The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-12
DELUSIONS DISPELLED
EXPERIENCES Of a Prospecting Party Just
Returned From the Olympia.
Traces OF Valuable Ore Deposits
Semitic Region Not What II
Was Supposed to Be
On Mount OLYMPIA.

The exploring party which left Seattle
last month for n prospecting trip into
the Olympia range has returned after an
absence OF twenty-five days. The follow
ing account Of the trip in the Seattle Jour-
nal, written by w. W. Dedman, will be
found interesting reading and doubtless
dispel some popular opinions regarding
the region:
As a rule We dislike to nave pleasing
decisions dispclled by truth, which, when
employed in such an Office is seldom, IL
ever. well received, n IL these decisions
he surrounded by an air of mystery, you
nave established n most captivating sub
ject for reflection while seated in an easy
arm chair, and one which truth will nave
a most difficult task TO overthrow, until
assisted by actual experience. Such is
thec case at present in regard to the coun-
try lying in the west and southwest of the
Olympia range. the terra ~incognita'
where, from recent reports is believed to
exist valuabl farming land and rich veins
of mineral. Having just returned from an
extended trip into the very heart of this
country il is my painful duty for truths
sake To describe this I'll dorado i'm very
different terms from those used by others
who claim to have traversed this forest
primeval."
We were a party of five, all frcm Seat
tie, and began our journey Mt the mouth
OF the Dosewallips river, up which we
found a fairly good trail and settlements
for a distance of 10 miles, then all evil
enc of civilization abruptly ceased; not
a blaze on any tree, nor even a stump 10
indicate that a white man had been there
before. the tuneful mosquito reigned SUI
preme, n i'm sufficient numbers to make
life n burden and TO drive all game out Of
the valley TO the tops of the ridges.
No map that has yet been published
properly locates the head of either of the
north or south forks of he D~osewallips.
The former, as seen 10y us from the sum-
init of the range. heads nearly due West
from Mt. Olympus, ut its foot. The south
fork beginning its mad career about
twelve miles to the southeast and near the
summit of the main range. From the
mouth to the head of this river we found
iron float of several varieties, such as lu-
mitite, pyrites and "A quality closely re-
sembling kidney ore. One good piece of
hard coal float was found. but ii not he
ing our design to prospect on this side,
we made no effort To find the lead.
This entire range Is of basalt formation
with frequent leads of slate which carry
iron stains in brilliant peacock colors.
Leaving Raft river we assembled the
divide between il and the Quinault and
turned our faces once more toward the
summit of the range, being convinced 10y
observations mad with the aid of n field
glass that there was not 100 acres of good
farming lan W our position and
the Rocky range, which extends along the
coast and shuts out "a view of the Pacific,
and as for precious metals and rich veins,
there is absolutely nothing i'm the forma-
ton to indicate their existence, and even
IL good low grade could he found il would
he almost useless on account of the mac
ccssability of the country. Silver and
gold in basalt would be quite an an
omaly.
Again ave reached the top of the range,
our calendar indicating the day To he June
30, and a view was ours of such bewilder-
ing grandeur that ! can never hope tn OBJ
tain such another. When the topmost
point was gained we were facing the east,
then first came into view the lofty snow
covered crest of Mt. Rainier, then the
Cascade range, and farther north Mt.
Baker like n Roman sentinel was keeping
his faithful vigil. Bellingham Bay, the
Straits of Fuca. Port Townsend and
Hoods Canal were seemingly at our feet.
Puget sound down To Olympia, was in
plain view, and last, but not least, Seattle
was found.
We were certainly ON a peak much
higher than either Mounts Olympia or
Constance for We could sec directly over
their SUBMITS, n "A small pocket level
also ilulcdteu "a kretter altitnut.
We made camp here for the night, melt
ing snow for water. Seattle's position on
the landscape having been well located
during the earlier part of the evening, |
found il without difficulty at 10 O'Clock.
The picture her presented by the city
was quite n surprise, for instead of a city
with blocks of Illuminated buildings and
squares, there was only that which seemed
to be a star comfortably settled ON Elliott's
bay. The spaces of block and squares
were blotted out by the distance. and the
rays OF each electric light were SO blended
into one that il created the impression
upon our minds that il was a star-in fact,
the ''star Of empire'' which had for GEN.
turtles travelled westward at last had ira
versed his full western course, and now.
having no more empires to guide. had
found a resting place for all time to come
on Elliott's bay, and TO future ages this,
his abiding place, 20 be known as Seattle
City OF the Star of Empire.
July I the announcement was made that
we were out of all provisions except one
pound of bacon N "A small quantity OF
coffee. and the party began the return
trip TO Seattle.