Short Creek area along Beauty
Mountain just after noon on July 26th.  The boy was a member of a 12-person
group from a bible camp associated with Appalachian Bible College, which
conducts adventure activities at New River.  He was the first of three people
to rappell down the cliff, but was not there when the latter two reached the
bottom of the cliff.  Shortly thereafter, another group of climbers heard
someone call for help; when they called back, the person said he was hurt,
lost, scared, and needed help.  They tried to locate him, but were
unsuccessful.  The park was notified and a search was begun.  It had gone on
for about 90 minutes when searchers met people from the bible camp and found
that they were looking for the boy.  A full-scale search ensued; containment
checkpoints were established and dog teams were called in.  Around 9 p.m.,
searchers were notified that the boy had returned safely to his camp in
Beckley, about 20 miles away.  Interviews with the boy revealed what had
happened.  After completing the rappell, he went the wrong way and missed the
path leading back to the cliff top.  He hurt his legs after falling on rocks,
had called for help, and had had the exchange with the other climbers.  After
waiting for about an hour and a half, he became scared and decided it was up
to him to find his way out.  He walked down the steep gorge to the river,
followed railroad tracks along the river, reached the Fayette Station bridge
around 7:30 p.m., and got a ride back to his camp from a passing motorist. 
The boy had several slight bruises on his shins, but was otherwise in good
condition and spirits.  [Rick Brown, Protection Unit Leader, NERI, 6/26]

98-354 - Fort Larned NHS (KS) - Severe Storm Impacts

A thunderstorm struck the park on the evening of June 28th, damaging
government vehicles and both historic and modern structures.  Damage resulted
from 65 to 75 mph winds (including possible micro-bursts), golf-ball sized
hail, and almost three inches of rain.  Six vehicles suffered hail damage to
metal surfaces; three vehicles lost windows.  A 20 foot by 40 foot metal pole
barn was demolished.  Other damage included the loss of 26 windows in
historic structures, fences, signs, and a water hydrant.  The cost for
repairs will exceed $15,000.  There were no injuries.  [Felix Revello, CR,
FOLA, 7/6]

98-355 - San Juan NHS (PR) - Bomb Threat

Ranger Doris Andino was preparing to raise the flag at Fort San Cristobal on
the morning of June 30th when she noticed a cardboard box near the base of a
flagpole.  Since there had been numerous recent bomb threats, the fort was
evacuated and the FBI and local police were notified.  A bomb squad checked
the box and determined that it was empty.  The bomb threats (277 were
recorded that day) are part of a sustained campaign protesting the Puerto
Rican government's sale of the previously state-owned phone company to a
private company.  A large number of people could lose their jobs.  Since the
fort is a government managed area (albeit the federal government), it has
received many of the bomb threats.  The protest has since evolved into an
island-wide strike in support of the phone company union members.  The
strikers have blocked roadways, preventing people from getting to work. 
Several members of the park's staff have been affected.  Visitation has also
dropped dramatically.  There were only 150 visitors to both forts yesterday,
which compares to the normal figure of 3,000 to 5,000 visitors for this time
of year.  [Glen Dodson, CR, SAJU, 7/2, 7/7 and 7/8]

98-356 - Glacier NP (MT) - Horseback Riding Fatality

C.L., 47, of Polsen, Montana, was riding with her husband and two
other friends on the Ptarmigan Tunnel trail on the morning of Sunday, July
5th.  The foursome stopped about 25 yards from the north side of the tunnel,
and C.L. dismounted to take a picture.  As she was doing so, her horse
stumbled and fell on top of her.  They both rolled over a three-foot
retaining wall and fell about 200 feet.  C.L.'s husband rode out to Many
Glaciers and reported the accident.  Rangers were notified and responded with
a helicopter and ground teams.  Her body was recovered at 10 p.m.  An autopsy
may or may not be conducted.  [Amy Vanderbilt, PIO, GLAC, 7/6]

98-357 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Apparent Falling Fatality

On the afternoon of July 4th, visitors reported finding abandoned shoes and
other property on the Rim trail west of Grand Canyon Village.  Rangers
investigated and found the body of N.J., 26, of Palmdale,
California, about 200 vertical feet below the canyon rim.  N.J.
apparently fell to his death on the afternoon or evening of July 3rd.  The
death appears to have been accidental.  Alcohol may have been a factor. 
[David Brennan, DR, South Rim, GRCA, 7/7]

98-358 - Manassas NBP (VA) - ARPA Conviction

On June 30th, R.W. of Centerville, Virginia, pled guilty to one
misdemeanor ARPA violation.  He will be sentenced on September 15th.  The
charges stemmed from an incident which occurred on March 24th.  A visitor
reported a man using a metal detector along the Unfinished Railroad trail. 
Ranger Barbara Mauller responded and apprehended R.W., who was using a metal
detector and had in his possession several Civil War era artifacts and a
screwdriver that he'd used to dig them up.  USPP officer Steve Wood and
ranger Mark Drotos assisted with the investigation and protection of the
crime scene.  The archeological assessment was conducted with the assistance
of regional archeologist Bob Sonderman and park cultural resource manager Ray
Brown.  Some 26 disturbances were found along the trail.  This is the first
ARPA case prosecuted at Manassas.  [Barbara Mauller, PR, MANA, 7/7]

98-359 - Ozark NSR (MO) - Car Clouting Arrests

Rangers Bill Terry and Ron Siller staked out a parking lot after a series of
vehicle break-ins at that location.  They employed night vision equipment to
watch the area.  Two men were seen driving into the lot at 3:45 a.m. on June
15th.  They employed a light to look into vehicles as they drove through the
area.  They were arrested by rangers as they broke one of the vehicle's
windows.  The men admitted to over ten car clouts, a vehicle theft, and
numerous business burglaries during the previous several weeks.  [Tim Blank,
Manager, South Unit, OZAR, 7/6]

98-360 - Lake Mead NRA (AZ/NV) - MVA with Multiple Injuries

Rangers and EMS crews responded to an accident at Lakeshore Road and the Las
Vegas Bay access road on the afternoon of July 4th.  Three victims were
treated and transported, including an unconscious and unresponsive eight-
year-old boy.  He was flown to the University Medical Center, where he
remains on a ventilator.  Several hours later, rangers received a report of a
12-year-old in the Boulder Beach area who was disoriented and vomiting blood. 
They learned that he'd been in the same vehicle as the eight-year-old and
that he'd walked away from the accident to join other family members in
another vehicle.  He was taken to the UMC trauma center with a skull
fracture.  [Paul Crawford, SPR, Boulder Basin District, LAME, 7/6]