Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-13
FRoM FORT COlvInG - PCCgT
oOCAO

The Vancouver Isdspssds"f nasrssss
the following:
Cap.. H. H. Pierce, fist Inf, CON-
uaanding. accompanied by lss Asut.
Rackns. Ist Cavalry; DIR. q. =. Wilson.
Medical Dept; A. Downing. Engineer
Dept; j. LeFleor. guide and inserpre-
ter; Sergean,s Alvord and worrel. list
lnf.. ADD, Private Grey, returned 10
lieadouAytera last week Wednesday
from Puget sound.
The party left Vancouver baTracks
on Juiy zash, and proceeded 20 n. Cot
vile, whsre pack mules we're procured
and horses for mo0nting the party
f,nirtesn mon and of6csnD vas
equipped. BY August % tbs whole par
~ Was on the left bank of the Colum-
oia river; hsrs the Indian trail was
struck which the party followed in =
GENERAL westerly direction for 295 miles-
This brought them to tho Ska Is rlver,
xhioh they descended by canoes until
steamboat Ian iingn were reached. In
their rnsrch they had TO cfoss four
mountain ranees. tho highest pass hAv-
mp an attitude Of Goo feet above ssa
level. At one place . horas and mule
20 along down upon tho rocks below.
two others fell, but were rescued. The
country in she vicinity Of BonapArss
river. the Okinakane valley, and the
Methox river. WAS found to b8 partlcu-
larry adapted for stock raising. bunch
grass being very abundant. Indians OF
me Colville and Moses reservations raise
green corn. potatoes, watefmeiOns. oats,
rte, in the valleys. The obstacles on
cruutsred by the purity between the
rwitsap river and the mouth OF Cascade
river were great and innumeHable. The
sindfali, logs and other impediments
to the trail necSssitated free use OF
the axes, and travel during those days
WAS very slow. Miles upon miles OF
slippery rocks. SNOW packs, lARoons,
dense underbfush, and through forests
primeyal, had they 90 encounter; and
often wading rivers and mountain tor
rents at every mile during the day. Be-
tween the head OF Lake ChelAn and the
summit Of the Cascade range the hor-
SOS became footsore, and the grass BE-
ing insufficient they with the pack
mules we're sent back to Fort COlville,
and the party completed the remainder
Of the march from the summit to the
mouth Of the Cascade river-6O miles
on foot. Being short of rati0ns for
some days previous it is not to be won
dersd Mt that when tho command
struck settlement on the Skagit river
the proprietor OF IN eating house was
much concerned at the way the vianda
left the dishes. he set out upon the
table all he had, and there was no stint,
and he said afterwards that he intend
ed to keep the table we'll supplied and
keep up with the funeral II they at all
night there. Among the minor trou-
bIes was a two-days' snOwstOrm 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 and day. The last 100 miles Of
the trail was found TO be bad in the OK
IRENE, several degrees worse than the
Lo-lo trail Of Idaho.
The trip has been m ard0Ous one,
full of risk aud obstacles. bat they have
been met by Captain Pierce and over
come, and the object Of the expedition
successfully attained. All speak in
high terms of Capt. Pierce, and Lieut..
Baokus, second in command. A care
full survey Of the whole trail vas made.
This duty was entrusted 10 Mr.. A.
Downing, and the officers in command
have expressed themselves ~ we'll
pleased with at the manner in which he
performed that duty. Captain Pieroe's
report will doubtless be Of great inter-
est il published. The labOrs and priva-
tons on the march were met in cheer
full spirit by his whole command at all
times, and he was well pleased with
their efforts. The few Indians met
with were found To DO friendly. The
whole distance travelled over in the cir
cult mado is nearly HOO miles. This
includes railway. steamboat. stage,
horseback, and canoc navigation: last,
but not least. foot travel. TO judge by
the look Of the boots some Of the boys
wore home.