Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-02-17

Wolf LOdge-A Night among the
WOlyes-Indian Dance-COur d.
AIane Lake-The Kentuck Trail
The Enchanted Bear MIR.
Frosty - Wallula - Fun alum,
etc.
FtINTvILLE, February II, 1876.
When l left Spokane Mis-
sion, | had fifty miles to travel
before l arrived at the settle
ments. 1 did not complete the
journey the day l left, but
struck camp twenty-five miles
from the Mission at a place
called Wolf Lodge. I camped
on a little prairie near the woods
all alone. When it grew dark,
l was startled by the howl of a
wolf. l made large fire and
stretched myself on the grass
and tried to compose myself to
sleep, but it was Of no use--the
whole pack Of wolves made the
night hideous, while the dismal
hootings Of numerous owls
caused me to feel the utter lone
illness Of my situation. [ could
see the glaring eye-balls Of the
ravenous animals and hear their
teeth snap. The tall trees near
the edge of the prairie cast
weird shadows in the fitful light
of my camp fire, and the pale
moonbeams shoreOn the gnarled
branches of the gigantic cedars,
the tall frs, and the whispering
pines, like ghostly visitors from
the spirit land. As the day be-
gan to dawn, [ saddled up and
started; about noon | arrived at
Cour d. Alane lake. The lake
is fresh and full of fish-the
outlet is Spokane river. | ar
rived at the settlements on the
prairie near sundOWn. The
Spokane Indians had collected
in large numbers near the river
bridge and built a huge bonfire.
They formed a circle around
the fire and began the dance Of
the 'New Moon" After put
ting up my pony and eating
supper, | went to see the dance.
A squaw stood in the center
of the circle near the fire way
ing Il wand. The Indians COM
posing the circle kept singing
and dancing, yelling and clap
ping their hands all the while.
They screamed and leapcd with
distorted faces and fierce looE-
ing eyes until the perspiration
ran in streams down their
checks. | never saw a more Gu
rious sight-their long black
hair streamed on the night
breeze, while the dull monOtOn-
ous sound Of a drum made MT
sic for the dancers. They
seemed to be singing 4 Chant
l did not learn anything eAco2t
the chorus, which was-"Ewa,
eva, ewayah, ,ewa,ewa, ewayah. "
Every time they repeated the
chorus they clapped their hands
and stamped their feet with all
their might. The next day l
took the Kentuck trail leading
to Union Flat, Rebel Flat, and
Pelouse river. Near Union
Flat, l saw a large black bear
on the prairie; [ drew my pistol
and gave chase. The ground
was a little undulating and
Bruin made good time. Al! at
once the bear disappeared as
suddenly, as if the earth had
opened and swallowed him.
The strangest thing about it is,
that the spot where | last saw
the bear appeared to be level,
and the animal could be seen
] distinctly, but he disappeared
suddenly and all my efforts to
discover him again proved una
vailirg. l call him the enchan-
ted bear. While riding along
the trail, | met an Indian Chief
riding a white pony-his saddle
blanket was red as blood-lis
saddle made Of black leather
he was dressedin a suit Of white
tanned buckskin trimmed with
beads OF every color, and his
face, neck and hands were pain
ted red. He informed me that
his name was Mr.. Frosty, but it
should have been Mr.. Indian
Dandy for such he was. The
country in the upper part Of
Washington Territory is cold,
windy, and disagreeable. AT
last / saw the Columbia riY-
err and my heart Ieaped with joy.
for the noble stream is navlga-
ted by great number Of steam
boats, and l felt that civiliza.
+iOr, vraS Of borJ IN 1 ,,,,,,s