Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-08-08
NO. H..
TO the Editor Of the PhGnir:
DUBUoUE, June 81, 1916.

DUBUQUE, June II, 1910.
On the eastern shore of Lake Pepin there
rises an immense perpendicular ledge, call
ed the Mdiden'S Rock, lifting its head in ma
iestic grandeur to the height, as estimated |
by some of our passengers, of nearly 400
feet. There is an Indian tradition connect |
ed with it, TO the effect, that certain Chief
tain's daughter, named Wenona, being about
10 be forced into marriage with another
than her chosen lover-and while the feast,
in honor Of the occasion, was all prepared in
the vale below, suddesly ascending this rock,
threw herself down from it aud was dashed to
pieces, in view of the whole assembled COM
pany. Underneath the rock the boat hove
TO for moment. that we might contemplate
the scene. Onthe shores of this lake, in low
water, are often found beautiful and valuable
apates, or, as they are commonly called here,
comedians. | have one which is very hand
some, and as large in circumference as
quarter of a dollar. We landed few mo-
men,s in search for them, but without sue
cess, as the water was too high.
After leaving lake Pepin, we landed at
large Indian settlement, called Redwlng's
village, where are congregaed about 300 Of
the Sioux tribe. They live in bark huts.-
Two missionary families reside among them,
who are supported by the Switzerland Mis-
sionary Society. The wife of one Of the
missionaries, with whom some Of our party
were acquainted kindly introduced us into
some of their houses, and enabled us to con-
verse with their inmates through her inter-
probation. To our surprise we here discov-
cred our Indian friend, who had been our
fellow passenger, sitting upon skin, the
worsted bag which had been given him
hanging in a prominent position from the
roof of his hut We were glad to hear an
excellent character Of him, and to have the
opportunity to commend him for his virtue,
in resisting the temptation to drink whiskey
on board the boat, and TO exhort him to per-
severe in his resolution to abstain from an in
diligence that has ruined so many thousands
of his race, as well as of our own. Soon af-
ter he Joined the temperance society, he was
taken sick, and as we were told, he imagined
that he was attacked by the Evil Spirit on
that account Great were the COMPUTATIONS
which were employed to effect his deliver
ance, and no little firmness was demanded
on his part to persist III his determination
When we see him, however, he was the pic
ture of health, and full of vigor, and had evi
IDENTIFY escaped, not only the power OF the
Evil Spirit who he imagined had tormentet
him, but the real, and far more terrible spiri
that dwels in the whiskey barrel, which The
cursed avarice of the white man has let loose
upon his countrymen. That "Invisible spir
it." which Shakespeare says, for want of
better name, we'll "call devil" We herr
learned the meaning Of the term DahcOtah
r. A. I'm 81
ni6es Friends" and is destined ere long Il
become the euphoneous cognomen of ney
Territory, and eventually Of powerful Stat
of our confederacy.
About fifty miles below St. Peters til
large river St. Croix enters the Mississippi
from the east 1t is noble stream and to
MANY miles above its mouth it expands int
large and beautiful lake called by the sam
name. At some distance above this lax
are the falls of ST. Crox, said to be quite
object of curiosity on account oftheir heigh
where are situated number of large sa
mills which manufacture large quantities
lumber, procured from the pneries abov
and which is RATED down the Mississippi IL
the supply of the towns upon its banks
MANY millions of feet are annually sold, an
OCCUPATION is thus furnished to several hum
reds of workmen, in the interior, and i
removed from civilization. At the mouth
the river, and on the point between lake 5
Croix and the Mississippi, is decidedly Il
most eligible site for a large town that
have ever seen. There is an excellent Ian
inc on two sides, and high table ofland
prairie. stretches away in the rear, sufficie
for the building of a city, and from whi'
there is delightful view of the lake on Il
north, and up and down the Mississippi.
must eventually be occupied by tow
commanding an extensive trade Alread
fifteen families are expected to settle there
the approaching autumn.
Soon after passing this point night oy'
took us, the second since we had emoarKe
and when we arose the next morning
found our boat moored in the mouth OF t
St Peters river, and Immediately beneath
walls of Fort Smelling, which crowns t
high promotory between that stream and
Mississippi We had arrived there about
O'Clock at night agreeably to the promise
the captain, who assured us that we shol
reach there before the Sabbath. We h
thus accomplished the voyage OF upwards
four hundred miles, against the current
Just forty-eight hours, including all the si'
pages. We had been out two days, c
whole night and part two other night
The scenery at this place is very fine;
Mississippi is contracted within the comp
of two or three hundred yards in width, W
hioh bluffs on the east. On the west is
extensive fiat prairie or bottom, thror