The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-11-12


None knew him better or loved him more
than, respectfully, your obeiient servant,
NJ. +. MAURY,
Lieutenant U. ). Navy.
Hon. IRAAc ToucgY,
Secretary Of the Navy, Washington.
A. the Head Waters OF the Miss,ssippi.
w. w. WINTHROP, Esq, Of st. Anthony,
has just returned from trip to the head
waters Of the Mississippi, and communicates
a brief description Of his trip and the coun-
try, to the Falls Epenp,g Nars. We copy
the following paragraphs
Starting from Crow Wing with half
breed uoyageur, for guide, Mr.. W., in two
and half days arrived at IIcch Lake, which
lies 20 miles due north Of Crow Wing. lie
passed on the way large number OF beau
tiful lakes, Of which Gayask or Gull Lake Is
much the largest and finest. and trayerscd,
during greater part Of the distance,
wilderness of pine forest, containing groves
of magnificent trees as yet unattached By
the axe OF the lumberman. lie shot a NUN.
Der Of patridges and pheasants, and a few
foxes and small animals, but found much
fewer traces of deer or bear than are to be
found further to the South and West. On
the 2nd night tOct. lSth.) four inches of
snow fell, and the cold was severe enough 10
make the very largest campfire by no means
too warm.
On arrivingat Ieech Lake, Mr.. W. passed
D I, H. II f..l. 4
and spent the next morning in rambling
about the Indian village, which is the most
extensive of all the Chippewa settlements,
containing population OF about 1000. with
! 200 warriors. leech Lake is magnificent
body Of water, being the second lake in size
in the Territory Red Lake being the first
and Mile Lac, or Winibigoshish, the third
II is inden,cd by many bays which give it
an irregular form, and contains several large
islands. This lake was chiefly interesting as
being the largest Of the Lake Fountains Of
! he Mississippi, into which it gives its wa
/ tiers by means Of It's outlet, Lccch River. II
was Mr.. VS. plan 10 cross the Lake to the
mouth OF this river, and To pass down the
same into the Mississippi, aud then down
! the Mississippi 10 Grow Wing.
/ With the assistance OF his former guide.
/ he purchased q canoe and provisions, and
| engaged halfbreed and young Chin pewa
to paddle his canoe, &c. Passing across an
arm of the lake-2O milcs--to the mouth
Of In,ch River, he sailed seventy miles down
/ this stream Ia its Junction with the Missis-
/ sippi, TO which it is equal in width and OF
/ which it seems to be "a Southern Fork, the
/ Northern passing through Cass and Wini
/ bigosish Lakes from Itasca Lake. and being
/ about 200 miles longer --thcncc about fifty
miles down the Mississippi to rckagema
/ Falls, and thence two hundred and fifty
( miles or more to Crow Wing. l.ccch River
and the Mississippi above Pekagcma, tlo@
! through immense fields Of wild rice, abound.
/ lng at this season in ducks and geese. which
afford capital shooting and the best OF eating
} to the sportsman. At convenient intervals
for camping at night, the piney banks cA-
tend TO the river, but generally are separated
/ from the stream by morasses of from one
/ mile 10 five miles broad Below pekagema.
the rice fields and morasses disappear and
/ pine forests, intersp,rSed with elm and oak,
/ edge the river on both si'les.
| Pckagema IL the most interesting and ro-
mantle point on the Mississippi above ~
I Anthony. The river rlshes through mar
row pass. with bold rocky bank on the
northern side, and over a rocky bed, and
with roar audible at considerable dis
lance. There Is no distinct fall, bat contin
uous rapids Tor about q quarter OF II mile.
capable OF furnishing u very grea, water
power for future mills. The Minnesota and
/ Dakotah Land Company contested with
Mr. Dayton, of 81, Paul, the possession Of
/ Pekag,ma for Il town site, and each party
has one or two men stationed here. whose
! log houses make an agreeable nucleus Of
/ civilization in the wilderness. No lumber
camp has yet been built a. high up US Pcka
gonna, but Mr.. Libby. Of st Anthony. was
stationed, last winter, only forty miles be-
! low. Below Pekagema, al considerable in
,eryals, are passed the log houses OF the
| lumbermen and now and then you ascer-
| tain that YOU arr sailing by the site OF some
| future town, such as Moscow Maine
vile, Portage City" &c.
At the mouth OF Sandy River which car.
! res the waters o. sandy Lake into the Mis-
sissippi. Mr.. W. ran up the river two
| miles, 10 the lake which he describes rs not
! of very large size, but prcttily indented
with bays and ringed with beaches Of pure
white sand.
The sail along down the innumerable bends
! Of the river. Mr.. W. describes A. very AT
tractiyc and interesting even at this season
when the foliage has lest the warm tnts Of
Autumn. The evergreen pine plumes are
always close at hand. and occasionall a
portage is made, giving variety TO the pas
SAGE Mr. W. shot fewer ducks and gose
below rekagcma, but often killed patridges
on the shores. and occasionally mink or
muskra, The motion Of the canoe was
swim and pleasant, and camping in the open
air no, too cold, even at this late season with
warm fire OF pine logs.
\, Iccch Lake, as well a. al lehagema,
r