New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-20


part of Minnesota il much the same with those ~
Iowa; they consist of q scattered growth OF OAKS
so low az to 7. sembe orchard trees, with little ol
no understood and rich carpf ting Oi ~Ild grass
unlike the piimeval forei Is OF the Eastern states,
and looking rather like country that has been
Inhabited and deserted. and is partially grown Wild
again, than n region newly redeemed from Indian
posses sion, and actually inhabited almost exclu-
siy-ly by the wild savage. There appears AN m
consistency between Its smooth and cultivated
aspe ct and the rude character vi the plnneer hats
seen occasionally. or the primitive Indian lodges
scattered at intervals. A sweeping range OF olulis
here begins on the Wisconsin side, their rugged
snmmits crowned with disc0lorrd masses OF rock.
A man was arrested at Prairie Ia Goose and
brought on board, who had escaped from st. PaIi
some davs before, having murdered his wife. The
officers in search of him had tracked him thlther,
and were now taking him back to Prison. tie
was permitted to sit on the forward deck, under
guard and bad soon a crowd about him, listening
to bis account OF the transaction. The ie0" nad
look of suen desperation, under which some
degree of fear was concealed, and seemed desIrous
Of gaining sympathy.
At several points the nights form an extensive
amphitheater the river bending to wind through
the valley. Opposite the mouth Of Black River,
at the base of a mountain, is the site OF the new
town OF Dahcotah, on the Minnesota side. Abeye
it rises n towering peak in the form OF a sharp
cone. few scattered houses may be seen, most
OF tntM destitute OF SDdue, llOugH u DcduJHut
grove is just at hand. There may be noticed the
common red cedar, mingled with the bright green
of the summer foliage, the first evergreen appa-
rent. The steep bluffs are grassy to their sum-
mits and partially covered with burr oak orchards,
broad levtl plain of the productive soil extend
ing FIVE or six miles back. Frowning lodges Of
rock, tuffed with foliage, give the Nights an as
pect of savage grandeur.
llereabOuts is the point where Lester, the
Sheriff of Crawford County in Wisconsin, on his
return from Lake Pepin to Prairie du Chen, was
shot by on Indian who hailed and asked him tor
food. His body foated ten miles below and was
found by the deputy, from whom | received the
account, among the willows. Some Indian ches
being captured as hostages, the murderer was de-
liyered up by the savages, but was acquitted tor
want of evidence the half-breed who had seen the
murder beng unable to identify him with sufficient
accuracy. This sad example of the troubles often
occurring on the frontier took place in 18Th, just
below "Catlin's Rock" so called from the artist
who wrote his name thereon. The shore is here
very romantic, girdled with ledge OF rock IN
which the water has worn shallow cayerns alter
mated with ragged points covered with groves OF
burr oak. The picture extends just above Mount
Trombolo into one OF the fine views on the river.
The spot is so named because the mountain APP
pears to be set in the river. The magnificent
range Of concal nights stretches as far northward
as the eye can reach, forming majestic amphI-
theater of peaks and the prairie on the Wiscon-
sin side extends to the rrombolo Riger Two
or three shatowy islands dropped IN the center OF
the foreground add to the beauty of the scene,
than which none more full Of sublimty and love-
illness ever employ ell an artists pencil.
Bonners Landing is the site of another new
town and the commencement OF Wabasha Frame.
Here is q road by lund hence to Traverse des
Sioux, about 100 miles distant, through uxuri
ant country. The grassy slope IS sprinked with
the shadows Of oaks, and cattle were grazing on
the rich wild grass.
| noticed a recognition here, or board the boat,
which much pleased ne. well.dressed man
accosted a gentleman by the name OF Oakes
resident of st. Paul, mentioned his own name, and
begged to express his gratitude for kindness rem
dered years before, in circumstances OF distress.
"You would not probably know me for the same, w.
he continued, 4" for was in rags when you assisted
me-" and thought the incident and his grateful
tones embodied one of the touching rOmances OF
real life.
A curious sugarloaf hill, looking as if split down
in the midst, here attracts attention among the
blush peaks in the distance. 1t has its exact
counterpart on the shore OF Lake Pepn; and the
legend is, that the entire mountain once belonged
to two Indian deitles, who, quareling, at length
they parted company and the hight, and one
brought his half to Wabasha. Further up, the
bluffs recede, and the beautiful prairie is bounded
by them in semi-circular range, being from half
mile to three miles in width, and shirted by q
sluggish stream, called slough" in western
parlance. There is an Indian settlement not far
of, and farmhouse where an old Indian was es-
tablished by Government after the treaty OF 1887,
for the cultivation Of land on the east side OF the
river.
A number of shanties are scattered over the
prairie, thrown up for the accommodation of q
colony of pioneers from New-York, who came sew
eral weeks since, and have laid ont the village Of
Wabasha. One lady, whose husband was among
them, merely on visit, however, came on the
al. Il l.,
Join him. She looked as cheerful as if she thought
pioneer expedition pleasant irolic, and took
her way across the prairie, accompanied only by a
few rustic children, while few barrels of flour,
and boxes of live fowls were put ashore for the
use of the emigrants. There is a white settlement
some six miles back. The rough cabins Of new
corners along the shore, built of logs, with mud
and stick chmneys, on the outside, are often
placed high up the hills and present a curious
sight in these park-like oak woods, which would
be in keeping with q cottage Ornee, elegant
country seat.
There is a beautiful view, below Whitewater, of
range of promontories and slets dottIng the
broad river IN most picturesque disposition. A
village called v abasba is a tract belonging
still to company Of Sioux half. breeds, the treaty
for its sale not having been ratified by Government.
few Canadians live there, and some educated
halfbreeds, whose houses are neatly painted and
surrounded with pretty gardens. These are inter-
spersed with the Sioux lodges, or tepeeS, as they
called built by covering poles with skins and
the narrow dug-out canoes used by sayages of that
tribe, who have not the birch bark, line the shore
At distance white flag waving over an enclo-
sure denotes the burial. ground, and an old frame
house, surmounted by cross, is the Catholic
church. This is four miles below the commence.
ment of Lake Pepn, that beautiful expansion OF
the nyer OF which so much has been said in
description and legend.
The islands here disappear and the increased
SVEN OF the waters show greater volume and
depth. Near the entrance is plateau on the
Wisconsin side, where, many years since, war
patty Of Chippewas, coming to look for Sioux,
killed several white traders. There is another |
legend connected with this locality, to which is
said to be owing the song Of the Indian sacred |
medicine dance. A Sank aud Sioux Indian were |
together in canoe, when they heard strain of |