Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-09-17
YMP WASHINGTON TERRITORY SATURDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER IT, 1870


fixediy q the returned "Boston men," he
might hxvc afforded good subject for the
pencil ofsn artist wishing to sketch type 81
the red men rs they may have appeared lin ap.
parel, at least,) before the :" Boston" and
g King George" men invaded the land. His
form was tall, slender and erect, and in only
one article Of costume did he resemble the halt
civilized and grotesquely dressed Indians oi
the towns and reservasions Of the lower coun.
try. This was his cap, which had doubtless
once belonged to private in the army. The
brim, or front, was thickly studded with large
headed brass tacks, the long sharp points pro.
truding beneath, seeming to threaten eyes and
nose with destruction; the crown had been re.
moved and its place supplisd with the brass
rim or frame of a coal-o;l lamp, in the center
of which were fastened two eagle feathers.
The remainder of the costume was primitive
enough blanket wrapped about the body,
deer-skin leggings and moccasins-two pairs
Of the latter worn out on the trip from and
back to Bear Prairie. Sluiskin exhibited a
degree of intelligence that not little surprised
his g. pale face'' compasnons du voyage, and
was possessed of vein Of humor and satire,
which he INDUCED at the expense of the
=" Boston men" whenever occasion offered. In
the outset of their journey, he was evidently
of the opinion that they would break down or
back out from their to him wild ana incompre-
hensible undertaking, bat when they taxed to
the utmost his own powers OF endurance in the
long and laborious march from Bear Prairie to
the base of Rainier, his quizical expression Of
countenance changed to one of astonishment {;
and when the snow-ine was reached, and he
found them still firmly resolved to master the
the nights Of his awe-inspiring Tahomah,"
his astonishment grew. AS they sat around
their campfire on the night of the 10th, Sluis-
kin grew quite eloquent and prophetic in de-
pictinc the dangers that in his estimation would
beset an attempt to reach the summit, predict
ing that they would be killed in the attempt,
or would perish with cold if they attained it.
Finally, when he found that all his arguments
we're fruitless in persuading them FROM carry
ing out their rash determination, he said he
would keep camp two days and nights after
they were gone, and if they were not back on
the third morning, he would go siyah to "Olim-
pee and tell their friends or Hliicums that they
had been lost on the mountain-copd Ia tets
mountain. As he now came slowly and with a
sort Of hesitating step into camp, and silently
took his position near the fire, his face wore
an expression that greatly amused hiss ompan-
ions. He was at first evidently very much in
doubt whether thaape. beings before him (the
disabled one lyn6; s13etched on his blankets,
the other standing near him. were veritable
flesh and blood, or d;sembodied spirits. Sluis-
kin, after he had himself enjoyed hearty
meal and taken few reassuring puts at his
pipe, grew quite talkative once more, and
seemed quite pleased to find that his proposed
melancholy pilgrimage to "Olimpee would
not now be necessary. The two mountaineers
found that there had been great change in
the atmosphere and temperature during their
absence. On the 10th the sun had shone down
hot and bright on their camp, and swarms Of
horse flies had pestered them, even following
them on the 18th for two hours in their journey
up t.emouutain. Un looking back from camp
as they reached it after the descent, they no.
ticed that the upper half of the mountain was
obscured by thick clouds, and now strong
wind was blowing up a canon and sweeping
coldly over the high point occupied by their
camp. But for the heated bowlders which
they placed at their feet, they would have
passed, notwithstanding their great fatigue,
cold and comfortIsss night on the 18th.
The following day camp was moved to the
clear stream in the valley where luncheon had
been taken on the 18th. 1t was within mile
or two of this point that the actual ascent Of
the mountain (up the slope already described }
was begun. The entire distance traversed
from the beginning of the ascent to the sum.
NIT of the mountain was estimated to be twelve
or fourteen miles, the entire length Of snow
line traversed eight miles
Mr.. Van Trump was left at the camp on
Clear Stream, being unable to walk farther
that dav, and General Stevens and the Indian
started for Bear Prairie.
The General, in opposition to the remon-
STRANGE Of Sluiskin, (who seemed to think the
previous route the only practicable one) deci-
ded 10 follow down the Nisqually, judging that
he could thus find a nearer route to Bear Prai-
rie, and one by which horse could be sent
back for the wounded tourist. He was emil
ncntly successful, and reached Bear Praitie
after tramp Of five hours and half. He
moved the camp on Bear Prairie three miles 10
Nisqualy, and on the morning Of August goth
sent the Indian up the river with the two po.
nies, to the camp where Mr.. Van Trump had
been left. Sluiskin succeeded In getting the
horses within three miles of this camp. As
sisted bv the attentive Sluiskim, the disabled
mountaineer lmpcd over this distance along
a steep mountain side, and was helped to
noun one of the ponies. From this point the
remaining distance down the rivcr, seven
miles, was travelled on horse back an after
noon journey, for its pains, long to be remem.
hered. The river had to be fOrded at least ff-
teen or twenty times, and the huge and count
less boulders along the course Of the river
were calculated to make horse back riding,
under any circumstances, . very questionable
pleasure; under the circumstances attending
that particular case il was absolute torture.
On the evening Of the goth the whole party
were united again. Mr.. Coleman, though dis
appointed in being compelled BY his accident
to return to camp at Rear Prnirie. was found
to be accepting the situation" like phios-
opher. declaring his intention to try the noun
tain on some future occasion. On account Of
rain and the high state Of the river. two days
more were spent in camp on the Nisqually. On
the 22d. Sluiskin, having first beer paid for
his services and presented with number OF
/" "icters," took his departure for the Cowlitz.
The morning Of the 23d saw the party on their
way homeward, the rain having ceased and
the river fallen enough to admit Of fording
with safety.
The journey back, over the same route, vas
without incident worthy Of special note. and
was performed on foot AZ far as Lackamas
Prairie in three days. F-om the Lackamas
tley rode into olympia, where they arrived,
bruised. travel-worn and sun-browned, on the
evening of August 26th, and met with recep-
ton from somewhst anxious friends which
thev will long hold in kindly remembrance.