The National tribune., 1902-07-24
ALONG THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY.
Grandeur of Scenery and Prosperity of the
People of Washington.


member how, in olden days, shells used
to wing their way in the air. scattering
destruction as they few! Well, here, way
up in the wilds, within a few miles of our
National boundary, l find, what l have
found everywhere l go, the little bronze
button shining out like glowworm in
the bushes; between the trees, and among
the waving tules.
1t is as if, in her dying effort, repentant
War had flung out her arms and scattered
her shell-dealing forces to the four winds
of heaven, not in spirit of destruction,
but in a remorseful fit, hoping to regain
by peace what had been lost by war. This
accounts for the frequency of the ''old sol
der element everywhere you go; in the
crowded city or in the solemn wilderness.
had just left the cars, leaving Spokane
behind me, when l met Comrade Charles
II. Arnold, Co. E, 14th Me-, Capt. Pain.
find him comfortably settled out here in
the outer edges of civilization, plastering
a fine quarter section of land with his sol
dier warrant, and owning good slice of
the beautiful water front of Loon Lake.
This magnificent body of water is the gem
of the Northwest. 1t is situated about 40
miles from Spokane. 1t is fast becoming
the fashionable resort of the wealthy fam
lilies of Spokane.
Loon Lake is in the form of big
squash. l am writing at THE FRS" sit
uated on a grassy headand that lies on
the curving sides of the neck of this big
squash. The property is owned by join
Ii. Stone, a brother of mine. Before me
the lmpid waters dance in the sunlight:
around ON every side the ground slopes
upward, at first gently. then abruptly into
towering peaks. Tall pines rear their
heads majestically above me, and the
branches seems to whisper i'll my soul
song of eternal peace. There are mum;
ber of lakes in the State of Washington,
but Loon Lake seems to be the favoritc.
1t is sheltered from the cold winds; it has
no visible outlet or inlet; the waters, new
is pure, sweet, clear and so
warm that before l dress in the morning l
don bathing suit and steal down the long
fight of steps leading to the lakeside and
indulge in a plunge and a wash.
There are a number of charming spots
that would captivate the fancy of some
of your blase Easterners. THE FRS,
where l write, is an enchanting bit of
1t is headland, rising some 30
feet abruptly from the lakeside Pine
trees shoot grandly up, their massive roots
rending asunder huge masses of
granite rock in determined effort to gain
from the fertile earth.
Pearsons, Morgan's Beach, Corbin's
Cove Adams's, are all lOvable spots. that
would be voted paradises by the city-brcd
folk below.
l was sitting on the little wharf run
ming out from '"The Frs" OH Saturday.
My barred feet were idly Tapping the linn
pid waters of the lake. Above me, on
the bank overhead, rose the sweet-smcll-
ing, healthful pines. through whose sturdy
the afternoon breeze waS sing
ing a sleepy lullaby; a little to my right
the lenguorOus wavelets glided softly up
the sandy beach. with a Tipping. gurgling
sound that was almost intoXicatinSly
sweet
While thus dreamingly dallying with
Old Father Time, l was startled by Il Wig
OrOUs Hello, there, comraGe.
Looking around l saw, on the long steps
eadinG from ''The FRS the athletic form
IF new-fonnd friend-Comrade Charlie
Sampson. Comrade Sampson is now a
prosperous mine owner of Idaho and has
to use about six fingers in counting up his
.oin. He owns his cattle on a Thousand
Hills. and spends great deal of time cut
ing off coupons from u. S. bonds. and
YET no simpler. more modest, genial fellow
will be met than he. This comes from
washing down decks as landsman in the
lfterguard of a man-of-war, and being. in
lie tells me with refreshing naive that he
carried his name in his cap while on the
Hartford, off New Orleans, and had to
ook it up every time the boys were called |
o general quarters. to see who he was. |
The story of Comrade SIMPSONS life, his |
Use from poverty to wealth, his many |
able turns from despair to triumph. |
would read like book Of fiction. H must |
not only have the nine-life strain of the |
:at, but its happy knack of always falling |
III its feet.
In addition to Comrades Arnold and |
Sampson, l found William Giililand, from
Kansas regiment. and Denis Decker. an |
owa soldier; also Comrades Vath, FIetch- |
r, Bowman and Hurd. all pioneering in |
hese wilds.
My last night at "The Firs" was |
marked with something quite exciting, and |
vithal novel. to a city-bred man like my
elf.
We were sitting on the porch of my |
,rOtl,ers cottage at dusk, when the great |
iound gave deep bay and made Il rush |
or small fir tree on the lawn some 20 |
eet from where we were sitting. The
ran out to see what was the
V. as there was something that looked |
ike o bear cub crawling up the tree.
Lights were brought and flashed up,
mt we could see nothing. The dog, how
yer, tore around the tree. barking as if |
e were mad and trying to climb up. l |
rocured Il revolver, and the women went
IF and got neighbor, Mr.. Evanson, who
anne with a small-bore rife.
We fired shot after shot into the tree.
nd finally spied dark mass moving un-
asily. We renewed our firing, and finally
own came a big 16-pound porcupine.
The dog made grab for it. Poor
rute! Its mouth and nose were filled
With the singing quilts.
he head, and then we caught the dog. and
uill after quill out of its jaws. 1t must
ave been a very painful operation for /
ad to pull with the full strength of my
myers to draw the cruel spikes. / cut off
be claws for my share of the trophy and
uled out a few dozen qulls.
A few words in relation to Spokane and
conclude this rambling letter.
Spokane is one Of the most promising
OWNS of the great Northwest. 1t has an
immense timber country back of it; the
,oeur d'Alene mines are at its door; it
as valuable clay for pottery, great stores
superior granite and marble, and is
herefore by location great railroad cen
er--the Chicago of the Pacific Coast
Spokane is well supplied with the old
older element. / visited ]. L. Reno Post
With DR.. ]. G. Gundlach. Department Bu-
Ter. Comrade Gundlach, by the way is the
ably of the Western Posts. he having
)ined the navy in 1864. when only IA
ears of age. l wanted to swap head COW
ring with the doctor, as he has a coal
lack head of hair, while mine. in spite
f my Union, or young un' proclivities. is
II = - l-l