The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-19

snd sometimes 10 our shoulders. bat add
% ms she ascent and descent Of p-ecirs-
sous nziis. and yo1 have sam of haysi-s
SHIPS Each ascent seemed higher and
nasaer than the previous one. tssl Al lass
nsy knees refused the strain, and l fssl
back exhausted Ny being caught by
John prevented tumble OF over . hum
dred feet.
TERRIBLE NIGHT N THE SNOW.
To &C. cut seemed simply impossible, nor
cared ne stay. Jchn led on. hunting for
. place for ire. Although in dense
forest. II uas neari- lark before Ne reached
badly shattered fallen cedar that gave
hope OF IRE. This hope Was decisive, for
though We spit it fne and used seven
punches Of matches, il wonld not burn. II
was nov too dark to seek farther and a we
were shivexing 30 that We could scarcely
artacuiats, oar only course was to get what
warmth vas possible from Q bed OF snow
and blankets With water-soaked boots
since early morning. our now icy feet pre-
vented sleep. Removing the boots helped
some. but presented new peril when the
boots were found frozen solid next morn
Ing. Tor seeking material for . ire hare
footed IN the damp snow vas only fore
TASTE OF the pain farther travel would have
brought
The dryest pieces OF wood were carefully
gathered and arranged with slices OF bacon,
and matches applied. Despair followed its
hesitasing flicker. but gloom gave way 70
glow and We had . new lease of life.
A rough sketch OF the trail showed but
one billy place to pass near Fort Rupert,
but spreading westward like IN open fam
Being still in the hills after the distance
Travelled. convinced us that We had been
trapped. We therefore changed our course
to eastward and, IS hoped. we're out OF the
bill before noon. debouching at q small
lake, where enough OF natures fire-kindler
-fr gum-was found and secured TO make
fires sure for month.
From the shape Of this lake and the End
Ing Of long one beyond our locality would
be established. In that hope better pro-
gress Was made, and soon the hoped-for
landmark was reached. Though early
the day. the sunshine admitted by the open
lake, good water and abundance OF finder
dry dead cedars was inducement enough
to so into camp for much needed rest and
warmth.
The next day John narrowly escaped
drowning by breaking through the ice close
to large beaver dan. This necessitated
another early camp at the first spot where
there was sunshine and dry wood Within
few feet Of our fire we're the fresh tracks of
big cougar. which caused the making of a
log bomb proof over 3 little gully, into
which We crawled at night
AMONG FRIENDLY INDIANA
This camp proved to be on one arm OF
the sound. and soon after starting in the
morning the tide marks told US we were
across the trail. II was still nine miles
along the coast to the nearest village, but
fortune smiled on Us by sending three In
dams up that way in . canoe. with whom q
bargain for passage was soon made. All
the Indians Of four tribes were wintering at
Koskimo, and a. We approached the shore
the entire population rushed yelling toward
as Any fears Of being served mp as . can
nihai lunch would have been speedily al
layed by the laughing faces and cordial
.klah howyahs.r
Chief Wan Kssh took US to his house.
which VAS soon filled, al talking ct once,
Askng Questiunssof the tra1l. and plying
our torn hands Our packs were lifted to
see that they we're really heavy, and they
We were the harbinger OF spring TO them.
For over three months no man had crossed.
Now it could be done. and the next morn
ing three Of them started, bat their expe-
riencc was such that no one could be hired
to return with us later.
The man who had been in charge ct Coal
harbor had been murdered or committed
suicide, and Willie Hunt was now there.
4 = T. -
always prompt and cheerfuily ready at any
hour or in any weather. and his skill q .
hunter kept US well supplied with game.
Our return across the trail was worse
than the going. Frequent rains had
washed out the soft Of the snow, leaving
icy particles like shot, into which Ne sank
to our thighs nearly every step. often being
compelled to crawl and sometimes to lie
Hat and roll to make any advance. The
streams were swollen and there we're many
OF them. The logs across them were hard
to stay on. Even ''cooning it" failed. and
q chilly bath followed. The next thing
after building the campfire was to strip of
everything. hang things around the fire,
and wrap blanket around us till the cloth
ing dried.
The last two nights and one day this
privilege Was not enjoyed. for it rained con-
stantly. and the trail under the snow was
swamp. Our clothes were worn through
by crawling. The Icy particles OF snow got
to our feet chatting the skin of, but though
badly used up We pulled through, and with
. twenty-mile canoe voyage and waiting, at
last got steamer for home.
MANNERS OF THE INDIANS.
The tribes seen were the Fort REperts,
Nahwittes, Koskimos, Kaporinos, Qaatsi-
nos and kiaskinos. They are all much
alike. except those at Koskimo bashed more
than the others. A stream from the noun
stains runs through the village. At one
pool was drinking water, and just below
il one for washing, and every morning .
group of naked men and women laughed
ana chatted and washed. needless OF OBJ
servation-
All the tribes make handsome canoes by
following cedar log with ada. Ere and
chisei, with q stone hammer. The canoe
Is then filed with water and hot stone
put in till the wood IL steamed. when il
can be spread and shaped. The shape is
held by thwarts stitched on with cedar
withes.
Gambling Is general among the younger
men, the favorite game being with two
round bones, about three quarters OF an
inch in diameter and three inches long.
They shake their closed hands around as
though they were fighting bees, and the
game Is to guess which hand holds the
marked bone. They viii shift IL 50 quickly
as TO surprise you. II Is species OF slight
of-haad. They sit in two rows facing
each other, and the side whose turn il Is TO
shake the bones sing. yell and pound 70
Sfxfrxrf THAR arr.ausnfx