The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-08
ACROSS THE STATE.
Long Horseback Ride of Seat
tie Hunting Party.
ADVENTURES OF THE RIDERS.
Killing Deer in the Okanogan Country
Down by the Cascade Pass-Won-
ders OF Lake Cheian.


Denny, z. +. Blaine. O. Chase McGilvra
and Charles Bregg, started on trip over
good portion of the state, and returned
to Seattle yesterday, after having expert
enced pleasures and adventures of no I'M
common order.
The party went by rail to Ellensburg,
and there, after lingering several days,
purchased ten horses and made all ar
rangements for their long ride across the
state. From Ellensburg they went up the
Columbia river to Lake Chelan. Here
they made a stop OF TOUR days,
with the intention of hunting and flshing.
They secured as game two kids and one
mountain goat. The kids made fine meat,
but the goat was tough and could not be
eaten. As far as fishing was
concerned, much as 1t may
be a matter of astonishment,
it is actually reported that the fishing was
not good An effort was made here to
shoot an extraordinarily large bear, but
either from bad craftsmanship or bruins
agility the animal succeeded in getting
away. The party then went up the lake
to its head and returned on the steamer
Bell.
The lake is a wonderful body of water.
1t is about sixty-four miles long and three
miles wide, and the walls ON either side
stand out perpendicular masses of
solid rock. The water is quite deep and
the lake ride was one of the most
interesting features of the whole trip. On
their return in two days the party went to
Conconully by way of Ruby City, and
from Conconully 10 LOOMS, known to
many as Coulee City. This point is within
three miles of the state line at Coulee City.
There is file ore crusher and much
rock is being reduced from the Okanogan
mines. Then the party laid in further
supplies and went into the country in the
rear of the Chippecker mountains and
spent nearly two days in hunting. The
result of the chase was three fine
deer. These animals were found in great
plenty. The party could have slain more.
but did not care to kill them for
mere wantonness. Frequently a big
buck, with moss-covered antlers, would
cross the path. and would scarcely ever
be frightened by the presence of man.
They came across several big horn noun
tain sheep. In this district, also, is the
whortleberry patch, forty miles square,
which is full of bears.
From the party's camp at this point, they
discovered most suspicious trail that ran
for many miles, 1t had every evidence of
having been used by smugglers, and the
opinion of all was that much opium had
been brought in over the line at this
point.
The party then returned to LOOMS, and
from that point retraced their steps to
Conconully and thence to Hoop Loop,
where they saw the great Arlington mines
where a large building had been erected and
machinery put up that remained unused.
Then they moved rapidly across to the
Methow river country until they struck
the Twist river and thence on to the
Bridge river, thence down the latter to the
Pierce, where they struck the Cascade
Pass. They found prospectors scattered
all along the basin of the Bridge
river clear up TO the North fork, at which
district there is perpetual snow. The trail
along the Bridge river was the toughest of
the entire trip. They came across the
dead bodies of many horses that had fallen
by the wayside and had been abandoned
by travellers.
The Cascade pass the party did
not find difficult, except within about
three miles of the summit. Here it was
exceedingly steep, and it took three hours
to do three miles. The trail was selected
over fiat and jagged rock, and was quite
severe on the horses.
They followed the Cascade pass down
the Cascade river to Baker river and
through on to Snohomish by Stanwood
and Marysville. 1t took just two days to
come from Snohomish to Seattle.
As the party was creeping slowly along
the rough trail by the Bridge river. Orion
Denny's horse fell, and by some means
got right on his back near the rivers bank.
They tied a rope around the horses neck
andsI rolled him over into the river,
from which he finally scrambled out
unhurt.
One of the horses gave out near STAN
wood and had TO be abandoned.
The party had a good tent but seldom
used it, as there was little dew in
the mountains. The party found some
fine farms along the Methow river, but
they were of little value. because so COM
pletely isolated from the rest of
the world. There was absolutely
no way to get their products TO
market. They found excellent feed for
their animals on the east of the Cascades
but done at all on the west. The party was
in the saddle for six weeks with the ex-
ceptlon of seven days, and all got back in
fine health and glowing spirits.
Mr.. o. Chase McGilvra, one of the
party, said that the country through
which they passed was full of mag
nlflcent possibilities, and 1t could
only be a matter of very short
time when the resources would meet with
ample Development He said that all had
enjoyed the trip, but still were glad to get
back into the hum and hustle of civiliza-
ton again.