The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1883-02-02


ascending Sand mountain and soon
found ourselves beneath the shadow Of
Mount Jefferson whose towering suni-
init rises far above the line Of perpetual
snow. On the top Of Sand mountain
wo examined the craters Of number Of
extinct volcanoes, and they had such n
smoky, darkened appearance that we
almost imagined "tbat their ashes still
wsro warn" and that their fires had
gone out but yesterday. Big lake is
on tho top Of this mountain, and ]
meation IL with regret because there Is
not single pleasing memory connect
ed with II. No signs Of animal lie
were about il, and its waters were not
disturbed by either fish or fowl but
the air above ii ami in it's vicinity, was
darkenOd 10y tho most Aggressive mos
quitocs that have hitherto encounter
sd-nOt forgetting those TO be found
along the MississiPri bottoms-but q
swift dive for fOw miles, and little
gale soon dissipated the pests.
Descending the eastern slope Of the
Cascades, we found ourselves driving
for about ten miles through nm open,
undulating, wooded country without
underbrush, anil which was covered
with n luxurious growth Of bunch
grass. Near Black Butte We left the
wagon road and turned sharply to the
left, and six mile drive in that direc-
ton brought Us 10 the far.famed Me-
tolas. This stream guShes forth from
Black Butte, full grown river, cold az
ice, and whose waters were transparent
and contained several varieties Of trout
and some other fish. We were now
within Eve miles OF Settle and Blue
lakes, and were not long ia resolving
70 visit them ut cnce. These lakes are
not 30 large as Fish and Clear lakes,
but they are relative situated much the
same-one above the other, with an
outlet between them. Blue lake is
nearly round is perhaps from two TO
three miles in circumference, and its
depth has not yot been ascsrtaineJ.
Settle lake ia half mile below il, is OBJ
long. say one aud half miles long. and
from four 10 six hundred yards vide, is
from ten to sixty feet deep, and prob
ably much deeper at the upper end, and
is also full Of front. And here our val
liant friend Of the rod (I record il with
pleasure and satiSfaction) redeemed
himself. and displayed such prowess
among the 6nny tribe that could al
most wish he record Of his previous
failures were obliterated. These lakes
arc entirely surrounded with heavy
timber and look like little inland seas,
40 blue are their waters and Settle
lake Particularly, has beech at the
eastern end, surf breakers and some
gulls-genuine white gulls that have
doubtless become weary of their never
ending contention with the old ocean,
and have sought quiet home amidst
these hitherto almost undisturbed soli-
tudes. We found. no gamo and but
few birds OF any kind about these lakes.
A solitary eagle whose mate had been
killed, kept his lonely vigil beyond the
range Of our rifles, and of a morning
just at sunrise, the shrek OF cougar
or panther liz sounded like something
in pain) would disturb the solitude, and
this was all. 1t was unanimously vot-
ed that as we had no Gogs,it was useless
TO go in pursuit.
could not help picturins, in my
minds eye the wonderful changes which
must take place in these legions with.
in the next decade after the completion
Of the o. p. r. r., through these
mountains. All these places which |
have so briefly mentioned, must ere
long teem with thriving. energetic
population, and he the resorts Uf pleas
ure seekers, not only of our own, but
of many States. These lakes have
something of the same rugged grandeur
about them that has made Switzerland
the poetic dream OF the pleasure seekers