The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-02-26

.. 4. Mattison, OF Fargo, N. D., i
stopping at the New Grand Centra
hotel. This is Mr.. Mattison's frs
visit to Portland. he having just reach
ed here from an extended huntins
and prospecting trip through tn,
olympic range of mountains. ou
lying on the Sound.
He tells an interesting story of hi.
trip into that almost virgin wilderness.
OF snow peaks, big timber, lakes anG
cataracts, and finishes off his tale
with display of bottleful of coarse
gold that In size and pureness would
hll the heart of any prospector with
envious longing for a chance at the
creek bed from which the nuggets
were taken.
"It was not mere-chance that led
me to the Olympics," said Mr.. Mat.
tlson this morning. "Two years ago
there came to my place on the out
skirts Of Fargo, an old fellow who
called himself 'Scotty the Prospector.
He was broke and willing to work, so
l gave him job as chore man about
the house. He was filled with stories
| of different rich prospects he had
struck during his life, and in the main
believed these to be visionary, but
one tale that he was continually re-
peating of a journey of his into the
Olympic range of mountains, on Puget
Sound, impressed me with truthful
ness, through his never varying an
iota in its detail. On this trip he
claimed to have struck diggings that
were rich beyond anything that Cali
fornia or Australia had ever struck.
Finally I asked him if he would
accompany me in search of these
places, and he fairly jumped at the
chance. He had been such an hon.
est worker about the ranch that fell
that I could trust him, and together
last June we left Fargo, / have nc
cause to regret the trip.
Reaching Port Angeles, on the
Sound, we struck back into the noun
tains, using pack horses as far as we
could and then pitching camp.
"With every day of our journey in
from the beach 1 had become more
and more impressed with 'Scotty's
honesty, for he had the lay of the
country at his fingers ends, so when
he told me on August 2, that the
next day we would reach his gold-filled
creek, | did not doubt his showing me
place where gold would be found
but expected to meet with colors SC
slight as to make the working of the
claim impossible owing to the cost OF
packing provisions and machinery to
the mine.
at was dusk the next day, August
8, when we camped on the bank of
Scotty's creek, and too dark to at
tempt anything.
"We left there December s, there
having been but a slight fall OF snow
In the mountains. Scotty has gone
back to Salem, Mass, some thousands
of dollars richer than when he LETT
Fargo, and / am on my way to south
ern California to see the country and
meet him again in Seattle, March To-
when we will again enter the Olym-
pics.
"The possibilities for quartz dis
coveries, both silver and gold, are
great. Also, we found many indica'
tions of coal.
"To prospect the country, however
| one must be well outfttec, and have
| pack animals, as provisions should bt
taken in sufficient to last at least BIZ
months. The pack animals you art
forced to leave in a small canyon al
the head of the first defile as you en-
ter the heart of the mountains, ant
where the last traces of the trail from
Port Angeles ends. For renewal o
/ provisions it is necessary to come bach
to this cache.
ayes, expect within a few years te
see rush into the Olympics of pros
pectors, the same as has characterized
the Frazer river, Caribou and Cassial
excitements. The Evening Tele-
gram.
Ex-PREsIDENT Harrison now has
new baby girl to cheer his "a years Of
age.