New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-27

IN Mineral Point, which We rescuoo Jus. e'o'
" The snow had ceWed about +. NJ, ou' tos
lind had veered to the northwest and bit shfewdly'
hi. Lat part Of our way lay In part across prauie'
,-As,e The NOW wss considerably drifted. l was not
sorry 10 see the end OF II
nodcevle il scattered village Of some five hun
a,,d beus, the focus Of practical mining operations,
and near the geographical center OF Iowa County
,boush the County bailGirgs are at Mineral Point,
,msrt village Of nearly thousand houses, situated
on the ,d.s of two interesting rayines and the level
plain above. Mineral Point is probably the Oldest
considerable settlement in Wisconsin, the emp ,run
NJ an extensive trade, and evinces thriit aud
activity.
Ileciured here on very short notice in the evening
Saturday and talked Temperance to a crowded
church-the largest in the place-on Sunday evening.
The day was cold, Blu. stll and bright, and the soo~
wasted q little on the warmer slopes. though,
had seen my worst of the journey, and made my ar
raneements TO start next morning by private convey
spce for Dubuque al miles with careless heart.
But le. no man bosst Of the morrow. Wa in the
middle Of my fret sleep when, at midniehf, heard
the wolfsh howl Of the prairie wind, and knew ct
opce that il was looking for me. All the rest OF the
light il kept up its wild moan and day broke sui
lenly On driving snow-storm, with the wind in the
west Jumped into the cutter ct u o'clock, in de-
fsnce Of confident predictions that would not see
Dubuque that day; but it was not till we rose the
hills and debouched on the open plain that fully
realized the kind Of day it was Toe first time We
struck the prairie my hat took ssouth eastward shoot
on its own account, and q wood-chopper, who hap
peped to be passing chased it instantly and sntrtly
for at least eighty rods, till it brought up In the
bushes to leeward. Our shre Eder horse decidedly OBJ
iected to standing still on the praiiie aud taking the
full force Of the s.orm while the Chase was proceed
ing but there seemed to be no alternative My hat
full Of letters aud papers took wide range and are
probably going yet.
Nine miles from the Point, we stopped to water lin
vain, for the snowbnd animals refused to drink
and improved the opportunity and did myself up
into much more serviceabe and satisfactory bundle
my hat under my feet and a warm blanket sw4thed
around my head and held by large scarf around my
neck. Thepceforward, though cold lsuered far less
than had previously done from the driving wind aud
snow. The storm seemed to redouble its fury as We
struck off across wide prsre some twelve or fifteen
miles en- our journey. Though the road is an import.
ant and muchraveled one, the newly fallen snow had
been drfted so as to conceal all trsce Of it for long
distance, while the binding storm quite hid any
landmarks that may ordinarily be visible, SO that my
experienced and sharp eyed guide was for time
completely at fault. After founderiDg in doubt for
come little time momentsi lul sho we'd house and
its surroundings not far ahead Of but these were
again obscured while we were within dozen rods Of
them, and il was some time before we could make
them out again. BY their help, recovered the TRAIL
and. pushing steadily On, at twenty five miles from
Mineral Point found at noon, the stage which had
started twelve hours before from Galena, fifteen N los
below, but had stopped here, embarrassed and given
il up Three miles further we stopped - rest aud
rub of our brave horses, now nearly covered with
snow; and here we found smother Galena stage
which had left that city in the morning, got mule
and half beyond this point thirteen and h.lf miles
in all tipped over with its nine passenger three of
them lsdies-one considerably hurt,) riebted up
sgsin and finally turned back and put up-the driver
asserting that be could not, in the absence Of any
track make out bis the prairie, though the
road was one he Travelled every day We left the stage
and its party here at p. NJ. when We csrted .2sip
after cpner and soon struck across from he Miaera
Point road to Gaens, TO the Dubuqus road from the
latter city, which we struck Just south Of Snsnnews
Mound where the Catholics have q college, church,
aid hamlet. This mound or natural elevation, can
be seen for long distance the prairie, and though
scarcely mile from the Mississippi, is one Of the
highest points for many miles away. As the storm
had Row ceased though the wind still strong and
bitter, we kept the mound generally in eight, and
found the road much better than the stories of
the teams,ers storm.stayed at the "T~elve Mule
"House" had led us 10 expect. Oace We missed
turn and went half mile wrong, but that was the
fault Of our own stupidity, for which blamed
else The sucker holes miners excavations) into
which we were told that We could hardly fail to
drive troubled us very little. And decidedly the worst
bit of road We found that day seven miles
Of the great highway from Edena to Dubuque. This
pssses up the Mississippi, some mile or two from its
bank, over broken, billy, thnly wooded country;
and here had fallen this day while the pre-
vious in the track had been trsddon into rotor
deep mire, rendering 1t necessary to multiply the
9Th of the route by the depth in order to determine
the actual distance, especially on runners. Never
thelees We crawed along, and ct little psst four
stood for the frst time beside tho Father Of Waters
covered with thick but not sound Toe for lsnx dis
lance below, well al the way above, and show.
ing strong, daik current for the few reds that the
Steam Ferry had cleared. The ferry. boat had to be
cut out Of the drift and fresh ice on the Dubuque side
before starting that day. and had not Jet touched the
Ilnos shore for the frst tine, when We came down.
BY five o'clock wss in Iowa, snugly quarered ct the
julien House." ready to lecture rather heavily 10
the evening; and now. should any friend ever 6na
hin self Mineral Point, but anxious TO be some-
where else Immediately, I moot heartily commend to
bin the livery Establishment Of Charlie Cox with the
owner propeller 1.-The and his teams cannot take you
tbr ugh in seassp, there Is use in trying. H.e.
WINTER PERILS OF OLD.
Looking through 9 copy of TIE Boasa Post Boy
and Adrerfeser. dated Feb. 8. i7Se-onjv 81 yesrs