The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-30

their pack animal through, and no more.
4 would be . poor pair OF men who
could not do more in one week than this
party did in three months. Let no man
% deceived again by the Press trail. 1t
y snare and delnsion. By the river
We found card Of A. d. Armstedd's, OF
Seattle. saying he was going on to Olym-
pus, and dated 2lst August, 1880. After
lunch We crossed the river and found the
Pscn blaze, but soon lost It again;
crossed the river four times that after
noon, every now and again seeing the
Pfen blaze, but finding no trail, and
camped in the forest on the east side,
opposite . big bluff latitude |. 100 feetl
The river here was from sixty to eighty feet
acros& named it Bluff camp.
Next morning, on very short rations, We
started out and found Press blaze and .
log sawn through quarter OF mile from
camp, but Is there was no other blaze for
over half . mile. We had to cut our way
Icnrough some thickly wooded country.
Three miles down the river We came
across spot where they had done few
yards OF brushing; the cuts were about
three inches above the ground, and the
brush had not even been thrown to one
SIDE. We looked in vain for any blazes ten
1eet up the trees where the snow had been
ten feet deep. A little further on we came
across their cache, where we found three
SACKS OF something clothes
hung up, pair of snowshoes and pick
ana shovel. The tive latter were not much
the worse for wear.
After lunch we found no sign of any
trail or b!azes, and had to cut way for
ourselves again. One bad place kept US an
hour, and Niblock, with six OF his follow
ers. caught us up. After that q good elk
trail took as round Mount FIFTEEN aud we
camped for the night close to the mouth
OF the Lillian river, Nibi0ck's nine close 70
Us. Altitude, 900 feet.
enough for one day, and no piore. We
crossed the Lillian river and found fairly
well blaxed and cut out piece of trail, which
took US about four miles to the river and
ended there. this being the only piece on
the whole way worthy of being called
trail. After reading the description of the
Press route again carefully, We crossed the
river where they had cut down tree and
from this point, although seventeen of US
were hunting the trail the whole afternoon,
We could not find it Harris. however.
after crossing the river several times, just
before dark found their blazes about
mile inland from the river, and marking
the spot by lighting . fire. returned to
camp. Altitude, 700 feet
Our dinner consisted of . small piece of
bread and fragment of bear meat, but
Minertzhacen haying shot an EAGLE on the
wing with his Winchester in the afternoon,
we decided TO stew it for breakfast the fol-
lowing morning.
Saturday, the 18th, was ticklish day for
us. About an ounce of bread each and q
smell at the eagle (that was enough) con-
stituted our $50 q. m. breakfast and after
crossing the river and going through some
open timber we found Harris FIRE and
picked up the Press blazes again, then COM
menced q very steep climb leading to q
Press camp on the top of the hill overlook
ing Geyser valley. through which We had
lust passed. and in which we had spent the
night. We did not hear anv peysers.
either. at this point. or any other point on
our trip. nor could we discover that any
one else had. except the Press party.
although We met several who mad been
there. At this camp the blases stopped.
and although We spent an hour hunting
for them. and there were trees every ten
or twelve feet, we could not find . single
blaze: neither could Nibiock's nine. who
arrived on the scene shortly afterward,
and we travelled 4 good mile before We
saw anv sign Of them again. To get of
the bench We had to climb down q steep
spur which had been slightly graded.
two miles of bottom land. aud al o. M.
hungry and tired. We struck Mr.. Han.
sens ranch. Mr.. Hansen was not at
home. but his potatoes were. and We
helped ourselves to q good square meal
without any ceremony. knowing that We
should meet Mr.. Hansen afterward
(which we didl and make it right with
him. Gracious. how good those potatoes
were. and what different beings we felt
mined to push on and c-oss that terrible
devils backbone that afternoon. So
taking . few more potatoes for next
mornings breakfast. and Kidding alden
to Niblock's nine. who determined to
camp in the potato patch. we started off.
The picture of the devils backbone in the
Seattle Pxxss shows a perpendicuiar cliff Of
rock with q narrow ledge out in it. and q
sheer fall below the ledge of about 500 feet.
without a sign of any timber or brush.
You NAV iddge of our surprise. then.
when we found it very ordinary side hill.
covered with trees and lots of brush. with
plenty OF rich black soil and no rock: 40
much SO that in the worst place horse could
not roll down more than forty or fifty feet
without being fetched up bv q tree. and it
would be absolutely impossible for him to
drop into the river at all. At $3.50 we
camped at Camp Trouble. as some one had
Hansen's ranch we had been on q first.
class trail. made bv the settlers. SO the fol.
lowing morning it was not ieng before
We covered the two miles separating
us from the next ranch belonging to Mr..
Griffiths. His land is some of the most
prolific I have ever seen. all made land.
washed down by mountain streams from
above. Ii grows peas. potatoes and other
vegetables to an alarming size. Mr.. Girl.
fits. fortunately for us, was at home. and
insisted on showing us the way (which he
did at the rate OF about four and half
miles an hour), and carrying dinner for us
on his back. Four miles of bottom land by
GIANT cedars whose pirth was certainIv not