The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-05-23
Written for the Pioneer.
-. Paul and Lake SUPERIOR.

route could not be found than the one usually
travelled wiz: the Saltwater and st. Croix
routc,) between st. Paul and Lake Superior.
had for long time engaged the attention of
very many of our citizens on glancinc
at the map, and drawing an imaginary line
from st. Paul to the St. Louis Bay or River,
1t will be seen that the distance between the
two places is about one hundred and thirty
miles whereas, by way of Saltwater, with
the circuitous windings of the st. Crox, and
partly through the State of Wisconsin, it is
not far short of one hundred and eighty miles.
The whole question, therefore, to solve was.
what kind of country is there between St.Paul
and Lake Superior in north or little east
of north course and however remarkable it
may appear, while almost every other portion
of the Territory was being explored by the
energetic pioneers, yet this route, destined to
be the main outlet and inlet for nearly all our
imports and exports to or from Europe and
the Eastern cities, was in oblivion, and ma
jority Of the people Of the Territory were in
utter ignorance as to its adaptability for any
purpose whatever. In fact, the old French
population had no knowledge Of the nature of
the country north Of the Rice Lakes, and had
been content to settle in and around the neigh
bOrhOod Of Little Canada, cultivate their little
patches Of land, hunt and fish, and were happy
in that State. 1t was left to another race to
solve and determine the problem, whether the
Creator of the Universe had placed that great
inland sea, Lake Superior" where it is for no
purpose, cncompassed and braced around, as it
actually is,with inexhaustible mines of "copper"
iron and other ores, or whether our lovely Ter
ritory was not indissolubly linked with the
Lake by the same Great Power" for the
aIl-wisc purpose of benefitting mankind and es-
pecially the people Of Minnesota. Common
sense answers Yes, to the latter and with the
mind. the bone and sinew OF almost every
cline. for such are the component parts of
Minnesota citizens, it was impossible that the
public could be kept very long in ignorance
Oh SO important a subject For the pur-
pose OF ascertaning the nature and quality of
the timber and soil, as well as the feasibility of
making road from ST. Paul to Lake Superior
Oh cold bleak morning, in the fall of 1854,
A1cssrs. c. r. Conway, James Starkey, --
Stokes and others, left their homes and pro-
cecded as far as the Rice Lakes and stopping
at the house Of Mr.. Travers, who resides on
the banks Of one Of the lakes, they were as.
tonished to hear that he had SO little know-
edge Of the country around him. In fact, Mr.
Conway had some difficulty in learning from
Mr.. Travcrs where the trail struck off leading
to what was known to the French and HALF
Breeds as Three Pine Lake, and Sunrise The
party then proceeded about three miles farther
north the same evening, and encamped in a
small grove Of pin oaks. The wind at the
time was blowing fresh and cold, and it unior-
tunatcly being nearly dark when they arrived,
they had very little time for choice Of location
for wood, and, as it turned out, it was not one
of the happiest places in the world. After
lighting fire and partaking of some eatables,
and securing the poor horses who were Shiy-
ering from the effects of the change from .
warm stable to the cold northern blast, the
"Caiieu party, having SUM up . CIUtu w
break the wind from their heads, laid them
selves down to rest, with the broad canopy OF
heaven standing ont in bold relief as each in
his turn cast his eyes upwards, and, no doubt,
felt thankful for his safety thus far. They
ware not, however, allowed to enjoy sleep long
or TRANQUILITY, for shortly after, most terrific
storm of wind, rain and hail arose. finishing
off with goodly fall of snow. 1t is not the
intent of the writer to become tedious, and it
will be sufficient to say that a more horrible
night none of the party ever spent in their
lives before. 1t was with the greatest difficult
ty they kept from freezing which they escaped
by taking it in turns to chop, carry and pile
on the fire, all the miserable wood they could
, in the dark, by the sense of feeling alone, dis
cover. In the morning the party divided -
some set out on foot, while others stayed with
the team. After travelling several miles, over
a country as level as a floor. skirted on the
east and west with belts Of timber they halted
and encamped on the north of Three Pine
Lake, in beautiful grove of heavy timber,
and during their stay, which was several days,
cases of peril and hardship occurred to some
of the party which for the time caused consid-
cradle anxiety and trouble but as the present
object is to condense, yet give short history
of this route from its inception by those en-
gagged in it down to its completion, the details
of the calamities above referred to must neces-
sarily be passed over. One or two Instances
may be worth just passing notice Mr.
Starkey was lost for over eight hours in the
heavy timber, having been overtaken by q
snow-storm, and had no compass, or even the
sun, to guide him, and from his own lips, very
few who heard his recital but would marvel at
mans endurance when in danger, and the te-
nacity with which he clings to life. Squire
Conway, also, was in the same quandary some
time after, and those i'll camp after shutdown,
by constant shouting and firing Of their guns.
were at last gratiSed to hear them answered
by the sharp crack of the rife Of friend Con-
way. On his arrival in camp, although &C.
knowledging that he was nearly lost, yet he