The sea coast echo., 1897-05-15
A Thrilling Adventure.

The fire that burned the Wells,
Fargo express car in tho Southern
Pacific holdup near Roseburg, Orc
gon, recently, destroyed, among other
things, several boxes Of samp ples con.
signed to Junius Crosby, Boston
drummer on his way 10 Alaska. Ho
cnme to Portland on tho Northern
Pacific expecting to find the sample
trunks ordered shipped there from the
San Francisco branch OF his house.
On learning OF his loss>he wired San
Francisco for fresh supply md
pending their arrival decided to visit
an old friond of his boyhood days who
has ranch on the Columbia opposite
Wyeth, and who had often writton him
to como and enjoy the hunting and
fishing, OF which no had given rather
glowing accounts.
The two days which he spent on tho
Columbia and the thrilling experience
he underwent in that time, were told
by him in Portland on his return TO
ife and civilization and will form a
period in his existence ho can never
'orget. When sufficiently recovered
10 told his story, while wrapped up
IN warm blankets With his feet in q
mustard bath.
II caught tho U. p. train out Sat
lrday night, intending to put in Sun
lay with my old chum. All 1 knew
lbout his location was that his mail
VAS addressed to Wyetb, Wasco coun-
", Oregon, SO l bought ticket to
Wyeth. 1t was pitch dark when /
got off the train, and all / could see
was little shack Of station and q
lot OF big trees all around mo. ] had
hardly got off when tho train pulled
,ut and left me. soon found my
,elf gazing at big, hard-looking
oackwoodsman who had como out OF
the darkness from somewhere after
throwing mail suck aboard the train.
"'Can you tell mo where Charley
Green lives?' ] inquired. There's o
Charley Green lives across tho river,
but you can't fnd him this time
p'night, lie said, eyeing mo suspi-
,iously. Wheredid you come fromP
[ told him, and expressed my anx-
Iety to get across the river if he would
show me the ferry.
"There hain't no ferry nearer
than White Salmon and that bnin't
runnin', nohow,' he answered. The
best thing you can do, young man. is
TO wait till mornin' and get an Injin
to paddle ye across in canoe.
81 didn't like that scheme for n
cent, for it was cold, raw and threat
ening rain, and | didn't feel that /
would have trusted that old chap even
il he had volunteered to find for me
place to sleep, which, however, he
didn't. After talking the question
over, and with considerable coaxing,
he finally agreed, for moneyed con-
sideration, to roust out an Indian to
take me across. If the Indian was
sober and would condescend to take
me across, well and good. II he was
drunk, which the old fellow seemed
to think most likely, and refused,
mine was the loss. / followed him
along narrow path toward the river,
stumbling along over stumps and
roots, doing my best to keep up with
him, till we reached a tumble-down
shanty on flat near the river A
series OF heavy blows on the door sue
ceeded in calling forth responsive
grunt from within, and after little
moro delay the door was opened and
weazened- faced old Indian peered
out at us. In dialect / could not
understand my companion explained
to him what wanted. A few depre-
catory monosyllables and shakes of
the head informed mo that 'Lo'looked
with decided disfayor on the. propo-
sition. Further conference and the
promise of good stiff reward caused
him to change his mind, aud without
word, Indian like, he started
off down path toward the edge OF the
water.
"'He'a sober enough, guess, young
feller, said my companion, so cgt
along after him, but be keerful E
doan't cut yer throat and rob yer.
With this cheering admonition he left
me and soon disappeared in the dark
ness, leaving me 10 decidedly uneasy
frame OF mind, heartily wishing / had
stayed in Portland. ! however neryed
myself to see it OUT. and followed the
path after the Indian. / found him
Mt the rivers edge, bailiug out an old
fiat -bottomed boat with an oyster can.
] must admit ! was nervous, and re-
volved in my mind the adyisability OF
going off with this Indian, but ! could
mot see how could improve my stu.
alton by remaining. was in for it,