Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-09-09

we extract the 1oiioWing matter from let-
letter recently received, by gentleman of our
village. from Rober, Fl. CLARK, one OF the Lake
Superior sdventurers; dated
LA POINT, July 18th, IS43,
We lef. the falls Of ST. Croix on the Sd OF
June. and after tedious, troublesome and
dangerous voyage, arrived in this place in
twenty-five days. There being no bark ca
noes at the Falls, we make purchase of a boat,
in which we conveyed freight, including cur
selves of about 5000 lbs. This was the frs.
boa, that ever attempted the trip from the Falls
TO La Point. The Indians made the voyage
with bark canoes without loading. Bat we
were determined to make the trial notwi'h-
standing the advice OF many against 1t. We
trisd we succeeded, hut it took large quanii-
ties Of armstrong power, backed up with de-
termination 10 do or die. will try to give
YOU some idea of The difficulties we had to en-
counter. The ST. Croix river, at the falls, is
about GOO yards wide. and is a stream of con-
siderable size at its head ,whichis lake 6 miles
long. IL wide, l40 miles from the Fals..--
This river has very strong current, indepen-
dent OF the many rapid. which are from 10
rods to 4 miles in length; some Of them look
quite frightfnl, dashiug and plunging over the
rocks-nol like Niagara, nor like the soap suds
in a wash dish, but something between the
two Over these places we had 90 pull our
boat with ropes, ourselves sometimes in the wa
ter, sometimes out, and always having The good
tact To keep our boat right side up. The banks
Of the river on either side, are covered with
timber: white birch, spruce, tamarack. pine.
ir and quakiag asp; thickened up with under
brush, thai 10 many places render it impossi-
BILE for man TO travel on foot. Back from the
river TO IL miles, it is sandy plain with
scattering pitch pine. There are neither noun
,ains or bluffs The whole length of this river.
At the head of 81. Croix is portage of ? l2
miles to Burnt Wood Bots Brute J River.
Tile ridge between the rivers. at the summit.
mus, be abou, $50 feet. There is 10 or Is To-
dian families living at this portage, who have
planted potatoes and corn. 1t took Of Us
and Indiansu l.2 days to make this portage
with our boat and provision. Burnt Wood
river, where we started. is not more than feet
wide and inches deep.-Ne had TO build a
dam to raise tae water. aud wait one day be-
fore we could star, Gown. This river is about
so miles long. and forty miles of i, very rapid
...many places nigh, be called falls. We had
Ave poTiases 10 make on This river from loo
rods 10 one aud halfmile 10 length. There ere
no Indians living on this river or near il. We
caught any quantities Of speeklej trout in this
stream. Il is. on an average about half as
large as the ~. Croix. The moua;h Of this
river is 65 miles sfom La Point. never was
more pleased than with my FIRST view of Lake
Superior, though the wind was blowing and
water roaring at frigh,ful rate. We lay wind
bound days q, the month Of Burnt Wood riv-
er. aad the next two days we rOwed 10 L.
Poi0l.
The Island Of la Pointe is about Is miles
long. and or wide-lyiog north and south;
It's surface is generally low. swsmPy Land.
and the best Of il is eo.d we. soil. The
Tewn is on the extreme south end, where there
is ,olerable good harbor. ! an tod that
,here are busfew good harhors on the lake. ihs
bes, are Copper iarbor. a, Ia Potato. kewy-
wesnon. Rock Harbor :, Isle Royal and l.
Poin,e. Ths town Of Ls Poiass, At present.
is poor. miserable. starved plsce; comprising.
.srelusive Of bu,s. two store houses, snj four
empty warehouses, belonging &c TIE American