Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-09-05


and came down il boat to Elk prairie
Mccartney entirely miseoGceived the
statements reported here about Mob
eriy. We have heretofore published
the substance Of the statements Of
Moberly and they DO not correspond
at all with MeCsrtneys description as
given 10 his letter. We are not pre-
pared to say how near Mccartney cauc
to the 10 Lo trail. We understood
from him that his Indian, Dick, told
him that il was 10 sight. But Indian
Dick was there 10 section lie had
never before visited, aud he might
have thought 80 and yet been 30 Or
40 miles south OF it, 1t was sad
mistake that the party left without the
proper guide, aad it would have been
better had they been compelled to wait
two weeks for one than to have gone
without ono who had gone through the
pass, and such one could have been
obtained. We understood that such
one had been secured when the party
left Mt. Idaho. and did not know to the
contrary till it was too late, and We are
now at great loss to knos at whose in
stance the party first went up the Elk
City fork. There was great has@e in
the preparations to start, and no doubt
the men who accompani d Mccartney
were over confident that they knew
where to 90 and could find pass il
there was one. They certainly led Nc.
CARNEY away from the route where the
general belief aud previous information
had located the lone pass Of the Bitter
observation who has ever been over the
10 Lo trail and viewed the main range
south that will accede to the belief ex
pressed by Mccartney that the crossing
Of the summit by that trail is the low
est of that range, or az low by more
than 500 feet, and hence W. regret
that Mccartney did not reach the 10
Lo trail and from it viewed the summit
in soltherly dir .ction. But we re-
greet more that he was induced TO take
up the south or Elk City fork Of the
middle, instead Of up the north fork of
middle fork to where it again forks and
1 from that point explored the mountain
range. Had he done SO he would have
made the test that all here desired and
which we appreheoded would have dis
closed the wished for pass Of the Bitter
Root, IF the magnates of the North
crn Pacific company are ia earnest in
their desire to find the Clearwater route
4 practicable, they will send McCat'ncy
back again to complete the examination
We have done our duty in the premises,
and are not responsible for the party
going of without guide, as we were
informed they had secured one who has
been through the pass.
4 Since writ ng tho above we have re
ceived the following conformation o
our opinion
Mr.. IDAHO Aug. 3lst 1870.
Il LELAND Baker and urick tells III
, that the Indians say the pass is up an
| other fork to tho north of the Que the,
, went up. which you will see marked OF
; this sketch They found a fine rout
4 all but the last fifteen or twenty miles
!, Up the middle fork is splendid. The
I say where they made the summit i
/ over 5000 feet. Urick was here to da
J. aud has talked with Indians at Kamia
!. who still say there is pass north G
q McCartney's route. They would 4
b ont again !! desired. What say you
II people? L. P. b.
'-.s..s.s-s
Everyb ody is busy at present in ii