The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-22
ALONGTHEBOUNDARY
A Carriage Ride From Marcus
to OsOOyOs Lake.
THE SCENERY OF KETTLE RIVER.
ColvIlle Reservation, Soon to BE Opened,
. Beautiful Country OF Mountain
and Prairie.

cial. i-Haylng been over the settled part
Of Okanogan, I determined on my last trip
TO come in by way of Marcus. in Stevens
county, across the Colville reservation,
which is about to be thrown open to the
settler and miner. and which gives it special
interest at this time / was accompanied
on my trip by my wife and lO-months-old
baby. and they have the honor of being
the first white woman and child that have
ever crossed the reservation. At Marcus
we found what is not common in a new
country-a first-class hotel. But Marcus
also has a historical interest, as
It was one of the first
places settled in Northern Washington
The British boundary commission bull:
winter camp there in 1860. The buildings
are still standing. They are formed in q
hollow square like fort, on the bank of
the Columbia river, ana are now used for
business houses. Marcus OpenheImer, the
pioneer merchant, is still there, engaged
in business, and is quite an interesting
character. The town is divided. One
half Of it lies half mile east of old Mar
Gus and is called East Marcus, but think
that In few years they will be united and
the East" will be dropped
l had shipped in newspaper outfit
also, to be hauled across to Orc, and when
tried TO hire teams by contract to haul
ii they were all afraid to take it, as none
had ever gone that way before, so finally
had to hire two four-horse teams by the
day and send two extra men with picks,
shovels and axes along to make sure that
they got through. After / had made all
OF my arrangements for the freight / be-
gan to look around for some mode of con-
yeyance for myself. wife and baby. The
only light rig that l could find was a Gin
cinnati sidebar top buggy of the vintage
OF "a, and my team was one big
white elephant, seventeen hands high
and small buckskin cayuse, fourteen
hands high, and had neither brake nor
breeching. paid the liveryman in adj
vance. agreeing to find another person to
drive them back. but. on the square, don't
believe he ever expected to see them again.
We finally got started on our way Friday,
August 5, getting across the river at IL n.
m. Our road wound along the Columbia
river for about five miles through the
timber, gradually climbing the divide be-
tween tine Columbia aud Kettle rivers,
so that when we were opposite the
Young America mine we were about
the summit and had a grand view of the
majestic Columbia on the one side and the
valley of Kettle river on the other, but
could not see that river for timber and
small hills that interviewed. Then we be-
gan to pass small farms with generally
good. substantial log houses and stables.
The grain was just ripe. and the Indians
were In the field cutting and caring for it.
They do all their own work here, being
quite industrious. We drove on until
nearly p. M. when. beginning to feel
hungry, and thinking we were near War
ren's, where We had been told We could get
good meal. We pulled up at one of the best
looking houses, and asked if that was
where Warren lived. A squaw, being the
only one in sight, said, Halo kumtux,"
and pointed to the house across the road.
Thinking she meant that that was where
Warren lived. VIC drove up to the stable
and unhitched before going to the house.
There was no one in sight, so l began to
call, and finally half-breed girl about II
years old, came around the house, carry
ing a child nearly as large as herself She
was very timid. and would hardly talk,
but l finally got her to let us
in the house and show me where
the water was so l could
never been in an Indian house before. and
was disposed to be shocked ut the dirty
condition OF things, but l told her she
must conform to the customs of the coun-
try and make the best of things. which
she tried hard to do. l finally induced
the girl to build fire and make us some
coffee. They had plenty of good bread
and butter, but We both drew the line at
k,,tf nt,1
We praised the coffee. which was good.
took picture of the girl and child, and
after giving her a dollar hitched up and
started again on our journey. We passed
many Indian houses during the day, all
showing evidences of civilization.
The roads were good and on every side
the tall pine trees reared their heads,
furnishing n welcome shade and lending
charm to the trip. There was scarcely
any underbrush. and the grass was still
green as weli-kept lawn. and on every
side We saw wild grapes, choke-cheTries
servicc-berries. huckleherries and several
other kinds of berries We did not know the
names of. We often stopped to gather
fruits and flowers. There was such 9
charm to tho situation after having
been confined in hot room in the
hotels OF the city that every little
while we would almost unconsciously
break out III song, making the welkin ring
On either side Of US the mountains doomed
for hundreds of feet above us like senti
nels guarding their treasures, which are
soon TO be attacked by the ruthless hand
OF the white man in his search for gold
and silver stored there for untold ages.
About O'Clock we forded the Kettle
river tor the first time, without any seri
Gus mishap. About mile before tn,
crossing We met an Indian With his tam
iiy, all on horseback. going home from
the hunt. lie had been successful. too
as he had the paws of a bear and .
ham tied 10 his saddle, conseouentl,
was in a good humor, and wan,e(
to talk awhile. He seemed very intetli
gent. too, and told lis many interestin,
things about the country and roads. bu
din not tell US that We should take III,
road 10 the left when We came near tn,
river sgain, rs We should have done. 5,
when We came 10 the forks of the road W,
followed the plaineSl one ana went direct
~ To the river, instead Of following il for
mile more The entrance was good anl
there appeared ~ be good place 10 com
out on the other side, but the farther "
got in the DEEPER the water became, an,
when only halfway across In
horses had 20 swim and tn
water was soon running in IN
buggy and then nearly up 10 our waist
when We were seated IN the buggy.
guided the horses straight across and ,rie
to make the bank Just above big roc
that stuck up out of the water over a foe
but got anchored on another one that va