Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1892-03-25

kan, Cotton Mather had some inxling
of the proceedings, SO he secreted him
self in tho Alaskan woods, where the
proverbial needle in q hays.ack would
be as conspicuous as a cir. US poster by
comparison. There were not eleven
prisoners from Killisnoo to Juneau.
juneau reached, preparations were
begun at once, the first obstacle being
the report that the Tahku river was not
yet open. A big canoe, two-ton or
three-ton affair, was easy enough TO
get but packers themselves over the
land trail were hard to obtain until
sort of sub-chief of the Tahkus, Yash-
noosh by name, q local policeman,
stimulated by the citizens, took hand
and recruits were slowly obtained.
Even then l could only obtain half
enough, at good stiff rates of course,
and had to double packs (averaglng 100
pounds each) over the trail of nearly
100 miles as it proved.
The 25th of May we got away, seven
Indians and three white men, six of the
natives being packers and one, Robert,
the owner of the boat. On the recon-
nendation of some citizens who be-
lieved in the horror of the average In
dian for I'll legal papers I had a huge
contract drawn up, resplendent with
many colored seals and ribbons, and
this they signed by touch of pen, while
the United States District court inter-
prefer read alo i'd it's contents with a
solemnity equal to that given death
warrant. I still retain that page OF le-
gal lulicrousness, and while admitting
it may have done me much good, yet |
can only compare it with the verdict Of
the frontier coroners jury wherein,
sitting on q mans body dragged from
the rivers bed and riddled with bull
lets, they concluded that the deceased
had come to his death from drowning,
caused by water pouring in through the
bull t-holes.
So about noon of the 25th, with the
American flag hanging from the peak,
we got away in the beginning of wind
and drilling rainstorm that later made
our first days trip one of the most UNI
pleasant OF the whole journey. An en-
thusiastic crowd of citizens lined the
shore near the steamers dock, and as
we paddle away down the channel
gave us hearty cheer and many
warm wis our success.
Let us no e a hasty look at the
little exped it started, the In
, dams be- -.ltly described to pass
them ov events call them up in
detail. commanding officer was
the he one OF the party and made
excellent ballast in the rear Fart of the
canoe
The scientist of the expedition was
Dr. G. Willard Hayes, representing a. so
the U. S. Geological survey, through the
courtesy of Major J. W. Powell, TIE
head of that government bureau. To
DR.. Hayes also fell the Photographic
i work in the main, as we'll as the topo-
graphic or map-making. l had hoped
to get professional photographer, and
: felt sure of success when MIR. Lander
. kin, one from Juneau, made an applica-
! ton for the place. He was caught on
the grand jury, having already been
sworn in, hut we both thought that
q mere bagatclle as an OBJ
stacle, but the Judge and 'strict At
torney thought otherwise 10Th were
willing enough, but there Us nothing
in the law (the Oregon code prevails
here, by act OF Congress 80 far as it is
prncticable') that would allow it. The
only excuse whatsoever was one of Sc
we're sickness, attested under oath by u
physician.
''But suppose grand juror dies?"
asked the Judge.
81 could not excuse him from duty on
that ground he replied, slowly, shak.
ing his head. So MIR. Landerlsin re.
manned and Cr. Hayes did double duty
Mark c. Russell was the only othe,
white man in the party as we started,
which l organized on the basis of all
my previous expeditions, or Just as few
white men as possible, with natives to
do about all the work of transportation
guiding, hunting, etc, ETC., with which
they are SO familiart in heir own coun'
try.
The Indians were very hilarious, evi.
IDENTIFY stimulated by the enthusiastic
departure gwen us. and they showed
ciously every little while instead Of
settling down to steady work.
We stopped about o'clock in the
afternoon in pretty little sheltered
cove for lunch, and really enjoyed our
selves for an half hour, protected from
the beating rain. Robert impressed
me with the fact that the tide as ther
out, and asked me to note that wher
twas in, not II landing place was to be
found anywhere along the shore for
proba bly, stretches of many miles, In 9
bright green prairie of n few acres in
this ceasciess timber tract, and border
ing the shore was pictnresquely perchet
Tahl1u town of ten houses, Ahlk-kwar
by name. 1t is not often graveyard
is the most cheerful part of place
but here the only enlivening thing in 9
view of dismal green, rendered doubly
do.eful by the rain, was bright rec
flag that tiuttered from high staff nj
the corner of grave. l was told it
indieat that that particular native
had just recently died.
About o'clock we swung around
into the Tahku inlet, and our change
of course, now allowed US to set sails
! Along we bowled, wing and wing, the
icc-cakes we had met at the mouth Of
u ~
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