The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-10
rHE TRAIL TO THE NORTH.
The Rough Tourney into cosvfiie Res
ervnsSoD-

On he Exrs Pal Trail MAY f--wEibar
has b~roue s-a,aforreS from q fsrrfrx
into AZ ogt1ts1nx pszss sor rroxpectors
lis tprlrx- Sfscs rn<ns Of orc have zsyn1st
entirely taken tie riscs Of samples OK
grain ard miners supplies are more ahszc-
dant II the stores tnas ag-1cuisrraa in
Elements Every day witnesses the de-
ssarture - orr OF more parties over the
Fans Pol frsa for me reservation. ard
ths tseki3xh opera ,ton Of packing Il al
ways watrhfd with keen Interest b. .
crcS5 o. ne curious. who are a. free win
sra tusssss a9vt@e ard criticism as OF
lockers usually are.
oss srest advantage 20 p-c-pectors &C.
rived from the Gepr~sbion IL bus.n-ss ard
the Increased use OF rsechz-ic1, snstncs2s
Of loconotion 81 that horses are cheaper
shan ever before, Every man going out
on The reservation takes a saddle horse
ard q pack horse. which can be bought at
any price from = ~. ant a good enough
sadie horse for any man can be had for
sB Bur while horses are cheaper their feed
and st4bling have no; 6ecstr<d In price.
ard such animals a. are N question VIII
eat I'D their yziue in two or three weeks
TIE main trail through the heart OF the
reservation runs almost due north from
Wilbur stared from that town In COM
parry with Wslisam Nicely. brother Of Har-
~ J. Nicely. editor o. The Wilbur Regis
ter, ard Samuel Brfght. . veteran Of the
plains AMI the mountains. who IL more
at home beside q camp FIRE than under
root. The journey was much facilitated
by the kindness OF me Wilbur Board OF
Trade. which showed fun appreciation OF
the enterprise OF the Post-Inteii.xencer IN
seeking on, for It's readers definite inform
alton about the last great mining country
10 be opened 70 the prospecfor. With .
ten days supply OF provisions. bedding
s.af .< 81 F.f. L. Afaral
ton and staying power. I TONED Asssrs.
Nicely and Brixhrs train Of two pack
horses. and moved from wilbur north
ward AT : O'Clock on the afternoon OF
April e. score Of persons watching no
start. and perhaps envying the party Ono
Of the pack animals was a rather frae-
iious gray mare. which did not relish her
task. the other was a white mare. with
one blue ard one black eye. and . rather
Fsntier temper. but II WAS not without
r.zry ohjarzaf5ons shaf they were induced
to stand atm for packing.
The way led due north for eight miles
over the b15owy prairie OF the BIZ Bend
burch grass pastures and grain lands.
With an Occasional farm house. lining tbs
road and the waves Of land shading from
green to purple In the distance. After
eight niles OF tracking over perfect prat-
RE road. the small cavaicade began the
descent frum the high table land into the
great canyon OF the Columbia. Just as
heavy rzinsiorm. with high. gu<ty wind.
blew up from the west The road wound
Down the side u . canyon. where . mis-
step meant q tumble into the abyss ard
eternity At the same time. l, then crossed
the level point az a tongue Of hill jutting
out from one wall ard turned down
rocky read in the bottom % a auich 20
level bench high above the Columbia
which shone like a slender streak OF sill
yer IL the sunIish. cow bursting Through
tho clouds.
.sosvn TO tho Columbia.
The FIRST view Of the Columbia as one
comes TO the edge Of the great gulf II has
torn through the rocks by the labor OF
ages. can rarely be cquaied- The Rhine
may be lined with castles peopicd by the
shadowy characters Of history AM legend.
but IN natural rugged grandeur II cannot
surpsss the Columbia II has the charm
OF solitude and silence which the Rhine lost
with the growth Of teezning population
along It's vine-clad slopes and rocky
Eefxes. While the Rhine recalls visions
OF war. raplnr and hloodshed .chsracferis-
tic u the dawn Of civilization from the
black night of bsgharism. the Columbia
carries the mind forward to the time when
the palaces OF peace shall be built with
the wealth which the great river OF the
Northwest has revealed In tearing It's path
benches. whsch rise terrace above terrace.
shah be watered and made TO bring forth
fruit By the genius Of the nation which Is
not daunted by the most difficult problem
given IL by nature TO work out.
The first glance catches the bare. gray
sand hills with great pfotrudins ribs OF
volcanic rock on the opposite hsnf. behind
them rising the mountains OF the reserva-
ton ridge beyond ridge. shading from
green 10 gray and from gray to purple.
where the mist wraps the forest-eisd
SUBMITS In a thin. transparent ven. on
the crest OF the gorge 90 the left is a per-
pendIcuar elf Of dun red volcanic rock,
from which the stray hill slopes steepiy
down. and directly IN from Is a great elf
OF white and gray limestone, followed here
and there into caves. with a ragged saw
tooth summit. Around this clly the river
makes a sharp turn 10 the south. after re-
otivirg the waters OF the Sans Pol from
the north. ON the south the valley Is shut
In ny hills crowned with rocky hattes
which time has worn into the shape OF
pillars. and below which are terraces OF
sand and gravel. GU, by guleheS through
which ths water has worked It's way from,
one 10 another. Here and there one Of
these terraces has been made into an or
chard. In which the trees are now IN Fun
bloom. and an occasional settler Is found
well housed Here and there on the heights
A solitary pine tree has found iodgmeuf.
hns the only variation OF the dun monet
ony Of sage brush and greasewoci with
scAat bunch grass u the sitnfoWer and
inpln. Another canyon leads down &c the
next terrace. where the mouth % the Sans
Pol comes INTO view the river flowing
through grassy fats between terfacea hills
IKE thssc which shut IN the Columbia.
Along this terrace. the last above the river.
the road runs eastward 20 Ciark's mines.
H.. -. - g.
'weive-snsie icrrnrv. and We made our
beds on the hsr-piis. there being ne ac-
COMMUNICATION for strangers az Ciark's
boarding house. Tho night vas cold and
clear. except for an occasional shower. hu:
man never slept On a warmer bod.
Next morning We were ~ az s o clock
arA fsand a cola Mind how ng down the
valley. and after breakfast n the host.f-
| ing haHsc AZ which We ate The last eggs
We expect @ tSsto fer many DAYS We
Applied ourselves 70 tho t~tsaus work OF
[ packing The horses hnckei Ruf kicked
/ RnI an hands swrve st thsrs. Al so the
paek-fra.n started down the rocky hank
/ 70 ths river. wh~rc Hsnry Cummings an
tniiiar. rcNtA as sev1as on a Hst-haat
/ swing Tar yp OF thr nark-water q - car
RED ac~s tho ether hsnk az ths cur
rent Ire csvatc4te Nrat around A slose
I ~ healtsrs - The fats through witch
I she sans Fo'i enscrs ne Columbia. ard
tafte3 Nt t1e seA N49h - ire river
Nsst an iu5's- vsrfp. where the yonug
& NecSs SeTc afngsrrg themselves BY rieca-
I srE soFss- shsCS. ne bottoms e'N@s along
the RIVER wsFe covered wtth osAki-g ash
T s-sd cottonwood, bat further OF we're pas
tares 81 Nunrh grass. IN witch was an
I trsias TRrcs h-re art there. TIE sa7-
foNsF, h'evseji and }sEkSgar relieved sAe
7 fnonctanx - the green
Iva rtdwas~ ou the Way.
Af.er Two Or three rziics % suca travel
+ irE IRE rcas thyoaEA she valley was