The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-10
LIFE,IN THE WEST

On the 9Th inst. three Of our friends, two OF
whom are residents of long standing in this town,
set out on Journey, on foot, TO see the iana o.
promise on the north of the Wisconsin WIN
knapsacks on their backs, two with guns, a thiId
with an axe. and one with violin In addition TO
his equipment, 10 enliven their encampment, they
deemed themselves able and buoyaut enough TO
reach the Pacific ocean. Al Prairie du Chen
they were Joined by an acquaintance. AT that
town they found the sick 10 outnumber the wen:
and of the u. S. troops stationed there, one nun
dred were on the sick list. From thence they
struck for the Kickapoo country, which they Were
told was the finest country IN the world; abound
ing in bears, deer, rattlesnakes, and ltnihg
else that was charming. They walked, IN a
northeast direction, from dawn till dark finding
the country nothing but succession OF sharp
ridges and intervening hollows, nearly destitute
of timber. At night they camped out; but instead
of delicious slice of fat bear, or the sweet meat
of doe or fawn, they were faln to make supper
on prairie chicken pheasant, and TWO pd
geons-neither bears nor deer having been seen
the absence of the rattlesnakes was not regret
ed. On lying down 10 sleep one OF the company
expressed his fears of visit from the painters;
but another thought such visit would give them
an opportunity of having their licensees taken,
on explanation, il was understood that painters
were more plentiful than painters In such places.
One Of the party waking in the night, and md
ing himself benumbed with the cold, found that
his friend (who must have had the idea Of the
painter still in his head) had lnterposed himself
between the said party and the fire Now the
idea of putting your friend between you ana the
panthers is too much like politics so the fire was
renewed, places re-adjusted, and equal chances
Of being eaten up encountered. The next morn
ing they resumed their journey, and two hours
walk brought them to an abandoned indian VII
lage, delightfully."- situated on a bottom, contain
ing about quarter OF section OF land, which
was the only place they saw hit for settlement
Having seen enough Of the country, they con
cluded to return home by rafting down the Kick
apoo They made good raft OF four logs, on
which they embarked. The course Of the river
being very serpentine, they made but little pro
gress in direct line; and the river was so full OF
snags that one man was kept constantly at work
with pole in his hand, TO guide the raft clear OF
distractions They found the Kickapoo beau
ttul stream, about thirty feet wide, about four
teen feet wide in the shallowest places, and
flowing between two range OF mountains, or
bluffs from two to three hundred feet high. Al
night they encamped again, making grand sup
per on two pidgeons-half a bird piece. Next
morning
GAN hands unmoorl" the voyagers loudly cry;
"All hands unmoor," the governed rocks reply.
Having no food they tried the good effects of
equal to coffee and beefsteak Owing to the 81
strains of the violin, some other cause, the
man with the pole allowed the raft TO strike snag
when the whole concern foundered-guns, teapot,
tin cups, music-book and two pair OF boots,
which two of them had taken of, sunk or fioaled
off.
To scramble ashore, TO make a fire, to fish up
the two guns were easily accomplished; but TO
supply the loss of the boots not SO easy TO the
I-,l Gaat .tpp
made pair of moccasins, and the other his nd
die case, which was merely Bit of painted linen,
for the same purpose Hereafter let no persons
go to explore new country without fiddle, see
ing the many useful purposes to which it may be
applied. The first movement now was 10 ascend
the steep and rocky bluff, strewn with sharpfnts,
which inflicted painful bruises on the unprotected
feet of two of the party. A walk of few miles
brought them to a clearing, where they found a
family, the lady of which extended to them that
sympathy, which the absolutely faintng condi
ton of some Of them from the want of food rem
dered necessary. Here they found good com
forts for the inner man, which their kind hostess
spread before them refusing all payment until
it had been pressingly offered 10 her.
They then directed their march to ferry across
the Wisconsin, and from thence took the road
for Lancaster, lodging one night at house by
the way. Arrived at Lancaster, they were hos
pitaby entertained, and furnished with such
shoes and socks as their crippled condition ena-
bed them to wear The next morning brought
them to Platteville, having been absent eight
days.
Here was a party Of strong and hardy young
gentlemen one at least Of whom is thorough
backwoodsman going hardly more than days
journey bes ond the frontier settlements, and yet
by trihing accident were reduced to the stua-
ton of shipwrecked mariners. Their own
count of their difficulties, of which this is brief
outline, has caused deal of mirh in Platteville,
and none seems to enjoy the laugh more than
themselves Northern Badger, PiatteriHe,
Wisconsin,