Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-09-24
EXCURSION UP WOLF RIVER.

EXCURSION UP WOLF RIVER.
At the present time, no traveller in Northern
Wisconsin considers his journey complete with
out visiting the Wolf River country. Though
the Wolf is the longest navigable stream in
Wisconsin, comparatively few have ascended to
its head waters-or, we may say, have even seen
this river.
As no regular line of boats is yet established,
the traveller may have to wait at Oshkosh long
er than what the journey may seem worth. We
were at Oshkosh in warm July day, and as our
party had determined to ascend the Wolf, we
prepared to go the best way that we could
The John MITCHELL usually makes one trip n
week as far as Mukwa--the new county seat of
Waupaca-60 miles above Oshkosh; yet as it
was not certain when she would leave, we con-
cuded to take Fox River steamer as far as
as Butte des Morts, and from thence by a sail
boat, and GO up as far as our strength and pluck
would bear. Our company (seven in number)
made formidable preparations Each one SEEM
ed determined to dress rs outre as possible, as
if we were going out of civilization. A mer-
chant of Oshkosh who was an old traveller and
used to roughing it in all parts of Wisconsin,
acted as Commodore, in laying in prorant, &c;
and as most of the company carried rifles and
knives, when we came to embark we looked very
much like departing band of Californians.-
There seemed to me more danger that by some
accident, they would shoot each other rather
than game-large quantities of which in imagin-
alton they expected to pile up, but which they
did not obtain.
The steamer left us at Butte des Morts-S
miles above Oshkosh-a beautifully located vii
lage on the brow of the hills which here skirt
the Fox. After deal Of annoyance, we sue
ceeded in chartering boat sufficiently strong,
but too heavy and luggish to ascend against
such current g miles an hour) as we had to
encounter. We left Butte des Morts at o.
clock in the afternoon, and yet by means of
sails and oars we did not accomplish the dis
tance (3t miles) to Winnec0nne, the next land
ing, until half-past 5. A mile per hour was
rather discouraging progress, and after tugging
at the oars and putting like grampus, we be-
gan to feel that we had undertaken no holiday
excursion, and more than one of the company
wished himself back in Oshkosh
At Winneconne, we found good quarters at
the hotel. After swim in the Wolf, (Which
on account of its great depth-from to 40 feet
lis delightful place to bathe) and substan.
tial supper, we began to discuss the prOpriety
of attempting night journey on the river. The
wind seemed favorable to use The sail and as we
had hired two men to row, under the assurance
of gentleman who resided at Fremont, Cs
miles above,) the next landing, that he could
guide us by night and be there at farthest by
o'clock, we finally concluded to undertake q
night journey on the Wolf, in a country so ut.
terly wild, that if we lost our way we must lay
on our oars all night. We were much induced
to embark by the annoyances of the clouds OF
mosquitoes which here, as elsewhere along this
river, during the summer, at nightfall seemed to
rouse up from every inch of the earth, and al.
most darken the atmoshere. In going to the
boat, it was considered necessary to protect the
face by smoking, and such putting and blowing
of cigar smoke was comical to even an old
smoker. After we were fairly embarked, and
in the middle of the river with favoring wind
we found the night sail very pleasant. We pass.
ed through Lake Winneconne--a mere spread.
ing of the Wolf-and about IL o'clock at night
got into lake Powaygona,one corner OF which il
was necessary for us to pass through After
sailing an hour with breeze the more grateful
after the oppressive heat of July day, we were
all congratulating ourselves on the rapid prog.
ress (which we had made, and the absence of the
dreaded mosquito--but we rejoiced too soon.-
The wind died away, and we were compelled to
use the oars; Our guide also began to jump up
uneasily ard peer about in the darkness of mid.
night as if he was not sure that he was in the
right course. After rowing some time longer
the guide was compelled to announce that "we
had lost our way" and that we must put back
This announcement made US feel that we were
in !" fix" and that if we got out of this scrape
safely, it should be our last night journey. AZ
ter changing and beating about for another hour
the guide stated that we were so much out OF
the way, that we must lay becalmed until NOR.
ming. Motion, even when on the wrong route
was pleasant; but when the boat was suffered
to ground in one of the bayous, we began to
feel that this was rather more than we expected
to find on our journey. II also happened that
the boat had drifted into one of those bayous