Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-08-24


mile section of our walk had been saved
| by our ride through tho tunnel, and this
news compensated Us for all the smoke
we had inhaled on that dark yet excit-
| ing trip. With stout hearts We started
| for Squak. This road leads over
| mountain, and for an hour We did
nothing but climb, bit On reaching ,he
summit the view that greeted US. more
than compensated for all our toll and
trouble. Looking of from our eleya-
ted position, 10 the west, We could see
the waters of the Sound and the smoke
arising from the Port III kelly mill, and
little farther to tne~fiOrth the waters
of Lake Union spanked in the sun, and
Lake Washington lag almost at our feet.
Leading from Lake Washington up to
Sluak Lake, was Squak Slough, a very
crooked and sluggish stream which
cur,s around through rich belt OF
country. TO the east Of Us lay Squak
Valley. an extremely productive section
about three miles wide and five miles
in length, completely surrounded by
high hills or mountains. The beautI-
full appearance of this valley, from our
elevated hight, beggars description.
Fields Of waving grain, orchards, hop
yards, meads, pastures, winding lane,
cosy looking farmhouses, and cattle
feeding in the distance, or drinking
from the streams that curl themselves
around through this vast garden, formed
a picture pleasing TO look upon. After
half an hour spent in gazing around us.
in woaderment and delight, We again
adjusted our packs and started on tow
ard this beautiful garden spot that We
have 80 meageriy described. From the
summit the grade il "a continual descent
for three miles, till the valley is reached.
Now and then spring babbIes out by
the side Of the road, where the weary
traveller can lie down on his stomach
and drinh "horse fashio, >" TO his
hearts content. At one of these springs
ye reporter laid a box of cartridges on q
log, and in his haste to overtake his
companions, forgot 20 pick them mp
again, and this accounts for tbs numer-
Gus bears, deer and other small game
that we're spared to roam the forest At
will.
Reaching the valley We followed
around through regularly laid out lanes
till We reached the home Of our es-
| teenled friend. and the friend of all who
have :he pleasure Of his acquaintance,
Gen. Geo. w. Tibbetts. The General
| il Postmaster, stOrekesper. farmer. dal-
ryman, liyeryman, teamster, etc. he
has large farm, good house, plenty or
barn room for his hay and shelter for
his stock. He makes about two humid
red pounds of first class buttet every
week, for which hs finds ready market
Mt Newcastle
this place they we're glad enough to ac-
"a
with the assurance that horses would
bc ready in the morning to convey them
the remainder of the distance. Gen.
fIbbetfs keeps ton or fifteen ponies,
saddles, brides, ETC., which lie hires at
- nominal figure to prospecting parties
and tourists. pleasure seekers and 9th
ers who have use for such animals.
Having heard about the pleasures of
sleeping in freshly mOwn hay, one ;
Of the party asked permission to try it.
The other two, determined no: to miss
any fun to be mad, joined with tho first,
aud Saturday night was spent in the
hay on the 1ibb9tt's farm. One men, |
ber of the party during the night mag |
ined he heard a cougar, and in the |
morning it required considerable work |
with "A pitchfork to extricate him from |
his hiding place. After good break |
fast we mounted our once frey, uu-
tanned steeds, bat now somewhat tagged !
cayuses, and continued OH our journey. |
Passing several valuable, we'll cultivated
farms ON our road across the valley, we
again commenced to climb mountain,
and for ten miles the route lay through
n heavily timbered mountainous cOun- |
try. This portion of the journey WAS
made without incident or accident
worthy of mention. Descending from
our ten-mile side, We come to the SnO-
qualmie Valley, through which the SnO-
qualmio river runs. Along this valley
are a number Of well cultivated and pro-
ductive farms. The road strikes the
river at Falls City, three miles below
the falls. At this place il a store, post
office, and general stopping place for
travellers, and here We fOrded the stream
on horseback, the water being half way
up the horses sides. A pleasant ride up
the valley OF two and half miles
brought US to the Watson Allen sawmill,
where We found a company of twenty
five young people, mostly from Seattle,
camped. Their tents, three in number,
one for the ladies, one for the gentlemen
and one for the dining hall, were pitch
cd on charming little peninsula at the
mouth of the TOkul Creek, clear, cold
mountain stream Astounding in speckled
trout. Here we turned our horses out
to pasture and prepared for few days
recreation and pleasure.
After answering 4 thousand questions,
more or less, propounded by the cam
pers who had been away from town less
than a week, we sat down. or rather
stood mp, to our first camp meal Of the
season. The bill Of fare consisted of
bread and butter, boiled potatoes, fried
trout and coffee. The victuals were
eaten from TIN plates, and the coffee
drank from pint cups, bat 1t was rel
ished, nevertheless. In the afternoon
the entire party had arranged to visit
the falls, half mile above camp. In
fact Miss Katherine Almond, the artist
Of the expedition, had been ut the falls
all tho forenoon, making sketches of
them and the surrounding scenery, and
ON her return in the afternoon she was
to be accompanied by the entire party.
Following the road for half mile
and then taking a path for two hundred
yards, you come out Of the timber ON to
u perpendicular bluff overlooking the
famous falls, the roar OF which, on q
clear day, can be heard for miles. Here
the entire water of the SuoquAlmie river
pitches over AN abrupt rocky preoipice
two hundred and seventy feot. striking
ON the rocks below in showers of spray.
A the party STAT ON messy bank ut the
base admiring this grand work Of ma
ture. Professor lngraham asked his
sister, Mrs. Clifford. TO pot her thoughts
and the impressions made ON her mind
In writing, aud, taking rencil and
SCRAP Of paper from her pocket, sho
pcened the following:
sNoouAr.MIE fALLs.
Oh virgin wreaths Of pure, dissolvinQ
snow
From proud, dark Lights to darker
depths ye 20.
Whence came 70? From the mountains
h0ary orest,
Where age on age the sun has kiasss
pressed
Until At last, slow-meltina meath His
smile.
Ys seek the vale with every charming
wilep
No deepest ermine on tho robe Of pride,
No filmy laos that docks the fair young
bride
So soft a. thy stalactitss OF dswy
with ayrovv sviftneas falling 70 thar