The west shore., July 01, 1883, Page 168, Image 23

i68
THE WEST SHORE.
July. 1883,
THE INDIAN TOTEM STICK.
There left city, on ihe through freight train
to Kaluma yesterday morning, a veiitable Indian
totem slick, which in its way is something of a
wonder, although in several sections of British
Columbia and Alaska these may he seen in the
old camps of the early Indians. This stick has
been lying at the whurf in this city for the past
four or five days, nnd has elicited much comment
from many who mistook it for a heathen god,
and, indeed, from the ghoul-like caricatures with
which it is profusely covered, the ordinary specta
tor ii apt to form such an opinion, incorrect as it
is. This curiosity was brought from Queen
Charlotte's Island, between the island of Van
couver and Alaska, some six or seven years ago,
and left at the Hudson Hay Company's wharf in
Victoria. When Mr. C. II. 1'rcscott, of the O.
R. & N. Co., visited that phice some days ago,
in company with Senator Edmunds and others,
he conceived the idea of transferring it to Tort
land, and accordingly it was put on board one of
Ihe steamers for this city. The huge log on
which the rude engraving is made, is of white
ccilar. It is about thirty feet long and three feet
across at the larger end. Among several hyero
glyphici t Ihe larger end, are two carvings of
fish, anil the representation of an eagle's head and
neck, with wings on (he side. The next section,
it may be called, represents a wierd hiimnn
face, with large cheeks and a prominent nose.
On Ihe checks arc some eagle's talons. The third
section represents similar carvings, while on the
fouith is shown a large alligator. It is well
carved, and occupying a larger space on the log
or slick, seems to cling to it like a living reptile,
with its legs astiide the log. Its teeth and claws
arc well and plainly outlined, and everything
considered, the representation of the alligator is
more correct than any of the others. Further
along are chiseled in the wood, the heads of men
and wild bird, and lasts. E.om the larger end
lo this point, there is a barbaric blending and
commingling of these carvings, one having scarcely
been begun until it is succeeded by something
else. Finally beyond these is the remainder of the
slick, a distance of about nine feet, which, while
Ihe former portion is scmi-ciroular in foim, and
hollowe.1 in Ihe bock, is narrowed lo the thick
ness of but little more limn a font A. ! 1.
of one fool are circular rings which run entirely
And now Comci the ihNirm.i.irm
1 he nartow ends of mch nick
and securely in the ground near the wigwam of
the head chief of the Indian tribe, and this serves
u .epresent ihe implement, or insignia of govern
ment and command of the I,li.n,( much
n.eas the dag of any country i. lo I f0Ui;h,
r u enrnsnco and revered. These may be
It ill ltd in a
- w-iions on tne upper coast.
At Ihe Smiihsonian
i, . , "iMimgton,
l. t may be found several curiously engraved
" " "'ck' lhmW ( Ihcm are
...gc a. tnt one ... qui,,,,, They aptly ICCa
til Iknt.l ..I .1.- .... . ' ' '
" "pi, Longfellow.
Ami ,, minu i ,h(. sr.,v
if t, '"ril"ltcn '
hrh 1,. , am rMr1 ,
U after .im? the rude carving, 0riKin.,inR
..h Ihe early North American aborigine, will be
very valuable as curiosities. The stick in ques
tion is icputed to have been carved some fifty
years ago, and in only one place was it noticed
to be rotten and decayed. Tacoma Ledger,
ILLIMITABLE" RESOURCES.
Mr. Tulin McCaffcrlv returned Saturday Inst
from his prospecting tour over the Puget sound
coal fields. He reports having had a very rough
but propitious trip. Over a week was put in vis
iting the different coal fields. The journey on
loot and on horseback, through the almost impen
etrable magnificent forests, back from the sound.
was tedious and discouraging, but the purpose of
the trip was successfully accomplished. About
eighteen miles south of Renton, three sections ol
line coking coal land was obtained, with which
Mr. Mctallerty is well pleased, and speaks verv
highly of the timber and coal thereon. About
fifty acres of the land is covered with a growth of
curley maple, which alone is a fair investment.
