, 1869-11-20
Editorial cOrrespoadence.
o1rrrrA, November >, 1869.

I .
that we left Portland on Monday
morning, in company with Judge
DennisOn, of the Supreme Court
Mc. Woodward, Superintendent Of
Wells, Fargo & Co.'S Express; John
Wilson, the great circus manager,
and several other gentlemen, all
bound for Olympia. The steamer
Rescue brought us to Monticello
about 2 o'clock in the afternoon,
where we took passage by Davis
stage line for Olympia. When we
left Monticello the roads weto dusty,
but we bad scarcely got into the
mountains when the rain began to
descend, and for seven long hours
We were exposed in an open wagon,
on q most miserable road, to the pelt-
ings of pittiless storm, To say
that we were wet through does not
express the idea-we we're literally
drowned, and more forlorn looking
set of men have never seen. We
arrived at Humphreys Station about
10 O'Clock at night, and there before
a rousiug FIRE we dried our dripping
garments, and in a brief space of
time were summoned to a smoking
hot supper, which after our long and
perilOus ride, was enjoyed with a
relish. Goats, boots, stockings, &C.,
being suitably arranged before the
fire to dry, we retired to our beds, to
be called at 8 o'clock in the morn
ing, to resume our journey. Thanks
to the kind attention Of friend PUN.
phrey We had a nice clean bed, in a
well furnished room opening out
from the fire, and thus comfortably
fixed, we rested well, and rose at 3
O'Clock, greatly refreshed. At that
hour all the passengers we're in read
mess, and a few minutes later we
we're seated in an open coach, with
the rain pouring down, and in almost
pitch darkness, we resumed our jour.
ney. The road for miles was little
better than q lake, and with small
but tough little horses, we made our
way al little better than a snails
pace. The hours that elapsed before
daylight were interminable, and we
thought at times morning never
would come. Slowly jogging along,
the water pouring down, just as day
was about to break, we came to an
unusually fine "waler privilege" in
the road, and in it the stage upset,
spilling out passengers and baggage
in wild confusion. The writer was
the "heavy character" 10 this little
drama, and IN consequence of his
weight was the last to get out of the
wreck. Judge Dennison, being light
and active, was first on his feet, and
at once came to the assistance of
your humble servant, fishing me out
of the water and assisting me in re-
gaining a firm footing. With the
turn over of the stage the horses
stood perfectly still, and thus we es,
capped what otherwise might have
proved a serious accident. 10 a few
minutes the coach was righted, and
dripping wet we resumed our cheer.
less journey After iourneying four
teen miles, the greater part through
dense forest, we came TO McDon-
AIDS Station, and there halted for
breakfast. We had been five hours
in making this fourteen miles, and
during the whole time the rain never
ceased to come down as though the
windows of heaven had been opened.
After a hasty and not By any means
palatable breakfast, we were again
on the road, with twenty miles to
make before reaching Tullis' Sta
ton, the next stopping place, and
the point at which passengers take
dinner. Our drive now for miles
was through a dense forest, broken
occasionally by little patches of prai-
rie land. These prairies are all tas
ken up, but being covered With fern,
we can scarcely understand how the
occupants manage to live. Such
patches of land would set Walla
Walla farmer crazy. In passing the
Chehalis we noticed some tolerable
good land, but taken as a whole this
part of the Territory is anything but
inviting to the agriculturist. A poor
soil, and long, dreary, wet winters,
the cattle are stunted, and two and
three-year olds are small beside
Walla Walla yearlings. The farmers
of our valley who occasionally grum'
BILE, should visit the Sound, and our
word for it they will go back more
than satisfied with their lot in life.
Resuming the thread Of our mar
rative, we reached Tullis' Station, on
the Shook un>C Chuck, about 2 o'clock
in the afternoon, having been for
some six hours exposed to constant
dipping rain. There we had din.
ner, and for the balance of the trip,
twenty seven miles, we had a COW
cred coach, and with relays Of horses
made good time, reaching Olympia