The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1912-10-03

IClipper) with them. Joe and Sally
were at home in the water and being
barefooted did not worry over the stu.
alton. There was nothing to do but
wait for the flood tide. When the
Ngood natured captain" taking In the
state of things, very politely invited
me in the Chinook "lalong" to have q
ride on his back to the land. l was
not afraid of him, for real teddy
bear smile" beamed on his round face.
So, mounted. putting both arms
around his neck and clinging for dear
life. AS he was diminutive in stature
and | weighing something less than
two hundred pounds, feared he would
sink with me into the mire and water.
But he was equal to the emergency
and landed me all in a heap on dry
ground.
Next morning. after this amusing
and, on my part, somewhat humiliat-
ing experience, We left Whatcom for
the river. There were but few houses
in Whatcom and most of those belong
ed to the Indians. We started out sim
gle file, Capt. Joe with the family, TAX
ing the lead. The water was very
rough and l often looked back, watch.
ing the other canoes battle with the
waves l feared they would capsize
because of their heavy loads and We
were all thankful when at last we
landed in the river on the Lummi res
ervation. There the old chief changed
the large Chinook or salt chuck
canoes" for the lighter shovelnosc
canoes used exclusively for river trav-
vol In hDn
cent of the river, which, on account of
jams which had been in process of
formation for many years, no doubt,
was quite formidable undertaking
The Indians had padded lis but few
miles when we came to a jam which
was nearly mile long. The bodies of
the great fir and cedar trees Tapped
the river from shore to shore
We would have given up in despair
had it not been for the good old chief
and his crew. They began at once to
unload and to portage the goods and
canoes across this long and "hOrrid"
jam. A herculean task, indeed, and
one that was not accomplished until
late in the night. Meanwhile the fam
lily walked around the pam on a trail
through the woods, until We came to
the home Of a white settler where we
abode the night and were very hospit.
ably entertained by his native wife,
who hung the kettle filled with wa
patos," over the fire and gave us all
the rich cream and milk we could use.
The next morning We again boarded
our little craft, but had not proceeded
many miles when We encountered an
other impenetrable obstruction. This
was at the mouth of Fishtrap creek.
The crew was obliged again to unload
and carry everything across the high
logs on their shoulders. This jam was
not nearly so long and we were only
detained couple of hours. We had
no further difficulty until we reached
the Devils bend" where the river
was filled with snags with the water
running around them very swiftly and
dangerously. Here Sally took COM
mand, shouting her orders to the cap
tain and by her skilful management
proved herself the better man of the
two" She brought the canoe safely
through the many narrow passages.
zig-zagging from side to side until we
had passed through the swift currents.
We rounded one more point, which the
Indians called moses" and soon landed
bag and baggage" late in the after
noon of that day, over forty years ago.
at the spot where now stands Lyndeh,
the Gem City of the Nooksack, in all
her glory and beauty.
When my feet first pressed the
banks of this picturesque nook. l was
charmed with the magnificence OF the
scenery with which we were surround.
ed. Mt, Baker lowered over all and
seeming so near, rObed in her mantle
of glistening purity was perpetual In
spiration. My fanciful visions. away
back on the shores of Lake Erie, OF an
ideal home beside the seashOre. some
placid lake or stream OF living water
were now more than realized. Still,
scenery without kindred spirits to en-
Joy it with us did not satisfy all the
souls cravings. To fill our cup OF
happiness to the brim we must have
congenial neighbors, like the ones
whose society we are enjoying today.
.'Blest be the tie that binds our hearts
in Christian love-" In order to make
our prison home more accessible We
must open a way through those huge
Jams. subscription paper was circu-
lated among the few citizens and the
coal company and we soon had raised
the sum of $500. With this sum
Judge Plaster, with the aid Of the ma
tives, cut through the jam below Fern
dale Meanwhile Mr.. Judson and Mr..
Klocke, a German bachelor who had
settled north of Lynden. together with
Chief Yellokanim and his "tillakums'
(relations) were working passage
through the smaller jam below Lyn-
den. This required much patience and
hard work for many days. Finally
they came home much elated, Klocke
shouting, I'VE won't have to work on
that old yam any more; shes gone
out"
The accomplishment of this enter.
prise was mostly due to the natives
They were largely endowed with hero.
ic and sympathetic traits OF character
that were appreciated by their white
neighbors. remember, in fact l shall
! never forget the time Joe and his part.
ner took ME all the way to WILDLY ls'
land in their canoe, never laying down
paddle to rest because they knew l
was hurrying to the bedside of my