Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-04-29

They afterwards found the timber equally
good on the sloping sides the hills, ex-
tending even to the summit of them.
On the three toll; stopping to camp upon
some of the numerous streams that come
noisily down from the hills; taking short
trips up the canyons searching for yellow
grains of gold and dusky diamonds, find
ing instead beautiful cascades, fantastic
rocks and the ever present giant trees sur
passing any found nearer the salt water.
Again they stop to rest upon some slight
eminence overlooking the valley and fall
to forming visions of the time when every
so acres of this cosy valley will be dairy
farm, watefed by one or two of these
pure, cold mountain brooks; they build
Gn their mind) a railroad to take away
this immense amount of timber. They
name every stream they come to until the
names give out and then commence to
number them, and finally after prospect
ing along until they get about eighteen
miles above Capt. Warmers conclude to
go up no further with their packs but 60
into camp for day or two and make
short explorations in different directions.
In looking from several points of observa-
tion the valley seems to widen above here
and according to Indian stories contains
quite lake. The valley appears to ex-
tend at least fifteen miles further. The
woods are full of bears trails which make
it quite convenient for. travel, and this
brings us to little experience of the
visionaries with bears:
Sitting around tho camp fire one morn,
ing after breakfast, smoking their pipes
and pondering oyer the wonderful coun.
try they had come through, that was SO
near to civilization and so little known,
their attention was attracted by crack
ing of brush, aud looking up, four large
black bears were seen coming down the
hill directly for camp. Instantly spring.
ing for their firearms, one grasped the old
'Harpers Ferry" musket, another the big
pistol, the third the butcher knife, and all
trembling from excitement (D prepared
to receive the enemy. No. suggested
that bear meat was not good to eat at
this time in the year; No. 2 said, 1--WE
don't want to bother to pack their skins
out" and No. remarked it was too cruel
to kill the poor things as they were only
coming peaceably down after their morn
meal of skunk cabbage; and all three
agreed that it was better to hslloo at
them to stop them from coming any
closer. Accordingly the most unearthly
yell was sent up that was ever heard in
that part of the country, which sent the
bears scurrying back up the lhills. That
night the three brave fellows % slept
with one eye open and the musket and
butcher knife as bedfellows and conclud'
ed as the provisions were getting low, to
start for home in the morning, which
they did, after erecting memorial, and
naming the considerable stream upon
which they were camped, "Bear creek"
in honor Of the adventure Of the preced-
ing day.
In coming down they crossed directly
over and followed down the west side OF
the valley finding the same general
characteristics, innumcrable small streams,
rolling bench ground bordering the bot
tom and large straight tall timber. They
arrived at Capt. Warmers after having
been gone from his place twelve days, in
a rather forlorn condition, having travel
ed three days in the rain, feeling tride
disappointed at not having found the
wealth sought, but very enthusiastic over
the future of this beautiful valley, and
amply repaid for their hardships, and re.
solved to explore it more fully in the dry
season.
G. F. A.