Year: 1861




ing to tell of adventure and Incident by flood
and land, and let those trans nsmountain Klamath
ians know there's been


"Chiel amang them taking notes,


And faith he'll print en-"


On the morning of Nov. 9Th might have been
seen Ia la G.. p. r. James, your correspondent,
mounted on mule-sad mule being precisely
three feet, four inches high-in company with three
others mot mules, gentlemen) vending their way
from the somewhat famous Lake City toward the
Klamath mountains. Our party had proceeded
but few miles when all signs OF trail faded
into defined uncertainty, and we gave our fates in
to the keeping of one Of the party who claimed
to have once before made the laborious journey
across the mountains into the Salmon and Klam-
ath country Up up! upl Heavens would we
never reach the top? The clouds in mercy shrou-
ded the extreme summit from view, and kept us
in momentary hope of ending our climb. Soon
after commencing the ascent my mule kindly
halted to give me an opportunity to walk. took
the hint, and dismounted. Before making half
the ascent it declined being led. reasoned with
it, and have no doubt it said" on are great
overgrown lout l am little mule-not so high
as your waist-you ought to carry me to the top
of the mountain" But couldn't see the point
of this mule logic, yet being very polite man
gave the mule precedence, and fell in the rear,
staff in hand The mule went up.


After four hours of toll through rocks and
brush, we reached the summit of what is known
in Trinity as the Salmon range. Now don't be
alarmed I'm not going to rehash some romantic
picture Of mountain scenery. Nothing of the
sort--never felt less romance of sentiment in my
life. On almost the highest point of this noun
tain range, we were in the clouds, thoroughly
wet and chilled through, couldn't see hundred
PAGES IN any direction, and hungry as starved
wolves. Byron has done up the " grand and aw
ful" to the satisfaction of an admiring world in
his description of storm on Mount Jura, and
had in days lang syne huge satisfaction in feel
ing the tremendous as | drank in his grand
and eloquent picture, but alas it was useless on
that day to attempt TO get up the old sublime
cold, wet and hunger are not inducers of grand
sentiments. Byron also took step from the sub
lime to the phosophc, yon remember, and said


"- get drunk, get very drunk


The best of life is but intoxication y


was forcbly reminded OF this philosophic ad-
vice from our grand author" by remark made
by one of the company just after we had reached
the summit " Let's take u drink y Now am
sometimes given to temperance, and don't who'll
ly agree in the above bit Of poetic advice, but
assure you the sound of my friends voice fell as
mellow and musical upon my ear as many sim
liar invitation has upon the soul of an old topper
who has not had his morning cocktail. We all
drank. 1t was not water--water is not found on
the tops of high mountains. 1t was out of lit
tie fat black bottle, thoughtfulfy carried by one
of the most agreeable travelling companions it
has ever been my good fortune to mect-Mr. Jas.
A. Drake, of Lake City.


One hours travel along the summit brought us
to the head of Plummer creek. Here we ate our
lunch, and then commenced descending. 1t now
commenced raining in earnest. Down, down,
down we went, sliding, slipping and falling along.
| stuck to my little mule until its ears disappear
ed under the pummel of the saddle concluded
then to walk the rest of the way down. About
o'clock we reached the foot OF the mountain,
and found ourselves on the South Fork of Sal
mon, fifteen miles above what is known the
Forks From there we proceeded down the riv-
er to the trading post of Mr.. Dnmries, and 10
Gated for the night, having come thirty of lit
tie the hardest miles it has ever been my fate to
traverse.


A warm supper and comfortable bed soon made
us oLlvous to the day trials and we awoke re-
freshcd and reuvenated to commence another
day s journey to Orleans Bar, the county seat Of
Klamath. From Dumtries' to the Forks is some
four miles, down the South Fork. All along we
saw busy miners delving for the oro and was told
there are many rich claims on this portion of the
river. We found a hourishing little town at the
Forks, giving evidence OF enterprise and success.
There | made the acquaintance of a son of Nul-
can, who gave evidence of his genius, and the
high state to which he had brought one branch of
his art by successfully fastening pair of shoes
on the virgin hoois Of my little mule-said hoofs
never having before been made acquainted with
smiths hammer and nails. | commend him to
the travelling public as the very best in bis line
| of business.


From the Forks down the main Salmon to Cur
tis trading post is five miles. All along miners
were at work. the Chinese seeming to predomi-
nate Mr.. Curtis entertained US very Hospitality.
! We spent pleasant hour, and then resumed our
journey. Here we left the river. What! anoth-
er mountain ? Drake answered sententiousy- =
"Yes!" How long? Only nine miles to the
! top, and eight down ~ And such mountain
Sweat to think of that nine miles up at general
grade Of 40 degrees. BY this time the little mule
and myself had become well acquainted. | po-
ltely stepped aside and waved it to proceed-it
proceeded Three hours and we are at the top.
The clouds which once or twice during our ascent
had broken away and given us a glimpse of the
most gorgeous mountain scenery | ever beheld,
now completely enshrouded us-night was com
! Ing fast-in fact it was growing dark, and eight
miles yet to go. Drake dismountcd, eyclaiming,
" we must get below this fog before it grows en-
tirely dark or remain all night the mountain" ="
and taking his bride reins in his hands, started
off in lively jump down the mountain | fol-
lowed as best | could. 1t would have been impos-
sible to ride down at such pace, even in broad
sunlight. Darkness came-on we went some
times in the tral sometimes out, over roots and
logs and through brush. 1t began to grow light
cr we were below the clouds and fog once more.
We had ran four miles in less than 80 minutes, in
almost total darkness. You don't believe it ~
Now Pm not going to write for afldavits as to