The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-12-06
Pioneer Days On North Bay.

turous, skirting the green and
wooded shores of Puget Sound in
his "canim,'' accompanied by an
Indian guide, came to the mouth
of clear and rapid stream flowing
from the sylvan depths Of the for
est, and mingliny its sweet water
with the briny drops of 'salt-
chuck" To the right the gentle
slope of the woodland was disturb
ed at the base by a small prairie
covered with tender grasses, and
here and there a tumbling wild
rose bush. Upon this open glade
the pioneer landed with his dnsky
guide, drawing their cedar canoes
out of reach Of the tapping tide.
In the upper edge OF the open
space, on the banks of the little
stream, they beheld the mat wig
vans of band OF natives, some
of which were just returning to
camp with baskets filled with CLAIMS
and oysters. Accepting the hospi-
tally of these aborigines, tie adj
venturer stayed some days, explor
ing the surrounding region. He
found the stream upon the banks
of which they were encamped, to
be the outlet of a beautiful lake,
some six miles in the interior.
flowing from thence to the Sound
through a rich valley. The bay in
front Of their encampment became
shallow, but short distance n nth,
and from thence northward a beau
titul valley extended for miles, filled
with fir and great cedars, and full
of bear, deer and other game. The
streams were full of trout and the
bay teeming with salmon; the
shores at low tide furnished clans,
and great beds of oysters to this
day attest the delicate feasts that
he received. The woods resound-
ed with the sswhirr of pheasant
wings and the "boom'' of the cock
grouse. The beautiful woody
slopes between his camp and the
head Of the bay, the indians called
"Klatsite'' -"the beautiful woods. "
Trees of cedar, fir, cottonwood and
maple lined the shores, and small
streams OF pure water dropped in
to the bay every few PAGES. This
haven OF rest and peace was only
inhabited by the Squaxin Indians,
who had camps at the stream
where he first landed, at the head
of the bay, and in cove just op-
posite, at point where to this day,
a large granite boulder on the
beach displays in rude figures the
aboriginal idea of the stone cutters
art.
Sherwood was delighted with
the sylvan beauty and peace of the
locality. With true American
foresight, too, he had discovered
the wealth Of the surrounding
slopes in the towering trunks OF
cedar and tir. After short stay
with his duoky friends he conclud-
ed to settle" This he did, and
on the banks of the beautiful Sher.
wood creek he built the old mill
and tfume which are yet to be
seen in all the picturesqueness of
age, decay, moss and broken beauty.
The overlooking waters of Lake
Mason yet trickle through the
timbers of the old dam which he
erected only with the aid Of his
Indian allies, and the many moss
covered stumps on the Immediate
slope attest the strength of the
arm of this restless pioneer.
For years Sherwood's mill was
the source from which the Whole
North Bay country drew its sup
Plies of lumber. His home made
saw furnished the settlers with
material for their block houses in
1855 during the Indian war. lie
married an Indian woman and a
dusky group Of children gathered
around him.
The year 1SS9-forty years
marks an epoch in the history of
OF North Bay. Sherwood is dead.
His body lies in the center of Sher-
wood avenue, on the sunny banks
OF the creek bearing his name:
his grave is surrounded by a
grove Of great apple trees, planted
by his hand, and white stone
monument bears silent witness
that his halt-breed sons remember
him with true pride and sorrow.
Once more the bay echoes with
the rumble of machinery. Once
again brawny pioneers are carrying
civilization into the wilderness.
The settlers cabin takes the place
OF the mat wigwam. Steam usurps
the power of the water wheel, and
the whirr of the planer, saw mill
and single mill, the s:reech of the
locomotive and the rumble of cars,
announce that civilization has come
at last. On the woody slopes of
Klatsite-the beautiful woods
the town of Allyn is now being
rapidly built by the hardy follow