Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-08-12
LEWISTON IDAHO TERRITORY THURSDAY. Aug. ~. 1856.
FROM Inw1srolr.
Lewiston August s, 1886.

Lewiston August s, 1886.
EDITOR TEr.LRR:
Ifyour space permits the favor,
will you indulge an old pioneer in =
little prattle concerning region of coun.
try in which he feels a deep personal in
tercst--a region now becomes famous
and very widely known as Northern
Idaho, sometimes irrevercntly called the
"pan Handle" The writer first saw
this section Of country in the summer Of
1861, when he was borne in with the
food Of gold hunters then inundating
the Clearwater mountains. A contin.
uous residence Of fifteen years in that
section Of Shoshone county now known
as the old camp Of Pierce City and Oro
Fino served to identify him, in some
measure, with the history If tho country
and to create home feeling, which no
changes Of time or OF residence else
where can ever eiface. After an absence
Of ten years passed beneith the azure
skies and amid the balmy groves, pure
air and mixed politics Of Southern Idaho,
the writer found himself on the evening
Of July Z, 1886, seated, for the first time
in his life, in railroad car and begin ming
the long and circuitous route by rail,
whi,h was to bring him to the scenes oi
former years. Useless to try to protray
the feelings, thoughts, impressions If
that first nights ride by rail. Suffice il to
say, Oregon Short Line, East Bound,
shoshone City, Lava Rocks, American
Falls, Snake river, no sleep yet, and, in
the inimicable style Of Mother Dunaway,
morning Pocatello and breaksfast. The
weary hours Of long, hot summer day
were passed at Pscotello, waiting for the
passenger train Of the Utah Northern.
While thus waiting, vain attempt VA
made to WOO the embraces Of Morpheus.
Vain effort. The hot weather, shrek.
Ing engines. rumbling trains and the
hustle and clatter Of the hotel combined
to make the task impossible. Evening
brought the long looked for train, and
We were soon speeding northward. A
few drowsy glances at Indian camps and
other scenes alongss the route--Ross
Fork Agency, Blackfoot City. Eagle
Rock, and then "tired natures sweet
restore balmy sleep" came with gentle
step and softly drew down the curtain
The early dawn found Us gazing eagerly
from the car.window at the flying land
scape and regrettiug the loss occasionsd
BY night and slumber. Passing Dillon,
Montana, we breakfastsd at Melrose, and
while there cast wistful glances westward
trying to penetrate the dark recssses Of
the Bitter Root mountains in search Of
the pass through which the Union
Pacific is destined soon to find ito way
via Lewiston to Puget Sound. Garrison
the point ofjuaction Of the Utah North
ern with the Northern Pacific, was
reached about l P. NJ. A due regard
to business would have held us At Gar.
rison 10 readiness for the west bound
train Of the Northern Pacific, but as
Governor Stevenson and his estimable
wife were going to take in Helena on
their way north, we found it rather diff.
ficult to resist the temptation to accom-.
pany them.
Saturday, July 10, will always be re-.
membcred as worry pleasant day passed
at Montana's capitol. We would like to
tell all obout it, but must not. Montana
is not Idaho by long shot, and it is with
idaho and more especially Northern
Idaho that we are now engaged. Leav.
ing Helena at 7:3O Saturday evening,
another nights sleep made second gap
in our observations Of the country passed
through, but daylight found Us again q,
the ear window, taking eye pictures Of
the sceues along the Jocko. During
the early forenoon We passed Thompson i
Falls, and here business again would have
driven us from tho train end into the
woods for stage ride to Murray. But
shall We miss the scenic glorics Of Clark
Fork Of the Columbia and the placid
beauties of lake Pend dOreills Of which
we have heard so much? No! not i,
we die for it We must bs able to "a,
at the end Of our little journey, "com'
what may, l have been blsst. hav,
seen the glorious old northland in all be-
rich panoply Of mines, forests, picturesqu,
rocky cliffs, broad sleeping lakes, treasure
producing mines and bousdlsss whsa
fields" Early in the afternoon Of Sun
day We stepped from the train into th,