Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-09-17
Fishing on the Musse1she11.

On the 18th OF August MessrS. Balmer,
Egge and Vinson left Pullman for Il
months outing on Musselshell creek,
about 10 miles east of Weippe, in Sho-
shone county, Idaho. The first night
was spent in Kendrick. Sleeping on the
hard floor OF the feed stable was found
somewhat uncomfortable, and the con-
tinual snorting of horse was not con-
duciye TO pleasant rest but then such
little matters are among the necessary
incidents of an outing like this. Next
morning we were up with the gray dawn
TO get an early start up the canyon road.
We stopped for dinner at SMELLS mill
and camped for the night on the Clear
water, four or five miles beyond the
North Fork Ferry. In the stony road
among the Clearwater and up the canyon
10 Rattesnake spring we made slow
time, our light wagon being too heavily
loaded for rough roads. The next night
we camped at Wcippe. We had thought
10 get to the Musselshell early that even
ing; but the road proved rougher than
we had anticipated and compelled Us to
drive slowly. The next morning, after
a piece Of stumpy driving, we found the
road unexpectedly good and started off
at brisk gait. Not paying attention to
the fork in the road, we drove to the
right into the meadows instead of taking
the leit-hand road through the timber.
We soon realized that we had gone
astray, but lost good deal of time be-
lore we got back on the right trial. All
now went well till we were near the end
of our journey. At Browns creek Mr.
r. l.. Hartman caught up with Us and
followed us the rest of the way. He and
his elder brother, G. w. Hartman, live
at the end of the wagon, their house be-
ing the last on the Lo-Lo trail before it
enters the mountains. The road from
Browns creek to Flartman's is anything
but good for heavily loaded spring
wagon, and we had not gone far before
we got stuck in amud-hole The wheels
sank deep in the mire, and both the
single-trees were broken. Engaging with
Mr.. Hartman to fetch us ont in his luln-
Der wagon, VT cGmped for dinner and
awaited his return. Making a fool
bridge across the mud hole, we unloaded
Gus stuff, pulled the wagon out OF the
mirc, and cooked our dinner. Mean
while Mr. d. w. Martin. the old pros
pector. who lives near Hartman's, came
by and generously invited us to camp ia
his yard aud pasture our horses free IL
his meadow After two or three hours
Mr. Hartman returned, and by I've
o'clock we had reached our destinations.
Tine Musselsheil, noted for it's fine fish
ing, runs close by where we campcd. ana
ut our first supper we already had a good
mess of trout. Nearly every day during
our stay there two Of us were ont fishing
part of the time, either in the Mussei-
shell or the Lo-io, often from early
morning till late in the afternoon, ~
turning wet to the waist but each with
good burden OF the speckled beauties.
The largest catch of a day was rs, ana
the total number caught was rs, The
third member, the tendrffoot of the
party, spent most of the time in camp,
"rustling' wood cooking beans. having
Il good lazy ttme, aud keeping up has
reputation for trout eating. We get a
few grouse and ducks now aud then and
saw some big game, but killed none.
The first day that Messrs. Balmer and
Ninson fished in the Lo-LO Il big black
bear came down to the creek, tooE
drink, looked at the fishermen, and
walked lGisureIy away. The big rifle
was in camp. Towards the end O, oar.
stay Prof. Balmer went TO EdOrado
creek, some fifteen miles to the south
east, where he spent a few day il ,.e
expectation OF getting n deer IhaI
morning after his arrival he had tie rare
good fortune to see two moose comm.
out OF the creek. They were Within nE'-
ing distance, but kind Providence al
lowed them to escape into the woods he
tore a shot was fired.
On August 23rd, in the company oI
Mr.. Martin, who furnished tne wrl,8'
with horse, we visited the anime i.ee ted
year ago by Messrs. Martin, Peters,
and others. Mr.. Peters has built good
house and is now at work again on he
tunnel he opened last summer. Messrr
Miller and Runkel old miners from the
Black Hills, have located near BY and
are now at work building a house Tor the
winter. Two proSpectors who came
across from Montana, took up a placer
claim near the Musselsheil. While we
we're there the Red Rock Dredging Com
pany sent an expert drcdger, Mr.. Wood.
to examine the ground along the Mus
aelshtli and report on its adaptation for
dredging. He reported the meadow as
very easy to dredge. In few weeks a
prospecting machine Will be taken in.
and the ground will be thoroughly pros
pected. II gold IS found in paving guam
titles, an electric plant, a dredge, and
saw mill vail he built, and there will he
lively times On the Mu8selshell, to the
perturbation OF trout and deer
Our stay on the Musselshell was made
more pleasant by the company of John
Austin, the experienced packeran trap
per, and Lee Smith OF White Bird, and
Jim Rice OF Mt, Idaho. who camped near
as for week as inspectors of the timber
reserve OF that part OF Idaho, Just after
supper every evening we would lie down
about our big campfire and tell stories