, 1890-08-07
HEART OF THE ALENES
Scenes Along the Reserva-
ton Border.
HUNDREDS OF CAMPERS THERE
Waiting for the Reviews Wash
ington Specials to Bid Them
Enter the Reserve.

INTltcH IOT tHe AHnlNcTsnry hENlBW.J
PosT FALLS, Idaho, Aug. 2.--All
along the Spokane river, In hidden
hooks upon the lake shore and
again beside the Coeur d'Alene river
are odd camps of adventures await
ing access to the Indian reservation
Brawny and resolutc men they are
and while they appear to tell theil
plans with frankness, one soon per-
ceives that each impatient watcher
has his secret and will Tot brook
close queries as 10 his intended
route. All are ready with general
answers but are shy of detailed dis
closures.
part of the men are In quest ol
farm lands, and part are prospec-
tors. 1t is IL singular fact that when
you find IL man who has only an
axe and gun he Is tolerably sure to
say he is after mining claim; and
when you find him equipped with
pick and pan and spade, he says he
going for IA ranch! 80 anxious are
they to obscure the actual intention.
There is typical camp about a
mile above Post Falls, OH fiat COW
cred with cottonwoods, at bend In
the Spokane river, opposite a natural
pass in the Mountains of the reser-
walton. This pass gives a good road
way into the interior, the grade be-
ing easy and already worn with In
dian trails.
The camp contains about thirty
men, when all are gathered by the
evening fire, aud here your CORE
spondent found them recently.
a bearded and hardy class they
are, mostly experienced men of mid
die age, or young men of such set
tied purpose as denotes fixed OBJ
ject and definite knowledge of the
prize for which they aim. They
were clustered in small groups
around the twilight coffee.pot. A
roll OF blankets, "a bag of flour, q
grimy cut of bacon and a light out
fit of necessary implements, such was
each mans personal baggage.
Luckily, your scribe was known
to two or three of these campers,
who hailed him by name and
rendered hospitnlities. This su fficcd
To banish suspicion, and gave him
entry to the confidence of the camp
There was no attempt to disguise the
real feelings of the assembly when
all were met together with their
pipes on the river shore for "A little
chat before rolling in their blankets.
The foliage hung dense above the
ripping river on the further bank,
and the sheen of the dying sunset
glimmered on the waters.
"IIello! | say, Jnckn' cried a voice
from the forbidden shore.
"Hellon' was the reply.
"I've found your horse"
Good boy! Tie him further up
the bank, will you?" And Jack ex-
pressed his satisfaction, while his
friend could be heard leading the
recovered animal through the under
brush. A large number of horses
are lariated near the shore, for no
man knows at what hour news will
come, and the cayuses are already
over there in readiness for instant
use.
Look, there's BentonW
The speaker pointed. A tall,
sinewy man stood on the shore,
across.
(Which way did he Gomez" was
the low query.
~ didn't see him, nor hear him."
a buzz of comment went around
the circle. Benton was evidently
respected and nn object of wonder
and curiosity. No one ever saw
Benton come and go, He was the
shrewdest, quictest, deepest man in
camp.
For while there Is no military
Gordon along the boundaries of the
reservation TO guard it against in.
trusion, comparatively few trespass
there. This looks like extraordinary
Difference to law, but the real ex-
planation is that most OF these men
made stealthy excursions into the
reservation long months-perhap
long years--ago. They found their
prospects, brought out their sam
piles, obtained assays, hurried back
and shoveled earth over their treus-
ures, and have ever since been wait
ing for legal possession. They dare
not now go near the coveted locality
lest some wanderer in the hills
should spy them at the place, in
vestigate, and at the critical hour
get in ahead. They wait outside
until they can lawfully go direct to
the scene and put up stakes.
Jacks friend pushed forth into the
river from the farther bank. Ben
ton sat in the stern of the boat.
~ say, boys" said keen young
fellow, taking his brier from his
lips to speak in low tones, "when
Benton went off up the road yester-
day he had IL gold pan under his
arm. don't sec that he's bringing
IL again"
"That's 80, responded q voice.
"And when he went off before he
took spade and never fetched IL
back. And come to think oft, where's
the pick that hung in the tree by
his bunk? tell you he's TAKEN 'eln
over to his claim one by one and
hid 'em so he can make Il faster trip
wheu'the hour comes"
A murmur of admiration went
along the line. "He knows what
he's about" "He's an old hand at
1t, and the like.
The boat grounded on the sands. |
Benton stepped out, an elderly man
with grizzled locks, but still 1.-the
and muscular. He waved his hand |
gravely and said;
YOU'RE all here yet. No word
from the East, of course"'
"Word-no! Congress amt In as
much of IA hurry as we are."
"NOll'ra lata Raufnn Nnat l,o |