Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-09-18

EDTroR Posr- -IsrELLIarNcER:

On tuesday, September 9th, We left
Ellensburg with very heavy freight
wagon. drawn by two horses, aud load
cd with over thirty hundred weight, not
counting the driver and q passenger,
weighing together over four hundred
poands. The party consisted of George
Smith, j. Jaynes-who is one of the
BEST drivers on the coast-the passenger,
Que man driving loose horses, and three
men to drive hogs. The first day We
made PrestoB's hotel, where the "trav-
eler finds the best table on the road"
Here We took up 81 hogs, most OF them
fat. Wednesday afternoon early Reach
ed the toll gate; horses getting down to
their work, and hogs travelling well.
Thursday afternoon early reached the
house at the lower eHd OF Lake HI sheias.
Found the remains of late picnic
party, viz, one gaiter, enc garter, and
bottle of French mustard. Appropriated
two articles, and eat one. Friday, going
along the lake found some hard pulling.
The road has been blasted aud hewed
IN many places out of the solid rock,
and will take some more work and
money to put a polish on il. In only
one place did We have TO take off part
of the load. Nooned at the head of the
lake, and started in fine spirits to go
over the summit, the hogs keeping well
up. Early in the trip our party was
joined by Mr.. Simpson. Of Olympia, who
proved an excellent bread maker, and
was therefore quite an acquisition. Six
miles of very fair road composed equal
ly Of rock and mud. took Us over the
summit TO the 0 mp, where we spent
the night. Ii is only fair to state that
10 had been raining every day and every
night for more taan n month, 80 the test
on the road was rather a severe one.
We were fortunate in having rain only
at night. but then IL rained every night,
and very bard. Most of the road being
newly fixed, il was very muddy. bat a
few fair days will dry IL out.
Leaving camp Saturday We started
for the Summit Cabin" Met Mr.. p,
of Ellensbureh, who had started TO take
over Mrs. +. and family. bat he lost his
linch-pin and bis courage, after getting
over the worst and turned back. Az
the lady was by no means pleased with
this move we took them in, and found
them very pleasant addition, indeed.
Reached Rocky Ford Cabin in good
time: the pigs getting within mile,
when it became too dark for them to
travel. SUNDAY. Ou the fOhu 10 tue
prairie. found long hills, made very bad
by the rain. and clay eniueh ia the soil
to make them slippery. and not enough
to give good foothold to the hsrses. At
the worst bill found fivs-inch rope and
pulley that good service. The tackle ia
there for the use of emigraats. Early
AT the prairie, aud stopped over Monday
to rest and clean MP. The trio was
test one; the wagon WAS made for four
or six horses: the load at the start was
over thirty four hundred and never less
shan sixteen hundred; the two horses
were true and good pnllers. and came
through in excellent condition. owing
mainly to the skiilfnl and csreful driv
ing. No whip Was taken along, 50, OF
course, none was used. There was no
accident. not even the breaking of
strap; good nature reigHed st all times.
and the road is a remarkable instance
of what skill. energy and money can ac-
complish. The trip has proved that two
horses and good wagon, not too heavy,
can safely take over q moderate load,
say sixteen hundred. or an emi9rant
family and its be!on ginRs. b.