East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-04-18
THE TALE OF AN
INDIAN HUNTER.

MARY G.. Morse in Coast Magazine.) }
OF all races of people the Indian
tribe alone seem to be the rishest in
traditional lore and most gifted with
that tendency to secretlveness so
characteristic in a superstitious race.
Many are the strange stories told by
the aborigines of Puget sound, and
some of these, 1t is believed, are more
than mere tradition. Indeed, they
are not without credence by many at
the present time.
Years ago, when Seattle was very
small place, and the stretch of land
called the Olympia Peninsula was al
most a wilderness, there lived on the
picturesque banks of the Elwha river
an old Indian called Hunter Sam
He spoke very little English, and
the following tale which he told of
his experience in the Olympia noun
tains was of, course, related in Chi
nook:
at was one day in early October"
said he, "and l started on hunting
trip. The woods were very thick and
paths were few, but ! followed the
course of the Elwha river to the base
OF the mountains, had hunted elk
and deer many times and knew the
way too well to get lost,
This time l had travelled for many
miles and it was getting late. My feet
were sore and l was tired and hun
cry. IF 1 do not see game before
curve yonder peak said /, I will rest
for the night
But even as l went on a black
cloud in the sky grew larger and hid
the sun, and the rain began to pour
upon me. The branches of the trees
cast a deep shade over the whole for
est, and, almost before l knew it it
was dark. In the distance 1 could
hear the evil spirit of the mountain
fear.
Not far away 1 heard the rush of
the river and I started for the river
bank through the storm. At last
orawled on my hands and knees, until,
! suddenly 1 found myself in a dry
place. I felt a rocky wall on both
sides Of me and l knew that was
hi some kind of a cave.
Glad to get shelter, / crawled back
little way, 50 as not to hear the
evil sounds of the night so plainly,
and then | felt myself falling. When
/ awoke It was still dark and was
lying on something hard. I felt sick
and could not at first think where
was. But suddenly-ah, what was
that?
Through the darkneS | saw some
thing glitter like the eyes of a fright
ened deer l could not find my gun,
but I struck a match to see what was
there, and listen, I will tell you what
l saw. No deer, but silver yes much
silver. l took out my knife and
scraped it. What I tell is true, but
no white man could find that cave.
It is hidden by much brush and weeds
now, and I shall not tell the place.
There is a steep bank inside, and
and that is where I fell from. An,
yes, it has been many years since
found the bright silver near the banks
Of the Elwah river. The Great Spirit
of the caves and mountains led me to
it, but he keeps it hidden from the
white man."
Old Hunter Sam has been dead long
since, and his secret lies with him
for no white man has yet found the
hidden cave OF treasure. The silver
waters Of the Elwha river still flows
placidly on and the mountain peaks
stand rugged, as Of yore; but the for
est has wrapped its protecting arms
around the unknown spot and time
alone will tell whether the story Of
old Hunter Sam was a fact or mere
tradition