Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-03-13
Dog Trains.

1t is well known that the Lake Superior
mineral region is situated in high northern
attitudes, and is inaccessible in winter for
steamboats,, or overland by teams. The
Inhabitants keep up an occasional commu-
nication with the world by means of dog
trains, which convey the mails and light
articles of traffic. A correspondent of the
Cleveland Herald, writing from Eagle riv-
er, gives an interesting account of this
mode of travelling. After stating tic diff
terent routes to the settlements, none OF
which present beaten, or even a well-de-
fined track, he goes on to speak as follows:
Such are the frozen spaces over which a
score of Indian half breeds and their dogs
carry and draw the letters and papers des-
tined for our amusement and information
n man carries from fifty to sevcnty-tivc
pounds, and from thirty to fifty miles,
His two dogs 20 before him with a sledgo
or shed with flat board bottom, and draw
two hundred and fifty to three hundred
pounds.
This load, however, is not all letters and
packages. All men must eat and an Indi-
an in particular. He must carry a half AK
or hatchet, plenty Of blankets, and some
thing for his dogs to eat as well as him
self What can be more dcsolate than
such journey? Yet many persons from
here make the trip every winter on bust
ness, in company with the mail
Sometimes they have the trail of pre-
vious party, but the snow, which falls al
most every day, soon obliteratcs their foot
steps. Perhaps there is line of bIazcd
trees which they follow, but more often
they are guided through the forest by the
make of the ground, or by the sun, if ii
should occasionally peep through the mists
and SHOWS of a winter sky.
Thus they so, from the first dawn of day
to the twilight of evening; over lakes and
mountains, through swamps and thickets
that In summer would be impossible, but
now smoothed up level with snow
The universal evergreen trees are bend
ing to the ground with load of snow on
their branches, that frequently obstruct the
way
This dismal procession Of Indians; white
men and dogs, go in single file, few feet
"l'"it, anu Aoi iOuio tu'N tidNcl Oh, st inc
hight of their speed, without a word or q
laugh.
1t is too much of task to clear away
the snow, start fire, heat the water, thaw
the bread, and prepare a forest meal to
stop for it at noon. But at evening, when
the shades of hyperborean night begin to
gather among The branches of the trees,
and the northern winds howl more earnest
ly, the company look about for a shelter
place in some ravine where there is water
and some dry wood for fire, and there de
posit their load of blankets and provision
They scrape away the snow with THEN
snow shows, down to the ground, thus
making wall of frost around them three
or four feet high.
Some cut wood for the night, others
break off the boughs of the pine, balsam ol
cedar, and lay them down for bed An
other procures some birch bark that is dry
and some dry sticks, and soon, striking fir,
by his flint and steel, or his matches, has 9
cheerful flame with its grateful heat enIiv.
ening the place.
1t is also necessary to build a lodge ol
house of boughs overhead to keep off the
falling snow, under which they all gather
and cook their supper with great glee. Il
a camp of Indians has been passed during