The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-09-14
Expedition From Fort COIville to
Puget Sound.

Puget Sound.
Capt. H. H. Pierce, Dist Inf, command
ing, accompanied by lst Lieut.. Backus, LIST
Cavalry; DR.. G. F. Wilson, Medical Dept;
A. Downing, Engineer Dept. ]. LIE Fleur,
guide and interpreter; Sergeants Alvord and
Worrell, 2lst Inf, and Private Grey, re-
turned to headquarters last week Wednes-
day from Puget Sound.
The party left Vancouver Barracks on
July oath, and proceeded to F. Colville.
where pack mules were procured and horses
for mounting the party Thirteen men and
otficers) were equipped. By August End
the whole party was on the left bank of the
Columbia river; here the Indian trail was
struck which the party followed in general
westerly direction for 295 miles. This
brought them to the Skagit river, which
they descended by canoes until steamboat
landings were reached. In their march they
had to cross four mountain ranges, the high
est pass having an altitude of $500 feet
above sea level. At one pass a horse and
mule were placed hors de combat by falling
headlong down upon the rocks below. Two
others fell but were rescued. The country
in the vicinity of Bonaparte river, the Okin-
akane valley and the Methow river was
found to be particularly adapted for stock
raising, bunch grass being very abundant.
Indians of the Colville and Moses reserva-
tons raise green corn, potatoes, watermel-
Ions, oats, etc. in the valleys. The obsta
Giles encountered by the party between the
Twitsap river and the mouth of Cascade
river were great and innumerable. The
windfall, logs and other impediments to the
trail necesstated a free use of the axes, and
travel during those days was very slow.
Miles upon miles of slippery rocks, snow
packs, lagoons, dense underbrush, and
through forests primeval, had they to en-
counter; and often wading rivers and noun
tain torrents at every mile during the day.
Between the head of Lake Chelan and the
summit OF the Cascade range the horses be-
came foot-sore, and the grass being insult
ficient they with the pack mules were sent
back to Fort Coville, and the party COM
pleted the remainder Of the march from the
summit to the month of the Cascade river
so mles--on foot Being short of rations
for some days previous it is not to be won
dered at that when the command struck a
settlement on the Skagt river the proprie-
tor of an eating house was much concerned
| at the way the vands left the dishes He
set out upon the table all he had, and there
was no stint, and he said afterwards that he
intended to keep the table supplied and
keep up with the funeral if they sat all
| night there Among the minor troubles was
| q two days snow-storm which struck the
| party on the summit of the Cascade range,
and being there without tents they had to
huddle together under some trees to keep
warm, and in this cramped position passed
the whole night aud day. The last 100
miles of the trail was found to be bad in the
extreme. several degrees worse than the
Lo-lo trail of Idaho
| The trip has boon an arduoIs one, full of
risk and obstacles, but they have been met
by Capt. Pierce and overcome, and the OBJ
ject OF the expedition successfully attained
All speak in high terms Of Capt. Pierce, and
1t. Backus. second in command. A careful
survey of the whole trail was made. This
duty was entrusted to Mr.. A. Downing, aud
the officers in command have expressed
themselves as well pleased at the manner in
which he performed that duty Captain
Pierce's report will doubtless be OF great in
terest if published. The labors and prva-
tions on the march were met in chee,fu
spirit by his whole command at all times
and he was well pleased with their efforts
The few Indians met with were found to be
| friendly. The whole distance travelled over
in the circuit made is nearly 100 miles,
This includes railway, steamboat, stage,
horseback and canoe navigation; last, but
not least, foot travel. to Judge by the look
OF the boots some of the boys wore home