The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-07-22
FROM THE SKAGlT.
\ PeriiOus Trip Down the River In
CanOe.-One Man Drowned-.Ter-
ribie Suffering by the Entire Party.

Ever since the Fourth Of July the
miners working in the Skagit mines
have been expecting Mr.. Taylor. who
keeps a store at the head Of canoe navi-
CATION on the river. to arrive with
some six or eight tons Of provisions
As time wore on and he did not put in
an appearance they began To feel
alarmed lest they should get entirely
ont of provisions before tho store
should be replenished with the expect
ed stock. On the lith some thirty
miners had congregated al Taylors
Landing. and as there was but two
sacks Of flour, ard 10 other provisions
whatever there. they divided up this
scanty supply, and after Loliiug con-
sultation. decided that something must
be immediately done to relieve their
wants A few days previous a party
had started down ths river in canoes
to see why Taylors party did lot come.
On the morning Of the 18th party Of
four brave miners. consisting Of Messrs.
Douglas Cameron. Philip Thomas. J.
ID. Lewis aud Archibald Swinton. de-
cided to start down the raging Skagit,
aud hasten, if possible, tho long looked
for supplies. When they showed Oft
Mr.. Cameron got into the stern OF the
craft to steer. As the boat was nearing
some ripples. few miles below. Came
ron said. Now, boys, keep steady, and
when give the word, you must paddle
rs hard as you possibly can, and we'll
get through all safe" When the canoe
commenced to pitch Swiuton became
excited aud stood mp. cIinging to the
side, saying. ashore boys" but as 1t
was impossible to reach the shore At
tina, point, Cameron. who was steering,
said: .Sit down IN the bottom. and
be still. or We will all be drowned"
just at this moment the canoe took
several buckets OF water over the bow.
This frightened Swinton oil the more,
ard he again raised to his feet By so
doing the canoe Was capsized, and the
entire crew, blankets, food and every.
thing else were thrown into the rush =
ing. raging stream. After u brief
struggle they all succeeded in reaching
the up,urned craft. just IS they got
hold Of it. a swell struck the boat and
it went under the surface For some time
with all hands clineing to it. They
were not far from shore. bat in strong
current, AMI in the distance could hear
.he roaring Of the big falls which they
were approaching rapidly. Swinton
being Of an excitable disposition.
jumped into the stream and attempted
TO reach the shore. He was an excel
lent swimmer. but when near the bank
Nj eddy struck him and he Was again
carriet out into the stream. When
near the middle he doubled up - in q
cramp, and disappeared. never to be
seen again on earth. He was quite
near the falls and is supposed to have
gone over them and been torn to pieces
The three remaining men clusg TO the
canoe till a good opportunity offered.
when they abandoned it, and reached
the shore in safety. 1. was raining
hsrd At the time. and they had neither
food nor shelter. aud were all suffering
terribly from exposure. They at once
set out to look for their missing CON-
panion. When near the falls they
found the canoe wedgei 10 between
three boulders. but were too weak 70
Sc, it out. They failed to find any
trace Of Swinton. aud with sad hearts
gave him up for lost 1t was decided
10 follow along down the river bank
aud look for Indians, or some other
help. They could not return to the
mines and did not like to stand s,ill
and s,arve. Night soon overlook them
aud hungry aud weary they laid down
in drenching rain. and rubbed eacl
other all night. in order to keep from
freezing or cramping to death. At
o'clock in the morning they started on
their journey again. and during thu
forenoon heard human voices. The