The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-09-06
From the Hamilton lOhiol Telegraph.
ST.. PAUL, MIsNEsoTA TERRINoRy, !
Iulv 1910

NIX. EDITOk.-l am SditlN IUOUTtu III
this place in good health. You may recol-
lect left my home on Monday morning
the 18th ult., passed by the omnibus TO the
city of Cincinnati, where | remained, get
ting ready for shipment various articles of
furniture, stationery, &C., until Thursday,
when got in the cars for Sandusky City
arrived there in due time, nothing transpi-
ring on the way worth relating. | had,
however, the pleasure of the company of
Judge Mclean and lady, aud also Judge
Wood, Judge Mclean was on his way 10
Detroit 10 hold term of the Circuit Court
of the United States. need not describe
to you the locality of Sandusky City, stu
ated as il is in Ohio, with the broad Lake
spread out before it and covered with
steamboats,, schooners, &c. The immense
waters struck me with some surprise and
much interest. had never seen Lake Erie
and Sandusky Bay, although native of
Ohio, with every convenience and facility TO
get from Hamilton To it. We passed The
night comfortably at Sandusky--next morn
ing went on board "A steamer, aud was about
seven hours going over the Lake to Detroit.
This is one of the oldest points of settle
ment IN the uorth-we>t-perhaps ii is one
hundred and fifty years since the French
first located here, about the year l70l-and
how numerous ana diversified are the incl
dents compressed within the period Of its
existence. No place presents such series
of events interesting in themselves, and SO
permanently affecting, as they occurred, its
progress and prosperity. Five times its
flag has changed; three different sovereign
ties have changed It's allegiance, and Since
1t has been held by the United States, its
government has been thrice transferred
twice 1t has been besicged by the Indians,
once captured in war, and once burned to
the ground. 1t as 10 be hoped that its chap
ter Of accidents has closed, and that its
advancement will be hereafter unnterrupt-
ed. Ii now contains d population of over
10000 inhabitants, is beautifully built up,
situated on the right bank of one of the
most beautiful rivers in the world-Detroit
river, which is two miles wide, and deep
enough for the largest water craft The
steamboats,, ships and schooners, moored in
the harbor fronting town, present very
interesting and business-like appearance.
There are two or three steam ferry boats
plying between Detroit and Windsor, on
the Canada side, every hour in the day
From this point there Is what is called the
."Michigan Central Railroad" to New Buff
ialo on Lake Michigan, 800 miles. The
traveller is about seventeen hours by this
railroad and the Lake, in going to Chicago.
The depot and buildings of this company,
will iayorably compare, for elegance, capa-
city and cost, with any similar establishment
In the L nted States; it is said to be the
largest. Detroit is much of city and has
all the conveniences aud comforts that hap
pity population. The corner stone, upon
which any people can we'll and safely build,
is broadly and deeply laid. Churches and
schools are numerous; every denomination
of Christians appear to have a foothold
We passed Sunday here and attended the
church of the COngregatonalists. French
German, and Irish Catholics are numerous,
and indeed throughout the Lake country aud
the Upper Mississippi. The Catholics
having been the pioneers and first settlers in
this range OF country, it may be justly
said of them that the whole history of hu-
man character furnishes no more illustrious
examples of selfdevotion than are to be
found In the records of the establishments
of the Roman Catholic Missionaries, whose
faith and iervor enable them to combat the
difficulties around them in life, or 10 triumph
over them III death.
From Detroit we chose TO go by steamer
through Lakes St. Clair, Huron and Mchi-
gan to Chicago, which takes more time
than by railroad route, but the interest crea-
ted in passing the Lakes more than paid for
the extra time. We had Oh board from / so
to 200 passengers, and were blessed with a
smooth sea aud pleasant voyage--passIng
on our way several towns near the Lakes,
which you observe on Inspection OF the
map. We came TO and landed at MichlIi-
mackinac-a word ! used to have great
trouble In spelling, and more in proBouncing,
when boy AT school; but the Improvement
of the age aud the onward progress of sci
ence has authorised the spelling agreeably
to the pronunciation, so you may now spell
the word Alacinaw, and 1t will not he con-
sldered bad spelling or All determination. -
Well, Macinaw is Fort situated on very
picturesque and quite romantic island in the
''midst of the Ocean," niue miles ia cir
conference, with a thousand inhabitants.
Michk imackluac IN the language of the
ChlppeWas,nailans signifies Tortoise, and
the place is supposed 10 have received its
name from an island lying about SIX or sew
en- miles TO the northeast, within sight of
the Fort, which has the appearance of that
animal. MacInaw is an old fertilization.
About the year l163 1t was taken by sur
prise by the Indians-they having settled
their plan, drew near the Fort, began a
game of ball, pastime much used among
them and not unlike tennis. 10 the very
height of the game they struck the ball as If
by accident, over the stockade; this was re-
peated two or three times to make the de-
ceptiou more complete, till at length having
lulled every Suspicion of the sentry. party
rushed by and the rest following they took
possession of the Fort without meeting with
any opposition. @
Sheboygan is situated on Lake Michigan
10 the State of Wisconsin, aud contains
some four or five thousand Inhabitants, sur
rounded principally by German popuia-
ton. Milwaukee also upon the Lake, and
is very fourishing and well built place,
with IL or 10000 inhabitants. We arrived