The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-08-22
SUMMER SAUNqERINGS
Snap Shots Taken on q Trip Up the
a Picturesque Eatchsez.
HUNDREDS or CITIZENS IN CAMP
Ciarveyans Locking, For the Lest
Mine-Thc story OF the Naming OF
Edgar Rock-A Fair Ftsherwom.
ans Luck.

Il
The Natcheez country, even up towards
the head Of the stream, can no longer be
looked upon as terra incognito as the rush
OF campers, who we're looking for game
and fish was mainly in that direction. It
is claimed that as many as 200 citizens
were encamped along the Natcheez at one
time, while the road, even up as high as
Edgar Rock, was kept as warm with
passers as some Of the thoroughfares near
this city. A few ventured to that dis
lance In wagons, but the travel was
mainly with saddle and pack horses. By
no means were all intent upon sport, for
many were prospectors and picks and
pans comprised part Of their equipment.
The placer miners are not meeting with
anticipated success, rs there is little
water in the mountains. Old settlers like
the McDaniels and Lindseys say that the
streams have never been SO low within
their memory nor the country so dry.
| Messrs. j. NJ. Henderson, George H.
Jacobs, George Klock and James Curran
have been among the prospectors, but
when seen by The HERALD reporter had
struck nothing of an encouraging nature,
and bad returned to an old claim near
the ''Slim" Case ranch, which had FORM
erly been taken by doc" Current and
abandoned, and this they were working
in hopes Of finding the source OF the fine
gold that shows in every painful Of earth
washed in that vicinity. In the Bump
ing Lake, Gold Hill and American river
districts the prospectors are numerous,
while off towards Mt. Rainier, on Slate
creek, Major STAN and party of Ia
comans, accompanied by q clairvoyant,
were trying 10 locate one of the numerous
'lost" mines from which it ia said an
Indian. secured wonderful nuggets of
gold with which he infiamed the greed of
the settlers in early days. As usual in
such cases the siwash died Just as he was
about to reveal the location of the treas
ure. The clairvoyant employed is said to
have been very successful in Colorado
and some OF the vast fortunes taken from
the ground in that state are accorded to
his, or her, mystic powers, for The HER
AID representative failed to learn the sex
of this uncanny person.
The scenery along the upper Natcheez
can hardly be excelled in grandeur any,
where in the United States, and was thor
ouRhly enjoyed by the party consisting of
Col. A. G. Walker. DIR. w. III. Hare, j.
Z. Ryan and THE HERALD representative,
as well as all others who have covered
this trip. Our first camp was made at
the confluence OF the Rattlesnake and
Natcheez, where we found the family OF
Harry Spinning encamped and enjoying
moderate success at fishing. Mrs. Spin
ming takes as much enjoyment in whip
ping the streams as any male disciple of
Isaac Walton, and properly clothed for
the sport she could be found wading
down the river along side of her husband
every afternoon and landing her trout
with consummate skill. At the Rattle
snake camp We were joined the next day
by Sam Cameron, Robert McCook, J. NJ.
Gilbert and Dell Hiscock, who were
bound for the American river, Bumping
lake and home, via the Tietan. They
made most agreeable addition to our
camp and in the impromptu dramatic
and musical entertainment given that
evening, the classical act of DR.. Hare and
Mr.. McCook has probably never been
equalled on the American stage. Even
the Chinese cook, between his spasms of
risibilities, asserted that it was "belly
good"
The next day James w. Crane and
party came down the road from above
and brought discouraging reports of the
fishing. They thought it better in
the vicinity of the Rattlesnake and
went into camp below us. The Jar.
nigans, who had just arrived from North
Yakima also camped across the creek,
but evidently weren't very successful in
fishing, for they seemed to prefer the
pool We used for bathing to the more
promising rifles that were difficult to at
tain without wsding.
The fishing here was also unsatisfactory
to our party and we determined to strike
camp and push on to Edgar Rock. Send.
l..
ing our supplies along by the river road
We took the saddle horses and started
over the trail. This route is anything
but quieting to a timid person, as q
stumble or misstep OF q horse at many
points means q precipitous descent oil
four or five hundred feet to the rocks be.
meath, but We found that the horses ap.
parently realized this as well as thei
riders, and were quite solicitous where
they put their feet down. and we arrived
at our destination without mishap.
Edgar Rock is picturesque and grand
preeipice of basalt rising almost perpen-
dicularly out of the Natcheez. 1t gain ed
its name from Mr.. Edgar, of Puyallup,
who crossed the untains in the troub.
lous days OF the Indian uprising, and
discovering war parties coming towards
him from each way Of the trail he lower.
ed himself over the cliff where the least
uiscalculation or erumbling stone would
have sent him to his death 5ensath.
But his fate WAS certain If he fell into