Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-11-11
THE MYSTERIOUS LADY.

From the Overland MOntily.
The Nisqually, which is one of the
most lovely and picturesque rivers in
the world, empties into Puget Sound a
few miles southeast OF Stellacoom.
Formerly, one of the savage tribes of
Indians of the Northwest claimed the
Nisqually as its hunting.ground, but
nor, only few poor, miserable, filthy,
squalid beings remain of the once
powerful tribe, and even thev have lost
their native energy, and fallen into
premature decay.
Many years ago, when these Indians
were famous hunters, the traders of the
Hudson Bay Company went into their
country, and finding them rich in furs,
erected a. fort, established trading
post, and soon, by means of blandish-
ments-which they knew so well how
to use-won the friendship of those
whom they doomed to destruction for
strange as it may appear, the white ira
der has always carried to the homes of
the Indian disease and death, along
with his blankets and trinkets.
When we reached Steilacoom and
commenced making preparations for a
fortnight in the forest, was deputed to
learn something of the country and in
answer to my inquiries, nearly every
body would reply:
"Jake Warden can tell you all about
the country and if you want to have a
good time, you had better get Jake to
90 with you."
hunted up Mr.. Warden, and found
him in a liquor. saloon, in the act of
swallowing a quantity of brown Or
amber colored spirits. He was a TALL
sunburnt man, drawing very near to
the threescore mark of human life, of
dull countenance, and listless manner
His frame appeared loose and flexible,
but it was vast, and, in reality, of pro-
digious power. The inferior lneaments
of his countenapce were coarse, extend
ed, and vacant; while the superior, of
those nobler parts which are thought
to affect the Intellectual being were,
low, receding, and mean. His dress was
mixture of the coarsest vestments of
: husbandman with the leathern gar
ments that are affected by frontiers
men. There was also singular and
wild display of prodigal and ill,judged
ornaments blended in his motely attire.
| introduced myself Immediately, and
informed the hunter what | desired.
After having explained my wishes to
MIN, awaited his reply. He looked at
me in lazy sort of manner, and drawled
out:
"You fellars ar from the city, arn't
ye?"
dyes"
"And ye don't know nothin' about
the woods? ?'
"Our knowledge is limited
"And ye would like to have some
good huntin' and fishin' p
"Yes"
car ye goin fur a reglar time NV
it?
dyes"
"Goin' to take a good supply of
drinkables along, hain't YEP
"Yes"
"Then III go; and eff yer don't have
lots of fun, Pm a Siwash Undian.
When do you want to start 2"
"As soon as possible"
"Then I'll Just go and git my plunder,
and jine ye."
He kept his word, had led us into the
forest. and now, at the end of the first
davis hunting and fishing, we were en-
loving such comfort as rest always
brings after great fatigue.
The conversation was beginning to
Hag and lose its interest, when our guide
said:
"Ef you'll pass along that ar jug of
Min, I'll take drop to moisten my
eullet and lie the hinges of my tongue.
and then spin yes a yarn of the 'arly
days of this yere country
Mr. Warden raised the demiiohn to
his lips, and held it there for something
more than minute, and until two
great lachrymal globules burst from his
ewes and slowly rolled down his cheeks.
Then. setting the cherished casket be-
tween his legs, and wiping his lips with
the cuff of his coat, he said:
"Boys, We are trumps Eff ye don't
know nothin' about huntin' bar or
skelpin' redskins, yer has a taste that
can't be denied, and I'm proud to bear
! testimony to the fact that yer selection
of ticker can't be beat. In fact, boys,
Va possesses talent for it which al.
most amounts to genius. ill drink
yer healths.'
after having paid his respects to the
demiiohn a second time; Lemme see
whar I'll begin. Yes, | guess I'll tell
w. about the Mysterious Lady of Ms
1suallv. That was something | never
ald adomld understand, although | was quite
curus, and tried to sift the matter to
tbe bottom. But them cd factors was
too % close m outhed, and wouldn't let out
Ifs now nearly forty years since l ar
s.sd on the Pacific coast and took en-
aIoyment with the Hudson Bay Com
@ INV During my wanderings over this
co.utry, and my tarryings at the various
trsting. posts, learned a good deal of