Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-06-03

had three oxen for .ale, running at "a ge
on the islard. We concluded TO stop,
and through the hospitality of DIR. S. and
wife we were made quite comfortable till
the following morning, when we started
out for a rambe. to see the ocean, with
Mr.. S. as pilot, carrying his Winchester
rifle, ready to crop on any oaer that
might be unfortunate enough to show him
self. Having travelled FOR three miles on
c passably dry road, we came to II. Gif~
ford's place, which I must say is very
pretty little farm, and which is being
worked this season by John Sweeney.
| should judge by the way in which
he handled three months old colt on
the place that the animal will be fit for
a circus if lie keeps him in training.
Having rested little we proceeded on
the road two miles further, passing mary
place yet to be taken up by pre-emption
or homestead settlers, and I am quite sur
prised that there is 80 much good farm
ing land to be had handy to roads and
water. The next place visited was Rob-
ilscn Bros, where we were shown some
gold, silver, copper and iron rock
taken from ledge on the island.
Having rested for a while we went
down to where Mr.. John Nelson was
plowing, and having taken look at the
farm came to the conclusion that all the
boys need on that farm is a wife and then
that would make them and their farm
complete. After getting the necessary
information from A. Robinson as to where
the oxen might be, we continued our rom-
bling in search of them. After travel-
ing two miles further we came to Mr..
Miller's place, situated IN a very pretty
place at the foot of a range of hills that
borders on the Miller farm. After being
introduced conversation opened, and we
found him to be good talker and very
obliging to us. Being little hungry by
this tiine we did not require second in
vitation to take dinner, which Mr.. Miller
readily prepared for us. He is bacbe-
lor, and he told us he had lived ON the
island % years. Having satisfied our APP
petite and seen Miller's farm cattle we
bud him good by and continued our
search tor the oxen, till we arrived at Mr..
Discons farm, about two miles from Mil
ler's. Mr. Dixon has a fine farm and well
improved, and at the time of our visit
was working two teams of horses. 90 in
quiry Mr.. Dixon Informed US that he had
seen the oxen in the morning, and SO we
proceeded on their track. After climbing
hills on one side and tracking them down
the other, we discovered the stray oxen
down in the valley and thither we went
to take look at them, but could get no
nearer than fifty yards to them, so we
commenced to drive them to the Robin
son Bros farm where they were raised,
and the way those brutes tore through
the brush was astonishing to behold, and
as Mr.. s. remarked the white OK could
outtrot anything on the island, which we
concluded was true before we got through
driving them, for after getting as far as
the fence of the Robinson Bros farm they
took a stampede and SO we concluded to
let them 60 that night and look ior them
in the morning, as twilight was fast
approaching, and we were then some five
miles from Mr.. Sweeney's residence; but
we were in hopes of spying deer on our
way back, but did not do so, and by the
time we had retraced our steps back it |
had become quite dark, and on entering
Mr.. Sweeny's honse we had the pleasure
Of seeing a sumptuous meal on the table,
prepared by Mrs. Sweeney; and tho way
us three tired and worn out cattle hunters
cleaned that table would have asonshed
the natives. On the succeeding morning
we again launched our boat, and after bid
ding all farewell, we again made sail.
and as evening was approaching we ran
into what is known as Hog Island, and
there we found Mr.. Hopley, lately from
Colorado, who had about completed log
cabin and made sundry other improve
ments. He greeted us quite cheerfully.
and invited us to stop with him for the
night, which we did, and with him we