The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-01

hewn away a space on the mountains
wide enough for use. they may.
AT PHELAN'S RANCH.
1t was about dark when Phelan s
ranch was reached. One or two stray
glers were late. They had stopped
along the road to pick strawberries Mr..
Phelan, who lives here, is young man
and his mother keeps house for him. 1t
may seem incredible but it is neverthe-
less fact that the table spread Tor
guests in this little mountain cabin
would put to shame many so-called
first class hotels in Kansas. In little
plat of ground vegetables crisper and
more delicious than the Topeka pill
gr1ms had ever tasted were served ana
there were fish and two kinds of fresh
meat, all spread out in the old fashion
ed way before the hungry travellers. 1t
is not difficult to believe Mr.. Phelan
when he says he makes no money out
of his table, for it must be remembered
that flour at Warren is IS sack, pota-
toes 10 cents a pound, rice Is cents and
other things proportionately hign.
There was not room in the Phelan
cabin for all the travellers, so a han
dozen spread their blankets in the
front yard and slept peacefully with
the sky for a canopy. James s. War
ner was the only one of the sleerers
who was disturbed. A snake drew its
Shiny body across his face and he was
kept awake awhile for fear the reptile
would try to return by the same trail.
LAST STAGE OF THE JOURNEY.
From Phelan's ranch the final stage
of the journey commences. 1t is about
ranch to the Big creek country. in
which is situated the Independence
mine and other claims owned by To-
peka people or in which Topeka people
are Interested The trail follows Elk
creek to the top of the mountains and
then leads over Elk pass, which has an
elevation of $500 feet, while on the left
towers Elk mountain. which is $500
feet The country is so rough that
Colorado IS prairie by. COMPARISON.
and the mountains are precipitous ana
almost barren. A Topeka man observed
as he rode his horse along the trail
which chung to the side of mountain
from which he could look hundreds of
feet into the gulch below or thousand
feet upward to the top: 'They pushed
these mountains up just as long as
they had dirt, [ guess" which is about
the way any one will feel when he
visits this country for the first time.
The Elk creek trail is dangerous. An
Irish miner seen at Phelan's ranch who
wanted the position of guide for the
party offered the following ObSerVa-
ton; THE trail you came over is like
a floor compared to what is before you
1t is no wider than your two hands.
and all along are the bones of horses
that have fallen over" The miner no
doubt exaggerated the situation some
what, but the Topeka people often
deemed it wise to dismount and drive
lIletT nOFSeS DeIOre IneIn. III especially
steep places they facilitated travel by
holding to the stalls of their horses ana
allowing the animals to pull them up
the mountain. The cavalcade might
have been christened ''the horse tail
brigade" for this means of locomotiOn
was frequently resorted to on the Elk
creek trail
AT THE Smoke HOUSE"
About fifteen miles from the Phelan
ranch is solitary cabin, which is
known as the smoke house" 1t is not
often used in the summer season. but
in the winter it affords shelter to the
exhausted persistent miner on snow
shoes or skis 1t is called the smoke
house because it has no chimney, but
rude fireplace is directly in the mid
die of the room. There is a hole in
the roof which answers the purpose of
a chimney. After fire is built the
travellers stretch out around it while
the place is filled with the smoke
The miners say it IS better than sleep
ing out of doors. The smoke house was
reached at about o'clock, and two
hours later Elk summit was passed.
Though it was the middle of July, the
snow interfered somewhat with the
slipped. The trail was also muddy,
caused by water from the melting
snow. In spite of obstacles and draw
| backs the McRae camp on Smith creek,
near the independence mine, was
reached at about o'clock in the after
noon
| AT McRAES CAMP
Mr.. Daniel McRae, the discoverer of
this particular locality, stood at his
cabin door and welcomed the visitors.
For five years this heroic young noun
taineer has lived in this drearv and
almost inaccessible place. enduring
hardships such as the ordinary .oerson
can not imagine, and hoping that some
day his fortune would be made. His
day has evidently come.
The pilgrims dismounted and the ami
mails Were unnacked while William J.
Burke alias Slim Jim who had been en-
| ployed by Warren to cook for the party
was at once busy preparing supper. AS
darkness does not come until o'clock
he was not pressed for time and shortly
after o'clock a meal was on a new
| wooden table which had been built by
NJ. D. Henderson. who with Mr. Ed
ridge preceded the others; meanwhile
the other members of the party We're not
idle. Branches were cut from pine trees
to use for beds and tents and wagon
| sheets were spread for covering. Mr..
PoindeXter, Mr.. Parker, Mr.. Sim and
Carl Brown pre-empted an old tent the
only drawback being that it was used
as a storage place for a hundred pounds
of dynamite. Mr. Henderson, James
Warner, H. E. Warner, William Potter,
Mr.. Stephenson and the writer occupied
a downy bed of pine boughs with a
wagon sheet spread over some poles to
keep off the dew or rain.
NIGHT IN CAMP.
Mr.. Potter and Mr.. Henderson had a