Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-09-07
NJ | S G. e LII A \ Y,
SCENES IN THE FAR WEST.


The following letter descriptive of the RED PIPE
MOUNTAIN, was written by GEORGE CATLIN, the
celebrated American painter in 1886.
Dear Sr:-Since left you have been
through variety OF scenes of tolls and
hardships, yet OF pleasure and satisfaction.
The Red Pipe Mountain which told you
was one Of the principal objects Of my
summers campaign, | have seen, and
from it am now vending nv way back
again, and with good luck shall be able
to reach your beautiful city in few days
after the receipt Of this letter. At that
time can give more Of detail, but at pre-
sent, in brief, a few ideas Of this strange
anomaly in nature, and the mode in which
we approached it. | mean the Pipe Stone
Quarry, on the COuteau de Prairie-anO-
maous, in as much as it is the only local
ity Of this mineral known Of, and located
on the summit Of the Coutcau du Prairie
ono Of the submest scenes in nature
ut the distance Of about $50 miles n. w.
Of the Falls Of St. Anthony; which dis
lance is one of almost entire prairie and
richest soil. We commenced rising the
grand swels Of the Cou;cau, and for the
distance Of forty miles we graduaIiy rose,
swell above swell, and terrace above ter
race, where for the whole distance not
tree, nor a bush. nor Il weed, was to be
seen. A beautiful green turf covers the
whole distance, the grass Of which is not
more than 3 or 4 inches in height, and
green and soft to the eye as velvet. When
lifted To It's very extremity, one seems to
stand almost in the clouds, and behold
around him the most extended and magnl-
fccnt panorara Of countless hills, and
mounds, and plains, that multiply and di-
minish in distance to inGnity. The whole
of this vast landscape is without tree or
heritage, save the grass which covers ev-
cry thing like a carpet ofgrccn velvet.
On the very top Of this ridge, which di-
vdrs the waters Of ST. Peters from the
Missouri, is situated, (by some freak of
.atuIe which is difficult to understand
the quarry Of the Red Pipe Stone. There
is something so exceedingly pretty and
picturesque in the appearance Of the place
itself. that it cannot be described; which
together with the exquisite beauty Of the
stone. aud tnc interesting tales. mysteries;
AND traditions rc,atiog to il. viii be rich
subjects for the labogs bo'h Of my brush
and pen. which | may hereafter use for
the instruction and entertainment Of the
world. The quantity of stone that might
hc procured is almost without limits, and
its exceeding beauty can only be known
bV the examination of specimens which |
shall bring with me. That part which the
Indians use, (and which only they will
use) is deep red entirely inferior in beau
ty and richness to those parts which are
yaricgatcd with almost the colors Of the
rainbow.
The singular appearance Of prccpice,
two miles in length and 30 feet high, in the
midst Of this smooth and stonelcss region
Of green fields, is Of itself striking object
to look upon; and when that perpendicular
ledge is contemplated and viewed as it is.
of all colors and polished by the action Of
the air upon il, as if a liquid glazing had
been poured over it, one stands filled with
wonder and admiration.
The Indians have an idea that this red
stone is part Of their flesh, that they
were created from it, and that it would be
Sacrilcgious and impious to COVE it to
any other use than the pipe, which is used
for pcacc-making and concIiating the
Great Spirit.
These feelings so wrought upon them
that when we were passing through vii
lage Of theirs ut and near the Traverse d.
Loix, $50 miles from The quarry, they as
sembleG in numbers around US, and made
us prisoners, lavished their threats upon
us in every possible (orm-tclling us that
the Sioux had altogether in council resolved
that no white man should ever go there
They threatened to kill our horses, and
even ourselves, if we undertook to go on
We persisted, however, n the determjna
ton 10 go on, even at the risk of our lives.
which we did (alter being detained for
some time) though they sent expresses
ahead Of us, making us trouble and veXa-
ton by their threats, and cries, and groans
at every village through which we passed.
They considered ii an invasion Of their re-
ligous privileges, and consequently were
greatly distressed. We said every thing
we could to convince them that our views
were friendly, and that we went to crafty
our curiosity, instead OF going (as they
said) 20 see what it was worth We did
not satisfy them, bat we reached the place
with much difficulty, and satisfied ourselves
for all the trouble and toll Of a summers
campaign. shall in some form or other
give the speeches Of these Cloths and Van
dals, as they were thrown in our faces,
and also many other Of their traditions and
supcrsttions which will be curious.
In haste, your friend.
GEORGE CATIIN