NARRATIVE OF 1853. 163 
of the Cascades, have been very considerable; but his services in war and peace reflect equa 
credit upon his high qualities, and fulfil the promises which had been given by his services on 
the exploration, and especially his trip down Clark’s Fork and the main Columbia. During 
this time we were all occupied in preparing the reports of the exploration for the War Depart- 
ment. On the 31st of January an express messenger from Mr. Tinkham, the Sapper Wilson, 
reached me, informing me of his arrival at Walla-Walla, and of his having started to execute 
my instructions to cross over to the sound by the Snoqualmoo Pass; but he had concluded 
finally to go on foot, accompanied simply by Indian guides. This information was to me highly 
satisfactory; and, from Mr. Tinkham’s known energy of character, I believed he would com. 
plete the exploration in that quarter. Captain McClellan’s verbal narrative of his trip we 
reduced to writing. It is in substance as follows: 
CAPTAIN McCLELLAN’S TRIP DOWN THE SOUND. 
On December 23d Captain McClelland left Olympia in a canoe, with Mr. Minter and a &mall 
party, intending to make an examination of the Yakima passes from the west side, going by 
land from Steilacoom; but on arriving there he found it impossible to obtain land transporta- 
tion, the Indians representing the road as impracticable at this season. He therefore resolved 
to proceed to the falls of the Snoqualmoo river in canoes, and thence on foot as far as possible. 
Proceeding from Steilacoom up the sound, he reached the mouth of the Snohomish, distant 
sixty-five miles, on January 1, and, going up that river and its south branch, the Snoqualmoo, 
reached the falls on the Tth. 
No Indian could be persuaded to guide him further. The trail was entirely obliterated, and 
he therefore proceeded only a few miles further on foot. From the information obtained, there 
appeared to be no possibility of proceeding further than Lake Nooknoo; and as the barometer 
he had with him proved worthless, he concluded that no object would be gained by continuing 
onward which would compensate for the difficulties to be overcome. 
The Indians represented the snow to be up to the armpits at Lake Nooknoo, and as increasing 
in depth thence to the pass, at the summit of which it would be found to be twenty-five feet 
in depth. 
The Snohomish is navigable for small steamers for about twelve miles. Six miles further it 
forks, the Skywhamish, or north fork, being the larger of the two. The falls of the Snoqualmoo 
are estimated at nearly 150 feet in height, and are exceedingly beautiful. Similar falls exist at 
the foot of Lake Nooknoo, on the Skywhamish, the Stolukwhamish, and the Skagit. 
Captain McClellan intended then to continue the journey down the sound to Bellingham bay; 
but on arriving at MeDonough's island, on January 12, a severe snow-storm came on, with a 
gale, which prevented further progress. On the 14th he therefore turned back, =н теасһеа 
Olympia January 21, having been on the sound during the coldest period of the winter. 
MR. TINKHAM’S EXPLORATIONS FROM THE JOCKO RIVER TO SEATTLE. 
` Somewhat unexpectedly, but to our great delight, Мг. Tinkham arrived this evening un 
Olympia, having crossed the Snoqualmoo Pass on the 20th day of January, and finding Рк "x 
feet of snow for a short distance. Неге we had the actual depth of the snow as determined 
by admeasurement, as well as the judgment of one of the most intelligent and moe officers I 
ever knew, as to its depth, derived from Indian reports and statements; for, previous to the 
arrival of Tinkham, I had received Captain McClellan's report as to the probable depth of snow 