A numlier of tests have been made of the coal,
from these sections, which prove, beyond all
doubt, that it will make an excellent quality of
silver coke. A company has been formed to re
duce the coal to coke at the coal fields, operations
to 1 cgin shortly. It will then be shipped from
llicie to Montana, to be used in workintr the larov
quantities of base metal ores, a number of veins
of which, near Butte, Mr. McCaflerty is interested
in. the railroad line, which has been already
surveyed, and construction of which will be begun
on the 26th inst., runs through one section of the
land. I his is going to be a laree and profitable
business for the northwest, as large quantities of
coke are consumed yearly in the smelters of Mon
tana, ami in almost every manufactory when.
blast furnace is used. The coke, if it proves to
as 6"0" n "'title as is expected, can be shin.
ped to the mines of Mexico, Arizona, Utah and
even to Colorado, and compete with the eastern
markets, especially as there is not a Pood mmlit.
of coke made in the eastern states. News.
A FEATHER IN ALBANY'S CAP.
J. M. Nolan, Esq., one of the most enterprisinc
merchants of Albany, Oregon, decided last spring
to close out his business in that city and move
elsewhere. In a conversation with one of our
correspondents a few days since, he said that after
iravelinc a over the vs,r. v....i. L . .
: . 1 , - "uiuiwcM ne nas de
cided to jemain at Albany, as, backed as it is by
solid agricultural wealth, he considers its future
y 7sure"' 118 is now enlarging his
premises and making arrangements for receivine
an immense stock of fall goods. S
In tliA n..tu. .f i ....
uir I. . " r T? "" or the holiday season.
or d... er. can nYtXKTt an'to ZTl'oTZ
n.mTCinch "P" cominB into general
u e a , ong st.n k men has been shown us by W.
M.Mann, o Helena. Montana. It U a ver
" "Pta ci-ilnv.BC., but extremely valuable, (o?
when a .ached to an ordinary saddle it renders i
mposs c for a fractious "horse or "tack "
M n ,,,,,.nuve ",e le in the feast. Mr"
IS 1 nVrCn,i,r- nd PMenlee- is old stock
" lie maker, and is uieuare.1 m f,.,.,i.i, t
tween Morrison and Vamhill. '
Tfi nfltflin ilia n
the Pacific NoSh go o Davidlon ?T k
corner First and Yamhill. He ftl 2"
plete assortment in this .t.1. S the onl'
The St. Paul Rnnlr ml St.11
our readers for at ,ea a ZZZfiSS
They have a verv lr 1... .. """""P.
1 . , . . uipibw ime or muni.
laneous. stdnrlarrt iii.i...j .j , .
ui it, --wu ouu juvontle book,
blank books papers, envelopes, and all kind, of
goods for holiday and othortrodo. They L
will not be umlmnM artA .1... .
receive nroinnt and nnrnfl .! n ,. ,l"
- -v....v,n. Uy an raetni
give them a trial. 01
WANTED
Price eurrento from overy commission house dttli..
in fresh fruits, tablw. fish and nme
KAB1UMEEB HOEPFSIB,' CoramiMia
Xm.BMA, MoilIAJi.
6&
THE PHOTOGRAPHER.
, Cnr. Hirst and Taylor.
"he Best Work in the State Guaranteed.
S. O. SKIDMORE & CO.,
3DISTJO-G-ISTS,
151 FIRST STREET,
Portland, - - . Oregon.
The Grand
Livery & Boarding
STABLE,
R.M.WILBUR, Propr.
Through from Seoond to Third bet, 0 and D Street.
Portland, Oregon.
Every style of Vehl le n use in this country, tor
Hire, with or without Drivers, at all hours at reuon
able rates.
Special care given to Boarding iTorsei and sent to
Owners when required. Orders' by Telephone
promptly attended to.
NEIMEYER
IMu.127 First Street,
PORTLAND, - . OREGON
Bond for OiraaUn, Catalogue of Muele,
SIMON HARMS,
GKNKRAL AGENT,
49 Flrnt:8t., Portland, Or.J
Catalogue of Instrument and muaio m""
upon ujollaadoB.