Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-10-18
VOL. III.
hat. instead Of being strongly sewed,

tuIl, luStedO vi uciuS ShiouS'y SC"Sos
like that of the proceeding year. which
had so triumphantly rode the cannons
of the Upper Great Platte our present
boat was only pasted together in a
very insecure manner. the maker hav-
ing hecn allowed so little time in the
cons ruction, that he was obliged to
crowd the labor Of two months into
several days.
"The insecurity Of the boat was SEN
sibly felt by US; and, mingled with the
enthusiasm and excitement that we all
felt at the prospect of an undertaking
which had never before been accom-
plishcd, was certain impression OF
danger, sufficient to give serious char
abter to our conversation. The mo-
mentary view which had been had OF
the lake the day before, its great ex-
tent and rugged islands, dimly seen
amidst the dark waters in the obscur-
ity of the sudden storm, were well cal
culated to heighten the idea of unde-
fined danger with which the lake was
generally associated.
"Septcmber ga calm. clear day,
with sunrise temperature OF Al /.
In view Of our present enterprise, a
part Of the equipment Of the boat had
been made to consist in three air-tigEt
bags, about three or four feet long, and
capable each Of containing five gallons.
These had been filled with water the
night before, and were now placed in
the boat, with our blankets and instru-
ments, consisting Of a sextant, telescope,
spy-glass, thermometer, and barome-
ter.
son September 9, the day was clear
and calm; the thermometer at sunrise
at 40 Q. AS is usual with the trappers
on the eve of any enterprise, our peo-
pie had made dreams. and theirs hap
pened to be bad one one which al
ways preceded evil-and consequently
they looked very gloomy this morning.;
but we hurried through our breakfast
in order to make an early. start, and
and have all the day before us for our
adventure. The channel in short
distance became so shallow that our
navigation was at an end, being merely
sheet of soft mud, with few inches
Of water, and sometimes none at all,
forming the low water shore Of the lake.
All this place was absolutely covered
with focks Of screaming plover. We
took off our clothes, and. getting over
board. commenced dragging the boat
making by this operation a very Gu
rious trail, and very disageeabe smell
in stirring up the mud, as we sank
above the knee at every step. The
water here was still fresh, with only an
insipid and disagreeabIe taste, proba-
bly derived from the bed of fGLid mud.
After proceeding in this way about a
mile, we came TO a small black ridge
on the bottom, beyond which the wa
ter became su denly salt, beginning
gradually 10 deepen. and the bottom
was sandy and firm. 1t was remark
able division. separating the fresh wa
ter of the rivers from the briny water
of the lake, which was entirely satura-
ted with common salt. Pushing our
little vessel across the narrow bounda-
~, we sprang on board, and at length
we're afoat on the waters Of the I'M
known sea.
1--WE did not steer for the mountain
GUS island. hut directed our course to a
lower one, which it had been decided
we should first visit, the summit OF
which was formed like the crater at
the upper end of Bear river valley. So
long as we could touch the bottom with
our paddles we were very gay; but
gradually as the water deepencd, we
became more still in our frail battcau
of gum cloth distendcd with air and
with pasted seams.
"Although the day was very calm,
there was a considerable swell on the
lake; and there were white patches OF
foam on the surface. which were slow
ly moving to the southwark, indicating
the set of a current in that direction,
and recalling the recollection of the
whirlpool stories. The water contin-
ued to deepen as we advanced. the lake
becoming almost transparantly clear,
Of an extremely beautiful bright green
color; and the spray. which was thrown
into the boat and over our clothes, was
directly converted into crust Of COM
men salt, which covered also our hands
arms. "Csptain," said Carson, who
Or snnnn time had been looking snspi-