The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-08-15
OPTIC THE MINES.

Vernon about noon on Wednesday,
Angus. 8, 1879, for the Skagit mires.
There we're four Of Us, and two H.
disus. For the first two days We were
nearly eaten up by mosquitoes, We
campsd the second night a. Minklers
saw mill Though he and hi, family
are removed far from busy city life.
yet they seen buoysnt with hopes. and
their agreeable and courteous manners
bespeak the true lady and gentleman.
There is quite whirlpool and rifle
here; several canoes have been tipped
over in the whirlpool The scenery is
beautiful. evergreen points. smooth.
broad bottoms and very high FIR cover
ed hills burst into view at every bend
of the river, like q grand panorama,
effec.ually overcoming the monotonous
role OF . canoe trip. Above Minklsr's
we passed Cape Horn and the Dalles.
The Dslles is ysry picturssque place,
monsxous rocky points protesting into
the river. nearly in the shape OF W,
with large whirlpools under each point.
It must be svfully nice during tresbst
time. We stopped for short time at
Evesett!s ranch. At the mouth OF Baker
river. and found him one Of the joiliest
kind of men. We passed beautiful
scenery on both sides OF the river,
growing grander as we climb the river.
Here ct the mouth Of Baker We have
Q fine view OF Mount Baker and. be-
lieye it is the last time We shall see it
until we return, as We are working in
bshind the foothills There Is but i've
bad rapids up - far As the Sank river,
and the banks are covered with the
finest timber l ever saw. There is also
some fine farming hand. Some of the
Indians hsve patches cleared. and
raise vegetables. Saturday We passed
Cascade river, q few miles above Sank.
both coming 10 on the left bank of
Skapit. A clustes OF rocks y hich tow.
or far above their neighbor'. near the
,uGhih Of Sank. We gave the name OF
Annis's Castle In honor OF Q mutual
friend Of our party. We had some bad
rifles Just above Sank and Cascade
rivers. and very swift water. A very
high range Of bills extends FOR several
miles above the mouth OF Cascade, and
4 beautiful stream rushes out of can
yon and empties into the Skagit on the
rivht bank. We called the mountains
the Abbsss Peaks and the stresm- Abs
bic river. The days arc splendid, aud
our sppetites rsvenous, and as night
throws her sable curtain over the world
VIC lie down in sight OF the fosmy riff
fees, and, lulled by their ceaseless roar
ing We sink into sleeps kind en-
brace, while our minds wander back
willingly TO those We love aud have
loft behind rs. Sunday mornings
light burst upon US with . strange,
weird ray. clothing in regal splendor
the Abbess Peaks, while the wind
drives into fantastic shapes the spray
from tho cataracts Of Abbie river. The
rocky sides OF the peaks and snow dot
tod heads gli'ten like mighty coroncts
studded with diamonds. IT'S grand.
glorious view-one that fills the behold
or With delight, and seems gradually to
draw our purcr thoughts to higher
level. and bring US almost face to face
with Natures Supreme Architect We
passed q stream on tho right bank
which was named Maggie river. A
few miles further We saw little roaring
torrent which We called Adella creek.
Lofty peaks on either side mark its
worn. alike p,th. think the Skagit
river current will average six or eight
miles 90 hour from Sank to the rapids.
where . portage has to DC made. Of
about 900 yards. Six of US had all we
could do to drive our canoe along. The
rapid is u terror; one Of our party and
the Indians took the canoe over. The
breakers would beat against the canoe
and fly 40 high - their heads. The
river u not over $50 feet VIDE, but
very deep. aud falls about IS feet to
the half mile. We made it in good
shape. A stream comes In here which
We called Mollis Knox. A short ways
above the portage 10 . snow covered
range Of hills which are called the
Bellies Blu1s. Two large streams rush
down the rocky sides. forming beAuti-
ful falls. The first one we named the
FSnnie Csscads. A nice green level
looks out between two snowy capped
peaks, the messy sides Of tho hills. aud
the stream winding like . thread OF
silver. fall after fall. for Thousands Of
feet, forming . beautiful picture. The
other We gave the name Of Bridal Veil
From here il is rifle after rifle until
We 6ually leave the canoe at Goodell's
Landing Mr. Goodell and three others
there are in good spirits. and health.
but report the water too high yet to
give any different news about the dig
gings. Will send you word the first
chance ! have. Until then. good bye.
everybody. vox.