The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-01-08

States, bu, By Franciscan Of the Recollect
Order. He saw il while returning from
Mile Lac, 10 the month Of Jaly 1850, and
named, It after his patron Saint, Anthony OF
Padua.
In the last edition If his travels, the nd.
venterors Father saws, the navigation is
Interrupted by Fall which | called 81.
Anthony Of Padaas, in gratitude for the
favors done me by the Almighty, through
the intercession Of that great saint, whom
We hsd chosen patron and protector Of oil
our enterprises. This Fail is forty or Any
feet high, divided in the middle by rocky
island Of pyramidical form As Hennepin
was passing the Falis. in company with a
party ofDako,a buffalo hunteis, be perceived
a Dakota up IN an oak opposite the great
Falls, weeping bitterly, with well dressed
beaver robe, whiteued inside, and trimmed
with porcuprpe quilts, which he was ofering
as a sacrifice TO the Falls, which is in itself
admirable and frighful | heard him. while
shedding copions tears. say as he spoke 10
the great cataract: Thou who art spirit.
grant tina, Our nation may pass her quietly
witbou, accident, may kill buffalo in alum
dance, conquer our enemies, and bring in
slaves, soLie Of whom we will put 10 death
before thee the Mcsscncqz Ito this day the
Dakotas call the Fox Indians BY this name
have killed our kindred, grant that we may
avenge them"
The only other European, during the time
Of the French dominion, whose account OF
the Falls is preserved, was Charleville. lie
told Du Pratt, the author Of q history Of
Louisiana, that, with two Canadians aud two
Indians, in birch canoe laden with goods
he proceeded as far as the Falls OF 81. An
,hony This cataract he describes as caused
by a fat rock, which forms the bed Of the
river, and causing fall OF eight or ten feet.
I, was not far from century after ilenne-
pin saw the curling waters" that II was
gazcd upon by British subject. Jonathan
Carver, native Of Connecticut and Cap
tain OF q provincial troop. was the Yankee
who first looked on this valuable water pow
er. and began 10 make calculations for fur
Their settlement. His sketch Of the Fall was
the first ever taken, and was well engraved
I
1906, and bis description Of the surrounding
scenery is very much the same rs that given
by modern writers -
1.-The country around is extremely beautiful.
1t IL not an uninterrupted plain, where the eye
ends no relief. but composed OF many gentle
ascents which in the Summer are covered with
the fines, verdure, aud interpreted with little
groves, that give q pleasing variety TO the pros
pect. On the whole, when the Fails are inclu.
ded. which NAV be seen at distance OF four q
miles more pleasing and picturesque view
cannot, | believe, be found throughout the CDi.
verse
Carver, like Heunepin, speaks of rocky
island dividing the Falls, and estimates lis
width about forty feet and it, length not
much more. and about half way between
this island and the eastern shore. is rock,
lying at the very edge Of the Fall, that APP
peared to la about FIVE orslx feet broad aud
thirty or forty long.
During the two generations that have
elapsed since this description was penned,
some changes have taken place in the ap-
pcarancc Of the Falls. The small island
about forty feet broad. which is now some
distance in front Of the Falls, was probably
once in its midst. The geological character
OF the bed Of the river is such, that an I'M
dermining process Is constantly at work.
The upper stratum is limestone, with many
large crevices, and about fifteen feet in thick
moss. Beneath is the sacchnroid limestone.
which IS so soft that Il cannot resist the
wearing OF the rapid waters. II is more
than probable, that in an age long passed,
the Falls were once IN the vicinity Of Fort
Smelling In the course Of two years il has
rcc@lrd many feet. The number oi ptnc
logs that pitch over the Falls, have incrcas-
cd The recession. As the logs iioa, down
they ore driven into the !lssnrs. AMI serve
as levers, other logs and the water commu.
nlcaiing the power, TO wrench the limestone
slabs rom their localities In time, the
Falls viii recole until they become nothing
more than rapids.
The fall OF water on the west side al the
dividing island is several rods above that on
the east side, and the difference is occasion
ed by the greater volume 81 water on
the former SIDE, causing more rapid re
cNieace
there are two Islands Of great beauty in
The rapids above the Falls. The first Juts
soraa ieet heyond the Falls. and contains
about fifteen acres II is now generally
known as Hennepn Island. not as some
blunderr saws. in Harpers Magazine Tor
July, 1853. because the Jesuit ie,ser leas
pllcca there by the Ind,Grs. but in accordance
with suggestion Of the Minnesota lls'ori-
cal Society.
The little Island, once within, but now just
below the Falls, is called the spirit Island
The Dakota legend saith, that in the mist Of
he morning. the spirit Of an Indian vile,
with a child clinging around her neck. i
dartiug in canoe through the spray. and
that the sound Of her death song Is heard
moaning ii the winds. and IA the war Of The
waters
We will. at another day, give further
sketch Of the contents Of this very interest
lag book. 49,
The Expiorssion OF tfricR.