Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-08-31
OUR ABSENT EDITOR.
He Gashes IbOut the JfOuntdin
Scenery. and Ndrrates -AU he
.SdU and Heard IN the Mining
Camps.

There is nothing in nature more en-
joyable than jaunt in the mountains at
this season of the year, and SO thought
the crowd Of bunch-passers who left
Mt. Idaho the other morning bound for
Warrens. Messrs. Weller, Forney, S.
w. Smith and yours truly composed the
party, and as we climbed the Melnor
trail in the early morning all nature
was awake and jubilant. Better than
cordial to a half-drowned man is the
glory and freshness of the morning,
holding a sweeter delight in the sweet
ness and splendor of it for the antcipa-
ton of the approaching heat of midday,
AS we rose, the mountain in the east
ern horizon seemed to be blaze of
tumbing quicksilver surrounded in the
north and south by steel blue sky,
while up towards the zenith the roof of
the heavens was delicately garnished
with oyster. shell shaped clouds, COM
pact as link armor and lovely with tints
of mother-of- pearl. But as the day-god
uprose the lovely oriflames of the morn
ing melted away with the ether. and an
other day, with all its anticipations of
hot weather and hard riding was before
us. But the lovely sunrise and the
hracing atmosphere of the mountains,
tinged with the odors of the fragrant
pine. served us as an atmospheric cock
tail of the most bracing description.
The trail is very dry and water scarce
as far as White Bird. There is no earth
ly reason why a tirst-class wagon road
cannot be built into Florence for $4,000.
The Melnor trail is already a road ex-
cept in the approaches to Slate creek,
and any community less opposed 10 pro-
gress and improvement and the devel-
opment of the inside country than the
residents of Camas prairie would have
he'd that road built years ago. The talk
about these mountains being an "impas-
sible barrier" is childish talk of the
most foolish description, and is invaria-
bly, used by those who never crossed the
mount,'ns in their lives.
At Florence the situation is I'M
changed. All the old stand bvs of the
camp are there. Deasy and Turnbull
are cleaning up in Gold Lake. Poker
Kelly, John Clark, Jesse Smith and
others are placer mining at different
sros. Arnold and Lee are still deve-
oping their Bear Track ledge and are
making considerable money. Prof.
WEIGH is also working similar forma-
ton with successful results. Gov. Swartz
is also at Florence on quartz business.
Among the visitors at the camp were
Misses Benoy, Swartz and Upton, and it
was intended to give a dance in honor
of their arrival and Bill Darrough was
sent for, but having lost his bow was un-
able to furnish music. The boys, how
er, celebrated the event in an all night
trolic after the ladies had retired, and
our party of pilgrims got but little sleep
in consequence.
We were early in the saddle next
morning and soon were on the brink of
the Salmon river canyon. Never do |
tire of gazing from this commanding
eminence upon the ever varying gran
duer and beauty of the outlook. In the
foreground the gorgeous canyon and in
the far-oH perspective the outlines of
the rugged transverse CANYONS which
give shadowy suggestions of the mystic
'ious retreats and savage gorees that
these mountains hold in their mighty
embrace. The tall cliffs which form the
lips of the canyon are lined with wealth
er-worn seams and are friDged with tim
Der to the belt of shining silver that the
torrent stretches below. Far away in the
air purpled distance the eye perceives
an endless perspective of mountain and
chasm. naked peaks and tmbered
ridges. Few are the artist brushes that
can hope to paint the gorgeous coloring
OF the foliage when seen in the glorious
sunlight gorgeous with crimson and or
ange. and purple and gold which blend
amid the frowning rocks in myriad
shades and contrasts.
At the wire bridge we were royalty
welcomed by Lord John Cary and STAYED
to substantial lunch. In the afternoon
we were treated to series of thunder
storms which drenched the outfit to the
skin, and 1t was dilapidated party
which finally reached the Warm Springs.
Oh, those springs! Delightful. warm,
bracing, invigorating, no adjective is too
strong to describe the luxury of bath
in their waters. Tired and wearied with
two days hard riding the traveller re-
lieves his aching bones and sores in this
modern pool of Sloan, and emerging
from his bath feels invigorated, with
new life coursing through his system,
and all the aches and sores arising from
his long ride are gone. The meals, the
beds and the treatment the guests re-
ceIve here are of the choicest descrip-
ton. and there would be more money in
the hotel business if some of the land
lords in the lower country would come
in here and take lessons from the hostel
ries on the Melnor trail.
Warrens has been quite lively all the
season with prospectors passing to and
fro. 1t is estimated that fully 1000 have
been in the Warrens basin. and the
whole camp is almost located. In fact
Warrens and Alton seem to be the COM
ing camps. Frank Smiths pack train
arrived from Alton last night with Cleve-
land ore which is to be reduced at Will
]ey's mill. Yesterday Mr.. Smith, Mr..
Wiley and myself made a tour of the
camp, but must leave a description of
what we saw for later letter. as leave
this afternoon for the Weiser country.
The other members of the crew return
forthwith to Mt Idaho to-day.
a. +. p.
Warrens, Aug. is.