The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-07-28
Home Interests.
LETTER IRON CAMP POLK.
CAMp PoLK, July 8. 1879

times keeps the tprinter's) devil at tenn
porary distance for short time, we en-
close line for the REGISTER.
We left Albany on the 2Sth of june des-
tined for Ochoco. with Mr.. J. Norcross,
and after two days spent i'll branding |
cattle, etc. at Peterson's Butte, we wound
our way up the Santian, over dusty roads
and hot weather, In the rear of three hum |
dred head of horned cattle. We We're
truly surprised to see the country looking |
so prosperous-such fine looking fields of
grain, aud meadows, especially gardens.
which were SO Ear In advance of what they
were at the same date last season, that one
would almost stop to consider whether or
not nature is arranged on the principal OF a
reversion life policy, or turned new leaf
in her history to conceal the something of
the past.
On reaching the toIl-gate we find the
travel this year greatly exceeds that of last,
as there has already passed of stock about
two thousand horned cattle and as many
sheep, and numbers of small bands of
horses. From this point on To the Noun
tain House the traveller finds no lnconven-
lence in obtainig horse feed and lodging, asg
the income of the settler depends largely
on this resource, and with common con-
sent they all seem to be prepared for the
occasion.
The mountain part of the road does not
seem to have been obstructed by fallen
timber and earth slides as much as III years
long stormy winter just passed. Some
patches of snow, and mud-holes, still exist;
however, much credit is due to Mr..
Hogg'S agents, for energy and promptness
IN removing obstructions and keeping the
way in as good condition as possible.
The evening of July Sd found us in camp
at Fish Lake, and the mountain-side on
the east, overlooking the lake on the west,
was dotted over promiscuously with tents
and wagons of divers kinds, according to
the owners tastes or circumstances of the
| occupants. Some of the parties were travel
| ing one direction and some another, and
many seeking pleasure and recreation of
both sexes and all ages, from the old men
| to the small children. The evening was
calm and clear; the moon shone brightly
over the qnivering lake; the cheerful song,
the stories and anecdotes, games and fire.
quent boisterous laughter, whiIed away tht
/ hours of night till late, and many We're
| retiring to rest--the last centennial night.
when suddenly a rushing, laundering.
| tornado-like sound. that almost seemed to
| shake the mountains, made every on,.
begin to look tor place of safety. A
| large drove of cattle in a corral near at
had had taken a scare from the approach
| likely of some wild animal, and were on a
regular stampede aound the enclosure.
over logs, brush and rock, and, seemingly,
every conceivable thing in the mountains
that would add to the terrifying confusion.
| However, it lasted but few minutes. and
by the timely presence of some of the
droyers i'll charge, all was soon quiet as
before, and q general preparation for sleep
was in order. With a few entertaining
stories OF cattle stampedes, from a drover
] of much experience and superior ability
and understanding in the profession, whose
whole sensibiIities, whether sleeping or
| waking, were ever alive to notice The move
ments of horned cattle, our friend arranged
his blankets near one of those mammoth
trees common in the mountains where, for
safety. had been deposited our camp equip
age, saying the stock would stampede every
hall hour during the night, and big tree
was big thing IN such extremes. Very
soon all was quiet and many asleep, but,
true to the prediction of our drover. the
cattle scare was repeated. the same terrific
noise and frightened populace, but rs be-
| fore, was soon over. and all was still but
One. who continued quieting, s.Who-ah,
%ho-ah. who-ah,'' coming directly from
the large tree. Every one looked and sure
enough the hero of the night, who Haight-
led) to be run over by scared cattle had,
with one bound reached the large tree.
with outstretched arms. hands holding on to
| the heavy bark of the tree, legs astride, one
foot planted on sack of -four and the
other in frying-pan which contained the
remnants of our evening meal of fish, the
inevitable hickory. his only garment, the
pattern of which had been cruelty abridged.
ont from under the edges OF wagon
| There were too many eyes peering
covers and tents, and from behind trees
and other hiding places, for the stiffness.
An outburst of laughter that made the
mountains echo and the lake quiver to It's
very shores, broke the spell, an the SOM
nambulist awoke to find himself the OBJ
served of all observers, who retired with
out even his bow to the audience. Briei
speeches and comments with Simultaneous
roars OF laughter were idulged In again
and again. till we think the most courage.
Gus wild beast would have dreaded tc
4 again disturb the camp. Thus was closed
ont at Fish Lake the last hour OF the great
American Cenutenial year. Twilight IL
the east soon announced the approach d
day. 4 few reports from Henry rifles
hasty breakfast. and the roar of cattle
whips. and the people dispersed, every
man his way, and viii. thankful remem
brance Of the events Of the past hundret
years, we pass ON to