The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-07-19
Touring In Klickitat and Yakima.

The log cabin at Pine Creek was frequent
~ the scene Of merry gathering during the
STAY of our party. When the cattle drivers
had come home, the chores done and the
evening meal, with its after work OF dish
washing out of the way, tables and chairs
we're put one side, and with good natured
Ben Burch as the Knight of the Bow, the
pine board floor ratified with the tripping of
merry feet to the measures of lively reel.
Hero were no heated rooms and dazzling
lights, no dressing to death, no practice of
giddy arts, no late hours with their after
claps Of headache or heartache, but serene
and joyful for an hour or two in the compan-
ionship of friends, the time spiced and en-
livened with gay music, the innocent amuse-
meut was consistent with the primitive sur
roundings, and added much to the pleasure
of our soiourn. At such times jokes were
free, and though often of a practical nature,
they were always given or taken in the best
of humor, in the spirit of the camp as ex-
pressed by our host wnen he said Every.
thing goes"
of the expedition was the good humor of its
individual members, and it did not lose its
SAVIOR either in fgurative or literal sense,
for everything, even the birds of the forest,
and the aches, pains, ETC., as some thought,
succumbed before the subtle and effective
influence of our salt.
One day the party paid
to neighbor, Mr. L. G. Baily living coup
lie of miles north of the camp Mrs. B. and
her sister, Miss Graham, received us in the
most cordial manner and entertained us very
Hospitality. The dinner table did not groan
under the weight of the feast but it might
have done so in justice to the quality and
excellence of the viands, and in company with
those who partook heartily of the good things
set before them. Mr.. Baily has very pref
ty little farm here, also fine flock of sheep,
the wool of which he was preparing for mar
kst the day of our visit.
EQUINE AGITAToR."
At 3 o'clock P NJ our horses, impatient with
their long standing, were at the gate and
anxious to move in any direction, backward
or forward. The ladies slowed, adieus said,
break thrown of, whip applied and such a
racket and clatter, and jumping and snort
ing as those horses made. as they bounded up
the hill over the rocks, was enough to terrify
one of the stoutest hearts to assume kneel-
ing position on the bottom of the wagon, and
who was never before known to be particular
about the attitude of prayer. She acknowl-
edged the kneeling, but disclaimed prayer
as the object of the humble position. The
only wonder is that any of the passengers
remained on their seats. Here our host, the
driver, won another title complimentary to
his activity-"Equi Agitator." The top
of the hill reached the balance of the road
to the Ranch was passed without accident.
This was Saturday and our
LAST DAY AT PINE CREEK.
On the following morning we said good bye
to the familiar faces and scenes of the Ranch,
and, giving the reins to the lead team, rolled
away over the hills toward Yakima.
GRAND SCENERY.
Upon the high mountains overlooking the
Setas, the Yakima, the Topmish. creeks,
rivers, valleys. and, seemingly, all the rest OF
creation; for the horizon, in all directions,
looks like ''jumping-off place" the view is
indescribably grand. The feecy clouds
scattered here and there in the heavens,
seemed to hang pendant from the azure sky,
a they cast their shadows on the landscape
below, the long vista of the valley looking
away to the south, lost itself in the haze as
the eye sought the southern horizon, the
mountains rising in successive steps from the
plain, displayed their lines of beauty in long
undulations, the delicate work of the Artist,
who il not only the author, but the finisher
of all terrestrial utility, scorning alike the
pencil and the brush, as with Lyric rod
divine" he disposes the grand tracery of
nature. The
ROLLING AND BILLowY SURFACE
Of the country reminds one of the sea after
the white caps of the storm have given way
70 the majestic heave Of its perturbed bosom
Such Is the appearance of the country
Viewed in detail, one sees many minute
things to study and ADMIRE. Springs break
forth from the mountain gulches and flow in
brooks toward the plain below, fructifying
the earth along the way, SO that the bushes
look green and thrifty. and flowers bud and
bloom, and exhale their fragrance to waste
on the summer air. Cattle and horses are
dotted on the hillsides, feeding on bunch
ernss, the dipinutive whirl-wind raises a
sisnder spire of dust in the valley below
which looks like the spiral smoke of camp
fire, and, lastly, our road, dimly seen, winds
down the steep declivities toward the Setas
I'D il Lost 70 view oyer the top Of distant