The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-05-02
River Items.

The Reveille, Equator, and Time and Tide
all arrived from the Lake yesterday morn
inc, each bringing goodly number Of pass
engers, and considerable freight.
We noticed on the Equator several hun
! dred sacks of corn and oats for this port,
and large amount of other freight.
The Clarion arrived late the night before,
from the Minnesota River.
The Levee wore busy appearance yes
| terday forenoon. 1t was crowded all morn
ing with freight, drays and omnbusses foar
packets in at the wharf at one time. This
is as well as could be expected before the
opening OF navigation.
We were told by gentleman just through
from the foot of the Lake yesterday morn
ing that there were ten or eleven boats ly
ing there waiting for the ice to go out, and
would not return, as all were confident from
appearances that it would break up before
they could return.
still more encouraging. A gentleman who
came up Saturday morning states that thir
teen boats were lying at the foot Of the Lake,
most of them loaded with passengers and
freight for this port. Everybody expected
that the Lake would be navgable by Sunday
morning at farthest
There was considerable rivalry among the
packets at the foot of the Lake, when our in
formant left; each, especially the new boats,
were anxious to be " the first boat through"
and wear the honors. St. Paul may expect
perfect fleet Of packets when they do come.
THE river has been slowly rising at this
point since Friday noon. Up to Saturday
evening, it had risen Is inches, and was about
up to the mark which it had attained the
week before.
The Reveille arrived yesterday morning
from the head of the Lake, bringing large
number Of passengers.
The news by this boat were encouraging.
One of the officers informed us that the ice
was breaking up, and that the fleet of boats
lying at the foot Of the Lake were all pre-
pairing to come up to-day!
The Time and Tide and Clarion came in
early Saturday morning, both well filled
with passengers. There was spirited race
between them, and they arrived almost neck
and-neck.
The Galena Advertiser of April 20, says
"The Itasca left this port on Saturday after
noon for Lake Pepin.
The fine passenger steamer Northern
Belle, Captain Hurd, left for the foot Of the
Lake on Saturday morning, with good trip
of freight and passengers.
The fine steamer Fred Lorenz, Capt. Par
ker, leaves for Lake Pepin this morning.
Passengers will find her a comfortable boat,
and differed by obliging gentlemen
The staunch and swift passenger packet
! War Eagle is off this evening for points above,
after the arrival of the train. So says the
Dubuque Express Of April 2lst.
The Frank Steele, small and neat stern
! wheel boat, intended for the Minnesota river
trade, was lying at the foot of the Lake yes
terday morning.
The Time and Tide came in early yester-
day morning, from the head of the Lake,
having on board large number of passen-
gers.
The Time and Tide remained but short
time at the Levee, and returned to the head
of the Lake.
The Clarion left for the Minnesota River
about 3 P. NJ, with a full load of passengers
and freight
The river is still rising at this point, and
I is now quite as high as at any time this
spring.
We were informed by a citizen of this
place, who came up OH the Time and Tide
yesterday, that there were about fifteen boats
at the foot Of the Lake when he left, and
about five hundred passengers. AS they
were confident of the Lake opening imme-
diately, they would not disembark, but re-
manned on the boats, paying ISL so and 50
per day for board, and having jolly time,
as there were several bands of music on
board. They pass the time by dancing,
promenading, playing games, visiting from
boat to boat, &C., while the saloons reap
profitable harvest.