Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-03-23
LETTER FROM PIERCE CITY.
"reminiscences of the Beall Expedition
to the Ska la -ho Pass of the Bit
ter Root Mountains,
PIERCE Cry, I. IT,,
March 10 1880

ANASh A-s iccS.
On August s, 1881, Col. AT. Beall,
Chas. Bimmeric and Martin Maulie, of
the Weippe Ranch, Shoshone county
set out in the employ of the Idaho,
Clearwater and Montana Transporta-
ton Co., for the purpose Of discover.
ing, if possible, pass of lower altitude
than the one already known as the
Snowshoe Pass, through which the
Indians make their winter voyages in
traversing the Bitter Root mountains.
Such a pass was generally believed to
exist and had often been searched for
by other parties, but without success
The party arrived on the evening of
the 9Th at Muscleshell, where they en-
camped and were joined by four others.
making seven souls in all rank and file,
as follows: Col. Bea!l, Chief Engineer
and Captain General Of the expedition,
M. Maulie, of Weippe, General Super
intendent of such affairs as did not
Immediately belong to the duties Of
some one else to perform and second in
rank to the Captain-General, Charles
Bimmeric First Guide, Algernon de
Nignpypes, of the Nez Perce, Second
Guide, Peter Mention aud Jas. O'Don-
mel trail swampers and general utility
men and John Denny first cook. After
the ordinary civilities of such meet
ing and the evening meal had been dis
cussed, Maulie, of Weippi, thus ad.
dressed the expedition: Gentlemen we
are now upon the eve of embarking in
an enterprise which, if successful, will
be of inestimahle service to our chill.
dren, to their children and down
through the ages of time through etern-
ity. l am very we'll aware that oul
services will be severe and tedious and
also that i'll recuniary point Of view
We shall not be excessively well re
warded for the performance thereof
but only think of the honor and glory
that await US should we be successful
in this most laudable enterprise, oul
names shall be linked through all com
ing time with this grand undertaking
We shall be known as the pioneers in
the most gigantic scheme ever yet pur
sued to split asunder the Bitter Root
range and to connect, with iron bands
the beautiful vallies of the Missoull
and the Bitter Root with those of thu
Snake and Clearwater. just burder
your minds, gentlemen, with the happy
and exullant thought that in few
short years we shall behold the metali,
thoroughbred speeding along with un
firing gait through these mountain
pastures bearing his majestic and col
losal train ladened with the beauty and
elite of the earth, by way Of the Weip
pc, on to the shores Of the Pacific. Lei
these glorious tn ughts, my brave fel
lows, supply us with food for contem
plation through the tolls and struggles
which await US, and we shall achieve
oASNSsH' - pun Jul III Shaii SuuSs
myself to be entered and accepted rs 8
member Of the Idaho, Clearwater ant
Montana Railroad and Transportation
Co. in whose service we are now EN-
ployed and upon whose efforts SO much
depends for speedy operations in the
future. i shall, no doubt, be immedi
ately exalted to the position Of Presi
dent of that institution as shall, with
out doubt, also be found to possess ID,
proper calibre of brains to perform th'
duties of the Office, owing to the grca
experience l have acquired in sucl
matters during the years of my admin
istration as Treasurer Of the grea
county of Shoshone, and promise yo,
my brave fellows, that shall see to i
that you 81 all be promptly and mum
icently rewarded each one according t,
his merits and just deserts. With tn
FIRST sfreaE;pos ~ rh, u,orr. Lot ,,s 1.