The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-07-10
OiILY INTELLIGENCER.
Wednesday, July 10, 1878.

From SEHoME TO MOUNT BAKER
somet,me during the month OF Lay last,
Young man By the name OF Woods,
,-onr;etor of the sloop Nellie, in com
IN with two other young men, deter
P,sd mon making an extended pros
nsc,ipg tour up the south branch of the
Ton.sack river TO its source among the
.autheastern foot hills Of Mount Baker.
Ne had had considerable experience in
this line, having been in various pros
Meeting parties in Colorado and New
Mexico. Arriving at Sehome, the trio
act out for the Crossings. settlement
on the Nootsack river some eighteen
miles from the first named place. Here
thew chartered an Indian canoe with
two aborigines to man Ii and proceeded
nm the south branch of the Nootsack,
where it has always been supposed that
rich gold jigglngs were yet to be found
some four days journey above the forks.
Here they abandoned the canoe, settled
with the Indians and sent them pack.
On they went afoot for many miles
more thorough one of the worst OF
primevsl jungles until the eastern base
Of Mount Baker was reached. Their
route lay along the upper course OF the
south branch of the Nootsack now
through great canyons walled lii by
towering hills and great mountains,
whose giddy crests appeared to hide
among the very clouds; now through
almost impenetrable swamps, where
great forest trees, moss grown so as al
most conceal their identity. and an ex-
hedged them completely around; then
again along the edges Of a foamiug
stream which was ever plunging reIcnt-
less headlong, over some ragged, rocky
fall. dashing itself against huge bolders,
which obstructed its course or strug-
CLING made among continuous rapids.
Higher up from the bed of the stream
they picked their way along over the
elk and deer trails to the high ridges
and hills above, but ever keeping
within hearing of the sound of the
dashing waters below, which were TO
serve them as a guide back to civiliza-
ton. Here they found the growth Of
timber rather light and stunted, and
amid immense land slides which were
everywhere apparent, great beds of
strata rock and masses of black sand
were brought to view Along the hills
and ridges the soil was OF the same
color. resembling in general appearance
brick dust. and the whole formation Of
of rock and earth looked as if it had
but yesterday been taken from the kiln
and cooled IL was in many instances
to poor TO support the feeblest forms
of vegetable life. Large rocks. which
might geologically be classcd among
new burnt bricks. as large as beer keg,
were as porous as sp0ngeA, and but lIt-
tie heavier than so much cork The
abounds with game, aud the
stream for the entire distance was alive
with trout. However gold was the
object of their search. and they devoted
their time entirely to prospecting. But
the leader of the party reports that al
though they found continuous sand beds
oil along the course of the river, and
everything suggestive of gold, they
found no traces of this metal worth
searching for. although color was al
most anywhere obtainable. They re-
turned to Sehome in little more than
six weeks from the time they set out,
descending the river from the highest
navigable point to the Crossings, on
strong raft which they constructed for
the purpose. having carried up guam
tity OF chains, ropes and spikes for the
purpose. The descent in some par.icu-
lars was dangerous one, and strongly
spiced with the charm of adventure.