The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-02-12

Id died howlng but prettier or clearer ngnt never
as made. ..t -..f.4
falling water5 etc. Being Sunday, we re-
of our horses broke their lariats and ran
homewarils sat the top of their speed, but
were caught, most fortunately for US, by the
Dragoons at their camp twelve miles behind
US. Had they not been there, we should
have been obliged to have followed the
beasts clear back to Sauk Rapids, ere we
could have overtaken them.
To-day our French Canadians and half
breeds, who have charge Of the provision
and baggage carts, have been shooting pig
cons, ducks, etc., also making new cart
axles, and the day has not seemed much
like Sunday. Yesterday P. NJ, while sew
eral of US were riding on ahead, we started
upa skunk, along the road, and Immediate
ly gave chase, when such sbying and dodg-
ing, to keep to the windward of the beast
was never seen before. We nearly rolled
off our horses with laughter. Now came
the Doctor, siding up very cautiously, and
fred two shots with a revolver, then beat a
precipitate retreat, as the skunk fired nj
him. Lord then pranced up on Billy, and
fired one shot ut the spot where it smelt the
loudest, then turned tail, too, and fed. Ga
to finally despatched the varmint with
ton,abawk. a....
MONDAY, 25th.-Up and away early;
once more upon the road, once more; had
a very fine ride Of fourteen miles, to White
Bear Lake, as it is called, from the fact Of
White Bears being so plenty, perhaps. This
is a beautiful Lake, eight miles long aud
several wide; the banks Of woodland and
rolling prairie. We halted on the North
shore, about one mile distant, for several
hours. Dined on roast skunk, (not the one
killed on Saturday, though,) ducks, and
prairie hens, ham, pork, &c. Some of the
party are very fond of skunk, either roast
ed, fried or stewed. aud attribute the pecu-
liar smell of the meat to the fact that the
animal lives on garlic--a very ganAcky ex-
PLANTATION!
In the afternoon we rode to Pike Lake,
twelve miles further; we reached it at sun
down and found a very beautiful spot, in
deed; and heavily wooded around a portion
of its banks The Lake is full Of Pike fish,
hence its name, which was given to u by
Capt Pope. The Dragons are encamped
quite near US, having been ahead all day.
Mosquitoes are very bad, although the
weather is quite cold and bracing. The
country passed over to day was rolling
prairie, with small streams Of water running
through the ravines; all Of which are tribu-
iary to the St. Peters. Tonight our carts
failed to reach us. and remained about four
miles behind. Fortunately, Brown came
riding up at dark and informed Us of the
fact, and also brought two wild geese and
some prairie hens along. The latter, and
one goose wree roasted, as we sat budding
round the fires, (for the evening air was
cold and were devoured with great gusto;
a little boiled ham, salt and hard bread
were obtained from the Dragons, which
added additional zest to the camp fire meal.
Some of US then betook ourselves 10 the
Dragon Camp and slept in tents; the rest
disposed themselves around the fire, and in
the carriage and SO passed the night, DIR.
Foster for one, half frozen; and this is life
upon the prairie; right ready and willing
are we to make the best ofevery thing, and
suit ourselves to circumstances. fs. Ir
TUESDAY, 26th.-Up early aud break
TASTED with the Dragons, on cup Of cof-
fee and piece Of hard bread. The morning
very cold for the season. Over-coats ne
cessary, and all hands sitting around the
fires. Wind East, and very fresh, fine,
bracing, morning, the best for travelling we
have vet had. The carts soon arrived and
passed on ahead, and at 8 A. M. we fol-
Gua
arrived at Elk Lake, and stopped to feed
and dine upon the prettiest spot we have
vet seen. Il was upon the Western bank
Of the Lake, upon knoll, high above the
water; the banks Of the Lake being high
and covered with skirt of woodland; the
waters, agitated by strong breeze, rolling
wildly below. This lake is some two miles
! long, and full of head lands, and small isles
ali heavily timbered. A most charming
spo, for a residence when the country be-
comes once settled; at present the whole
place is wild and beautiful. Since writing
the above, the rest of our party have arriv-
ed, and find il is not eek Lake," but one
new to all the party, aud to US nameless.
Gov. Ramsey therefore called il Lake Fill :.
more, in honor of the PRESIDENT; quite a
compliment, too, by the bye, considering
that il is much the finest Of the kind we
have yet seen. We had very good din
ner, today, consisting of bouillon, made
/, of geese, ducks, &c., with ham, pork, cof-
fee, bread and butter, &c. This afternoon
we pursued very circuitous road over a
more rough and rolling country than we
} have yet passed; broken by deep ravines
} and full Of Lakes, ponds, &c. Some of the
} Lakes were very beautiful; our road pass
/, ed over the outlet Of one Of them at its
mouth, where it poured over the rocky bot
tom and formed creek thirty feet in width.
J At sun down we reached the banks of
large creek or perhaps of the Chippewa riy-
or and after crossing found Tire Dragons en-
canped on the open prairie, on the western
bank. We also carpped near them, and
J had wood and good water plenty. Our
march to-day was about twenty miles,
, though SO circuitous that doubt il we made
. more than ten miles on our regular. course.