The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-02-11

no RuBY CREEK ~ WAY o. POET
The following 10 the odieial report Of
Mr.. Rohiason, Who has located (but not
opsusd) trail from Fsrt Hope TO the
Ruby CssIk sold nines. How long it
took the party TO reach the digeiogs il
not told, bat il Was somewhere between
seventees days snd three or four weeks.
The expedition vas fitted ont under the
auspices a che Govsrnssnt and the
seport l. nade 70 the Government
vrcroH1A. Feb. 4tb, 1880.
Hon. Prsvfaeal Hecresary:
SIR-I beg lesvs 70 report that. in
accordance with your Instructions. LEFT
Vict0ris % the 21st Nove0bof. accom-
panied by Pat. Quisk, Brown end Pike.
We arrived ct New Wsstminstee same
day. Next morning lsft on the mail
steamer for Hope. arriving there the
same evening. Following morning. the
weather being unfsvorabis for travel
isg, we're unable TO procure the services
OF any Of the indians there &c psck tor
a.. November Oath started with my
own men and took seven packs TO Six
Mile Bridge. and returned 70 Hope in
the evening. Nov. 18th left Hope
with -four Indiius; tacked ssd arrived
ct Nine Mile camp; xetarned 70 Biz
Mile Bridge and took one more pack
each TO Nine Mile camp. Nov. 18th
took two packs each to Fifteen Mile
cspp % the vagsa road. On the
moepiAG e til 27th il showed very
heavily. Tho indians would not pack
any further for ~, snd ! paid them ofl
at camp, 2l& miles from Hope, where
We left the wagon road.
The road to this point 10 in very good
condition for packing.
On ~ 3sth NJ doubled packs OF one
hundred posocs each end crossed the
west fork OF the Sksgit ct this point.
On the morning Of the 29,h it showed
very heavily. and we concluded to cache
some of our provisions and endeavored
to press forward, - the weather Wal
becoming very ssvere. We found il
necessary "a blazo the trail % We I'd
vanced. Ou the 3Oth VI November and
Dec lst weather worry bad; it WAS i'm
possible to leave camp. On tbs morn.
ing OF the Cd the weathef moderated
and ws started with six packs. and
when about two miles from camp. W
recrosssd the river back to the wesl
eide, The fssd . sasy - any time foi
hoses Camped q the moath Of Cut
of Creek. Dec. 81 started In the
morning with our axes 70 clear the
trail. which ct this psint became almost
impsssable. Dec. 18th met soow falling
oil day and found it very difficult "a
traysl; eonped two miles below The
ChfWh7ok trail. DEC. 8, showed oil
day; fb0t men vent back 70 cache for
provisions. aud two blazed the trail
back 70 last camp.
Dec. 6--Snowed oil day; all hands
blazing the trail ahead. Dec. Z, started
with four packs two blazing the trail
ahead. g.
Dec. sth-Arrivsd At the boundary
line. Dec. Q. finished blazing trail to
tho line.
Supposed distance from Hope, - we
Travelled and blsxed, 30 miles. The
whole distance 10 very easy Of construc
ton for trail OF wagon road.
Dec 1O-The Indians who remained
with % were anxious to return and
would not 60 on further. The white
men, 6ndinR il almost impossible "a
pfo6ee4 by land, dsteemino1 30 make q
raftaud ascertain how fer the river va
navissble. On the 18th heavy snow
storm: men boilt raft. The following
morning - slartsd down the river. and
after gHnE . short distaucs met Jam.
We Wsre po0pelled 70 leave our raft q
this point and foand d nscesesry q
coQolSaot six moro rata bsfoea " o..
rived st the mouth Of Ruby Creek. I,
10 my opinion thst . good trail can bs
oohseIected fteo the ius to Rsby
Crsoka ~ 0iles. TIE weather being
v0y 6sefe. ve vefee compelled to d.
Ter eaS 1etur1 until Tho weather mod.
Grated and tho snow settled % that VI
oodld travel. We left Ruby Creek on
our return trip On Jan. 18th and arrived
at New Westminster on the "a Of Feb
raary. after . very rough trip in mid.
wiuter. which ct any other season oI
the ysar vo0ld b cousidered vsry
plsannts . tho sesntry through which
W. faesod a60unsis VIII plenty 81 good
grass and any quantity Of game.
II 0AY0. fKG.
". n RoBrxsox.