Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-10-18


to an admirable one, and it rode on
the waves like water-bird; but at the
same time it was extremely slow in its
progress. When we were little more
than half way across the reach two of
the divisions, between the cylinders
gave way, and it required the constant
use Of the bellows to keep in a suffi-
cient quantity of air. For a long time
we scarcely seemed to approach our is
land, but gradually we worked across
the roughcr sea of the open channel in
to the smoother water under the lee OF
the island; and began to discover that
what we took for long row of pelicans
ranged on the beach were only low
cliffs whitened with salt by the spray
of the waves; ana about noon we reach
ed the shore, the Transparency of the
water enabling us to see the bottom at
considerable depth.
sit was a handsome broad beach
where we landed. behind which the
hill, into which the island was gather
ed, rose somewhat abruptly; and a
point of rock at one end enclosed it in
a sheltering way; and, as there was an
abundance of drift wood along the
shore, it offered US pleasant encamp-
ment. We did not suffer our fragile
| boat to touch the sharp rocks; but,
getting overheard, discharged the bag
gage, and, lifting it gently out of the
water. carried it to the upper part OF
the beach, which was composed very
small fragments Of rock. /,
carrying with us the barometer and
other instruments, in the sfternoon we
assembled to the highest point OF the Is
Iand-a bare rocky peak, eight hun
dred feet above the lake. Standing
on the summit, we enjoyed an cxtcn-
ed view OF the lake, enclosed in a basin
of rugged mountains, which sometimes
left marshy flats and extensive bottoms
between them and the shore, and in
other places came directly down into
the water with bold and perceptions
bluffs.
Following with our glasses tte irreg-
nlar shores, we searched for some in
dications of a communication with 9th
err bodies Of water, or the entrance Of
other rivers, but the distance was so
great that we could make out no.
thing with certainty. To the south
ward, several peninsular mountains,
three or four thousand feet high, enter
ed the lake, appearing, so far as the
distance and our position enabled us
to determine, to be connected by flats
and low ridges to mountains in the
rear. Although these are probably
the islands usually indicated on maps
cf this region as entirely detached
from the shore, we have preferred to
represent them precisely as we were
enabled to sketch them on the ground,
leaving their more complete delinea-
ton for further survey. At the sea-
son Of high waters in the spring, it is
probable that all the marshes and low
grounds are overlooked. and the sur
face of the lake considerably greater.
In several places the view was OF un-
limited extcnt-here and there rocky
islet appeared above the top OF the wa
ter at a great distance; and beyond,
every thing was vague and underlined.
As we looked over the vast expanse
OF water spread out beneath US, and
strained our eyes along the silent shores
over which hung so much doubt and
uncertainty, and which was SO full of
interest to us. could hardly repress
the almost irresistible desire to contin-
ue our exploration; but the lengthen-
ing snow on the mountains was plain
indication of The advancing season, and
our fraiI linen boat appeared so inse-
cure that was unwilling to trust or
Lives to the uncertainties Of the lake.
therefore unwillingly resolved TO ter
inmate our survey here, and remain
satisfied for the present with what we
had been able to add to the unknown
geography Of the region. We felt
pleasure also in remembering that we
were the first who, in the traditionary
annals of the country, had visited the
islands, and broken, with the cheerful
sound of human voices, the long soll-
tude of the place. From the point
where we were standing the ground
fell of on every side to the water, CIV
ing Us "a perfect view of the island,
which is twelve or thirteen miles in
circumference, being simply a rocky
hill, on which there is neither water