Year: 1871

crOSSeS Tue river 10 the mouth OF large
creek, which from the description must
be near the size of Tilton Fork, and is
not laid down on the maps. The. trail
spoken Of follows up this creek, cutting of
a greater bend in the river and is the
shorter route to the upper forks of Cowli.z
and Cowlitz Pass. Noon of the coming
day found our guide in camp. About 3
p. NJ, we were jogging on our way. But
little head way was made this evening


Hitherto we had followed the track of Mr.


L. G. Wallace and party Of Cowlitz county


who had but few days before returned
from the snow line near Mt Rainier. As
they had crossed the river at the crossing
mentioned above, We were left with moth.
ing but the obscure Indian trail to follow
which the guide said was good enough for
Siwash, if it did not suit the Bostons. He
was sent forward with the Ak to cut away
the overhangiug brush for the passage Of
the horses. A short distance from this
camp we encountered the stecpest hill of
the route, though not high one. The
pack horse which was leading at the time
came near falling over backward, but going
ahead with long halter rope and taking a
"turn" round a sapling, the impending
catastrophe was averted. For mile the
ground was comparatively level when we
came to a " down grade" corresponding to
the "Np grade" just mentioned. At the
foot of this bank, winding its crystal length
through thickets of salmon brush was a
splendid spring branch whose gentle mur-
murs invited the thirsty to partake of its
delicious waters. But the romance of the
thing was slightly spoiled in crossing it,
for the pack horse mired, and we had to
unpack before we could extricate the poor
beast. Fortunately nothing was wet but a
portion of the blankets. Although we
had added but about two miles to the dis
lance already come, yet as it was near SUM-
down and this was a fine camping place
with plenty of feed it was decided to stop
for the night. This was camp No. 4.
The guide informed us We could not take
the horses any farther without much
trouble, and that the creek we were look
ing for was but short way off. Accord
ingly next morning, leaving the horses
tied to trees, and everything in camp ex-
ccpting prospecting tools and lunch, we
set out, the Indian ahead as usual. A
walk Of two miles and half over stones,
bouldcrs and fallen timber, brought US to
what our Indian seemed to hope would be
our journeys end but he was mistaken.


Though this was the largest stream yet
seen above Tilton Fork, it was plainly nat
tic creek. Here as on a former occasion,


after washing dirt from the bars and banks,


gold and iron indications were found. Pres.
emily the Indian came rushing to me with
brittle blush grey stone that he had de-
tatched from ledge running at an angle


with the creek, cropping out of the right


bank and about hundred yards from its


mouth. This stone contained large per.


ceutage of a glit.cring yellow substance
that lie was fully persuaded was gold.
Not having the requisite chemicals it
could not be reduced, consequently l was


unable to determine its nature, but pre-
sumo it was iron. This creek is not laid


down On the maps, so in the absence of
any other name we called it Pilton creek,
signifyins fools creek. Our guide was
asked again if there were any more streams


or branches at all putting into the river
above this one. He replied none; that
this was the last one. Of course we knew


he must be lying. A conference was held


and it was decided to go on for another
dav at least. This was communicated to
the Indian who seemed surprised and
somewhat crest fallen; but his manner
entirely and suddenly changed. He pro-
tested he had not understood us that there


vas, a few miles farther on, a large stream.
a river with white water such as We had
described; that party Of whites some
wears ago had visited on their way to the
INNER river. We looked at each other
and laughed, but felt more like hitting
tho fellow rap over tho head with the
shovel for his outrageous falsehood. we
now felt that We knew our whereabouts
and as our guide lived some distance fur
thcr in the direction we were going. he
was ordered to take the tools and lunch to
his lodge and await our coming next day.
The scenery here is grand in the extreme.
Tho river rushes through wild, rocky
gorge or canon for three or four miles with
terrific force. now running with fearful
velocity between huge walls Of granite
which compress it to width of thirty feet,
then suddenly widening, dashes against
great bouldcrs as if maddencd by the OBJ
struction; still hurrying on, is hurled over
some chasm and dashed into fine spray and
foam or twisted into frightful looking
whirlpools that scethe and boil like some o.
cauldron of tho internal. Thus is this
eternal warfare going on. To be apprecla-
ted it must be seen The volume and ra-
pidity of the Cowltz among the mountains
was a source Of continual wonder and sur
prise. Wherever seen it was running
with tremendous velocity often breaking
into cascades, fully justifying the opinion
that for more than thirty miles 1t IS one
continuous rapid Returning to camp
which We called sweet water camp, we i'm
mcdiatcly began preparations for the COM
ing day. Rising with the sun, after a
hearty breakfast we rolled the blankets