The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1893-10-27

ing ground for the dog salmon, and
| during October of every year great
numbers of these fish, as we'll as SSH.
yer sides" and red salmon work their
passage along its course. Wednesday
at low tide, Chas. Leake, the scaler
tor the Shelton Southwestern, witness
ed phenomenal rum of the salmon
into the creek through the booms on
tide flats. The run lasted nearly an
hour, and during that time an incredi-
Die number of fish passed up, literally
choking the stream. At one place
where boom stick crossed the creek,
over about two feet of water, the fish
actually damned the water at times
and great big fellows in their irnDa-
thence jumped the log with ease. In
another place hundreds would collect
at the foot of sharp rifle Carving
not more than two inches of water
and band would charge and sur
mount the obstacle with apparent eff
tort, but always make the rifle. -
Again many would be crowded out on
the banks of the shallow channel. on
sand bars, or take short cuts to other
channels, seemingly making as good
progress as in the water. Wearing,
tearing, beating, fighting, jumping,
scrambling, climbing and crawling,
but always heading up stream, unde-
tered by spears, clubs, fences, barri-
cades, Or any traps that might be
placed to keep them ut-surmounting
every obstacle and defying the ordi-
nance of the town Council. Truly the
much reviled dog salmon is a marvel
of persistence, but while many fall by
the yuoucf6o f1,o,co-1e
happy spawning grounds, though torn
by spears and gaffs, shot, bruised by
their hard journey, or bitten by their,
mates. They are sorry sight indeed
and many good citizen who >Ias
learned to love our CLAIMS, has wedken-
ed On salmon, by a sight of these much
maligned dog-sa1mon. Many theories
are advanced as to what becomes of
the salmon, as it is claimed few, if
any, ever pass down the stream.
When the fish get as far as possible,
the female lays her eggs, and the male
covers them with a milky substance,
that fertilizes and preserves the eggs
until they hatch the little fish. The
little dog salmon evidently leave the
creeks at an early stage of their
growth, as rarely is one caught by
hook. Charlie was born in this County
and has seen hundreds of "runs" in
different streams in his time, but
never such school of fish as on We'd
nesday. A prodigious number of fish
have passed up the creeks in this end
Of the Sound this fall, and a little
later the odor from the decaying fish
hauled out on the banks by boys and
others promises to be wel1-nigh I'M
bearable. All attempts to keep the
salmon from their favorite grounds by
means of walls or traps have proven
failures.
INDIAN SHAKERS another col
urnn will be found an account of the
new Indian religion. It was in the
old Catholic mission church, across
from Skookum point, below Shelton,
that John Slocun had his revelations
that are said to have mended his ways.
John is Squaxon Indian and most of
that tribe are firm in following his be-
lief, while the Skokomish and other
tribes about make fun of the new re-
ligion, calling it the Shakes" ''K1a1e
black Tanahnons''-wh is said to
be but another and ni1der form of the
Sioux ''ghost Dances S1ocum's
brother Tom holds valuable SO-acre
tract adjoining Shelton, and his old
father, Blind Slocum, with his step
mother, Aunty S1ocum, live in a float
house below town Aunty Slocum
must be very old, as she was a vigo-
rous washer for the old settlers here,
as early as 1854. Slocum engages in
logging business and other work, but
is at present living on Squaxon Island.
The Unanimous dances were formerly
barbarous practices, but have mod
Grated, until now they are not practic-
ed, and other methods are in vogue
to prove young bucks va1or and en-
durance. To be K1a1e Tamahnous
twenty years ago, young buck must
have spent six days in the woods in
January, clothed in Natures garb,
without food or shelter; and on coming
back must catch and eat piece of the
first live dog they met. Many of the
older Indians now about, have success
fully passed the ordeal, but many
failed of the initiation
THE MAIL CONTRAcTs.-Prop
will be received up to December LIST for
carrying the mails on the various mail
routes in Mason County from July /,
ga, to June 80, '98. Following is the
list Of routes effecting towns in the
county, with distances, etc. Olympia
to Shelton, via New Kami1che and Ar
cadia, 80 miles and back, six times
week in safe and suitable steamboats,.
This service is now made. by two boats
direct Seattle, via Seabeck, Brinnon,
Pleasant Harbor, Duckabush, He1mer,
10 Han1lin, Dewatto, Li1lewaup and
Hooosport. to Union City, 112H miles
and back, tri-weekly. Arcadia to Hart
slime, miles, twice a week. Shelton,
by Matlock, Mason, Grove and Juno to
Satsop, 40 miles, Tuesday and Friday.
Harrison to Dewatto, 5 miles, Tuesday
and Saturday; Clifton to Sidney, 10
miles, daily except Sunday; Clifton to
Allyn, 6L5 miles, Monday, Wednesday
and Friday; Shelton to Union City, IA
miles, daily except Sunday. Parties
interested in any of the contracts can
secure blanks for bids and information
of postmasters in terminal offices.
IN SNOHOMISH.-Casa Column!
Are we approaching it? The indica-
tons seem to point that way. There
is beginning to be general distrust in
all things and all men. And not with
out good cause. Our Legislative bodies
are charged with open bribery and
public officials in many cases turning
out to be thieves. The moral atnos-
phere seems to be putrid. We see all
over the nation crimes of the highest
nature going unpublished. News
papers and oily-tongued orators are
bought over, hushed up or paid to de-
lend crime. We do not have to go
outside of our own state or neighbor-
hood to find these conditions. There
is rottenness and official corruption in
our midst, and there are those who
will, for favors or promise of reward,
attempt to cover it up. Men will sell