Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-08-12
A Tour up the Cowlitz River.

and all information concernngits resources,
l thought sketch of a tour up the Cow
litz river some miles beyond the settle
.mcnts in that direction would perhaps be
acceptable to you and not unintercsting to
many of your readers.
On Sunday evening, July, 9th Capt.
Henry Winsor and myself left the hospl-
table residence of Mr.. Charles Knowles on
Drcw's Prairie to examine and prospect a
certain bar of black sand discovered by a
party of gentlemen consisting of Messrs.
Ed. Davis, j. Z. Browning, Il. l.. Finch
and others, several years ago, and said to
contain gold. We had supplied ourselves
with the usual campers outfit (excepting a
tent. ! medicines, including an antidote for
the bites Of poisonous reptiles, and often.
taken as a preventive, and pick and
shovel for prospecting. We had carried
our outfit this far from Olympia in buggy,
intending, as each had a saddle horse, and
a pack horse between us, to begin packing
here but when ready to start one of the
horses was found SO lame that he had to be
left behind.
We then concluded to tako the buggy
as far as Klikitat Prairie if possible, and
from that place to pack our kit" on one
of the saddle horses and "ride and tie"
with the other Arriving at Cowlitz on
Cowltz Prairie, pair Of moccasins each
for camp duty, crackers, cheese &C., were
added to our store. We had large bottle
that we wished to have filed with syrup.
Signifying our wish to the merchant, that
obiying gentleman informed us with
wink, the meaning Of which / did not un-
derstaud until tie next day, that he had
the "very best article in the market"
About sunset we reached the pleasant
home of Mr.. Barton who politely invited
US to camp under his roof, which invitation
we gladly accepted. Fairly next morning
we were dismissed by the family with
many kind wishes. The route this day lay
over an extremely diversified country:
first level clay land of rather cold wet
nature, principally covered with fir, but
now and then piece of several acres of
small brush. AS we proceeded the land
| improved in quality but was rolling and
! the timber larger. At the distance of
several miles We struck succession of
low fern covered hills many of which are
occupied by settlers. a few fine little
streams of water were crossed. One called
Mill creek, some eight or ten miles from
Cowlitz Prairie, takes its name from the
fact that couple of gentlemen from Ore
gon arc erecting mill upon it. Crossing
a high rough mountain that shook us and
our vehicle up terribly, we came boldly
out above the river which looked like
small creek as it foamcd aud boiled a thou
sand feet beneath us. Descending gradu-
ally over good ground for some distance
We came to sharp descent which brought
us to the valley or bottom land Of the
Cowlitz reaching to Tilton fork, about two
miles, and is apparently all taken. Tilton
river is not so large as expected to find
it-sixty feet wide at present, I should
say, and is easily fordcd. We halted for
lunch on its opposite bank at an Indian
garden. Several Indians visited US, one
Of whom readily engaged to guide US to
our destination as he lived near there and
was then on his way to his mountain home,
having been to the settlements to exchange
his furs and skins for -four, and bright
colored calicoes and trinkets for his wife
and child. He called himself Jim, was
rather sprightly and intelligent and We
like him very well J.; but he had one fault
he would lie outrageously. Before fin.
ishing lunch we discovered the quality Of
our syrup obtained at the Cowlitz the day
before. Wishing to use little on my
cold bread, drew the cork and turned
out what Isupposcd to be good S. F. syrup,
but what proved to be-oh shades of tenn
pcrance! very common whiskey. The
joke was good one, but l at least did not
relish it. However tho contents of the
bottle fully explained the very knowing
manner of our storekoepcr. Hitching up,
a half hours drive brought us to tho cross
ing of Cowlitz river, which was swimming
an unusually high stage of water at this
time Of tho year. Here we left the buggy
and harness in charge of an old Indian un-
til our return. They assisted us in swim.
ming our horses, taking our "kit" over in
a canoe. Across the rapid stream safely,
we took our first lesson in packing, sue
ceeding admirably, and, climbing long
and rather steep hill, found ourselves upon
the elevated plain known as klikitat
Prairie. This prairie is curiosity. Not
| having tue necessary instruments ltS eicVa-
ton above the sea could not be determined
but it lies several hundred feet above the
river. Its length East and West is four
miles, with width of mile or more A
range of hills seem to completely cnsircle
this strange depression, those to the south
rising to the dignity of mountains. Fern
is the principal production. Water of the
best quality is abundant From Mr.. T.
r. Winston an energetic and intelligent
farmer living on the eastern extremity Of
the prairie-whosc open handed hospitality
We shared on our return, we learned
many interesting particulars concerning
this ncighborhood aud its settlement He
came here four years ago, the pioneer Gas
indeed he is yeti settler in this quarter.
In that time he has collected around him