The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-07-28
COOS COUNTY.
AS Seen by . Pair of Independent 2
Humorists.

ay Oh COoS' Oul1oAo Aosi AUS ototN
its history with more or less correct
ness up TO the 10Th of July, Ia the
year of grace, A. D. 1883.
On the morning of that date sad
faced looking couple took passage on
the six o'clock a. NJ. Roseburg and Coos
Bay Stage .Company's hack for the |
terminus at Coos City. Like thing !
of life we sped over the hard road and
farm-lined avenue until at ten o'clock
we drew rein at Laird's, the station at
the eastern base of the coast range,
where the first change of horses is made.
After hearty and relishable meal
"Curt brought out the eight-wheeled
locomotive used for transportation over
the range. In one hour and ten min
utes we were at the summit. Without
pausing to peer through the in1pea-
etrable mass of smoke which hid our
view to 4he east, we commenced the
easy and comfortable descent Laird's,
at the western base was reached at 3
p. NJ, where we changed drivers, horses
and hack.
With a locomotive and tonder) that
had seen service on the Q. i G. stage
line, we successfully and pleasantly
passed on down the East Fork Of the
Coquille to Dora, where the mail was
changed and the journey resumed. At
a few minutes past six o'clock We drew
rein at Benham's, known in the depart
ment records as Fairview, Coos county,
Oregon, on the North Fork of the Co.
guile.
"Nasby" was willing for the douceur
TO take US in for the night-ye tourists.
Night changed into day rapidly as we
snugged ourselves under Mrs. B s COM
fortakle bed covering The 18th dawn
ed as usual At o'clock P. NJ, the
Goquiile and Fairview stage stood at
the door and we We're soon travelling
lelsursly toward Coquille City, which
is reached from the r. & G. B. line by
q read which divsrges to the left ten
miles east of Coos City, over the high
land between the waters of the East
Fork and Cunningham Creek. Down
the east bank of this stream s'Darby"
and his equines soon was carrying US,
At four o'clock we came within the
limits of Goquille City, nesting among
the grand sights of the Coquille river
region. Drawing up at the door of the
Olive House, Mrs. Snyder, the present
chief de cuisine, welcomed us 20 hen
comfortable house.
The distance by stage road from Fair
view is ten miles; the fare one dollar
The route is not particularly attractive
above that region, save in the fact that
the level uplands between the valleys
of the East Fork and Cunningham
Creek, give unmistakable evidence Of
adaptation to the wants of poor fam.
lilies seeking homes, being net more
difficult to clear of timber than the
farms now under high state of cult
yation in the adjacent region.
On Cunningham Greek we encoun-
Sered the 'Coquille wagon, which is used
FOR great deal Of farm transportation
1t is sled, and must derive its name
from the similarity of use, as snow
scarcely ever falls in this immediate
section.
On the 18th tie s'humorists" Joined
themselves to party Of Roseburg cap
italists en-route for Coos Bay. Pro
ceeding down the Coquille river on the
steamer Ceres, Capt. Reed, eight and
one-half miles, we debarked at the
mouth of Beaver slough, where we took
a sliff propelled by two men, to q point
four miles from the Coquille river,
whers we transferred to stout wagon
and rode four miles and half to the
Isthmus slough, Coos Bay. Travelling
by an open boat resembling sklff Of
the Gland lubber," we reached Utter
City, In two and one half miles. AT
thus point we saw the first deep water
anchorage for ocean. steamers, and
passed, on board the bay steamer Myr-
tie, close to the huge coal bunlers, from
which the steamer Arcata regularly car
gies Coos Bay coal to the San Francisco
market Our next stoppage was for
the transfer of maifat Coos City, and
reached Marshfeld at FIVE o'clock.
At 10 o'clock of the 9Th morning of
July, 1888, we rounded the point OF
land above Empire City and came in
sight Of the illimitable cloud -banlsrest-
ing over the offing of the harbor Of
Coos Bay. At twelve we assembled the
bluff near Empire City and caught eur
first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean.
With glass we surveyed Point Argo
and the Lighthouse. while in the offing
Ieisurely steamed the e. S. revenue
cutter Shnbrich.
After spending two days on the bay,
viewing the wonderful things in ma
chinery, hotel bills and great saw-logs,
the senior member of the invalid corps
alluded to in the opening chapter, re-
turned with some reluctance to Coos
City, the terminus of the r. & G. B.
stage line, and gladly became the well
come guest Of Hon. Lowry Watson,
who IS comfortably aud happily domi-
ciled there
On Saturday at O'Clock P NJ we
teok convoysgs with the veteran Brown,
for home. At Lairds, at ten o'clock,
we anSaNnsad allrselvac in q wila had