Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-14

a
hand. and no one to bear me company, 1
left Spokane. Wash, on a bright after
noon in May. 1889, to travel to Georgia. I
had calculated that under the most IA
vorable circumstances IT would require
about four months to make the journey,
and 1 was prepared to prolong this time,
IL necessary, 10 view properly the regions
L was to traverse. In my inexperience 1
did not consider the dangers, difficulties
and trials that must inevitably attend a
journey Of this extent and character. Had
done So and with the lights before me
as the results of it's accomplishment have
afforded, I am satisfied I would never have
dared It.
1 now realize II was a venture more be-
fitting the character and experiences Of
Stanley. and 1 feel that but for pure
Niger luck" I should not have gotten
through as fortunately as I did. >
I had been ION the road" but a few days
before commenced to realize that 1 had
no sinecure task before me. The first few
nights camping alone in the mountain
Businesses Of Idaho and western Montana
produced such nervous tension. Cto give it
the mildest name) that an appreciation Of
the sublime attractions Of the scenery
through which passed was limited
The awesome silence Of the night was
broken only by the occasional bark OF
the coyote. whose music would startle me
would serve a happy termination of the
nights disquietudes.
With the sunrise would my spirits soar.
and the grand expanse as IL unfolded in
the sunlight would I'LL me with feelings
OF delight In grand and rugged outlines
bench" rose above bench" forming
curves of wondrous beauty, while above
and beyond SCARED hump" and mountain
range cloud-capped, snow-clothed and
grand-aIl garnished with \ halo OF efful-
gence subhmei Each rugged escarpment.
marking the waste OF ages and embellish-
ed by its own boulder gargoyle. added to
the idea Of almost infinite immensity.
Slowly vending my way through
draw" canon and gorge. some summit
is reached where the broad expanse of
valley, prairie and tortuous water drifts
unfold to the view. What a gorgeous pam
Drama Of dissolving distancesl What a
picture of the lata silentia-vast widths
OF expanse-with towering mountain tops
sn grand relief Fatiguing it was to even
realize that would have TO plod my way
through these almost endless bounds-the
camp tonight, after days weary march
ing. almost in full view Of the camp Of
last night.
En- route from Spokane we come to
Occur d'Alene, situated on the lake of
the same name. The lake IS a magnificent
body OF water. about twenty miles long
BY ten to fifteen wide, and, nesting
amidst the surrounding mountains. pre-
sents some OF the grandest scenery to be
found In the Rocky mountain regions.
Along between the margins and the foot
OF the mountains the route leads for sew
eral miles when the first hill climbing
commences. Then diverging from the
lake, a spur of the Bitter Root Noun
tains'' is to be scaled. Here the steep
declivities and rough, rocky ways pre-
sented a decided contrast to the turnpike
roads from Spokane to Occur d'Alene Id
Idaho.
over this ridge and through the Fourth
OF July Canon we come to me ''Old Mis-
sion" Idaho. The bette noir Of travellers,
in this section, is the Fourth OF July
Canon The road" comprises a contin-
uOus series OF chuck holes" almost in
surmountable boulders, acute "sidings,"
and Doggy water waysi Through deep
and dark canons the wagon goes bump
ing and jolting along, now up some steep
hill which taxes the utmost strength Of
the teams. and next down a declivity SO
acute that tree tops are used as drags TO
hold the wagons back"
Once through this pass" coming east,
the traveller sees the grandest picture Of
the whole route, with probably the excep-'
ton OF the Council Bluff view Of the
Omaha valley,
judging from the very antiquated appear.
ance e fits surroundings. is situated in a
fertile and extensive valley on the Occur
d'Alene river. The former beauty of this
river is considerably marred by the "con-
centrate" deposit along it's banks, while
its waters once limpid and sweet are now
so charged with this "offal of the mines"
that it is dangerous to man and beast to
drink.
This concentrate" might be called the
saw dust Of the mines. 1t is the grind
ed rock OF the ore, separated from the
mineral, and swept away by the water
ways OF the mine. This same waste is
not only exterminating to the fish which
formerly abounded in those streams which
are now its carriers, but it is also grad
ually filling up the beautiful Occur d'Alene
lake.
How adequately describe this valley Of
the "Old Missionf" Filled with admira-
ton OF the antique beauties OF this relig-
iOus settlement. I took up my journey
in the morning. after camping one night
in it's precincts. For miles GOWN the
valley the settlement was I'm full
view. situated as it was on a slight eleva-
ton. and browning with it's hoary age the
spring time valley, IL formed a pleasing
contrast indeed.
Ranging around are sketches OF garden
culture. while plains Of hay and grain
neids give place 10 the broader eNpanse
OF Cattle Range"-the whole mellowed
by the sunshine-clothed mist OF the river
on a cloudless day.
Through the midst Of the mountains to
the heart Of the mining districts Of Idaho,
we come TO Wa-dner, a place made men,
orable by the mining riots, and the inter-
ference of the national government with
negro troops. The grievances engendered
on that occasion sim rankle in the men,
cries OF the sturdy miners, and vengeful
gnathemas are yet murmured against the
authors Of the tyranny exercised on that
occasion.
Passing through Mullen. situated at the
foot Of the main range of the Bitter Root
mountains we commence the zfo-zag a.