Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-07-08
Correspondence 9. the '.Rafs.man's Journal.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa, JUNE Il, 1857.

bAhE, lOhA: StNb iSc'-
Mr. Row Dear Sjr:-I write you these
lines to inform my Clcarield friends that am
in my cabin on the East Lake shore. This
lake is one of the most beautiful sheets of wat
er that have ever seen its length is about
four or five miles and in breadth it is on an
average near one mile wide. This lake con-
meets with another lake of about the same di-
mensions, and both lakes discharge their wat
crs at the south end of their connection. which
ferns tie head waters of Little Sioux River.
Spirit lake the longest of the three is only di-
vided by barrow isthmus of twenty five per-
ches from the last named lake. 1t is about
five miles north and south and four miles east
and west. There is less timber around it
The tive first lakes have more than double the
quantity of timber that is found on the last
named. The difficulty in the way of settling
all Western Iowa is the want of timber. OF
all the lands advertised at the Fort Dodge
sales on the 4th of last month, from my own
observation and information that could be de-
pended upon, presume there was not one sec
ton of timber on the whole of it that was ac-
tually for sale; what little timber there was
had been preempted. And in this District, as
far as have travelled over the country on my
way 10 this place from Fort Dodge, except in
small lots of timber on the West Branch of the
Des Mones River, there is nothing to be seen
but the Prairie, which is generally good, and
parts of Clay and Dickinson counties, are G.
quail TO any prairie lands in the State. -.-
1 arrived here on the 18th of May, after a
tedious journey. having to encamp out at
nights, without good accommodations for
camping, the weather mostly cold and high
cold winds. -e-
There is sufficient timber here for fifty
farms, if the timber equally divided be-
tween them. The prairie is somewhat broken
and rolling, not as much so as in other parts of
the State, or in Kansas or Nebraska Terrific
ries. Lime stone is abundant by opening guar.
ries on the Bluffs, and on the Lake Shores
In most places there is any quantity OF hard
stone ready to hand, to wall cellars, or even
build fences. The winds here on the prairie
seem cold, but when in timber land not any
colder than in Clearfeld. There has not been
any frost here since the 18th of May last
/ Pasture was good by the first Of June. Pea
| Vine, OF which cattle very fond, is in great
I abundance on the prairies. On the lake shores
/ there is but little marsh or swamp land, and on
/ the lake where am now, there is none
| Where the bank is not too abrupt you can ride
into the wafer and out again without soiling
| the feet of the horse. These lakes abound
with choice fsh-Pike, Pickerel, Bass Cat
Buffalo and other fish. / could take with a
common hook and line two hundred pounds
| in one day. Some of the largest taat l have
/ caught weigh from ten to eighteen pounds.
none under three lbs / have not the means
( of cooking them. Butter or lard, there is
none to be had here, and pork is not plenty
| with US. Game is not here in great abundance.
There are some Geese and Ducks, but not We
~ great numbers of them at this season of the
year. Prairie Chickens are scarce. Pigeons
are now coming into the timber. There are
bat few wolves here have seen one or two
foxes. Rattle-snakes are not found here, and
few snakes OF any description, except the
| small Garter snake.
1 have taken possession Of handsome stu
alton on the bank OF West Lake, and a more
handsome place have not seen. have sew
eral springs of good water This country.
| am confident, is as free from fevers aud agues
as is Ciearfeld, and L should suppose more
| healthy. l have not had cold nor felt the
. Rheumatic pains since left Clearfeld, and
| have done some tall wading in snow and water
| before and since Mr.. McEnally returned
, Sometimes l feel lonesome here, alone in 8
cabin, two miles from any one. / am not
| much afraid of the Indians; although they lefi
everything desolate in March last. There was
none left in the settlement TO tell the particu.
lars. There were thirty five men, women and
children murdered here, and two married and
| two unmarried females taken off with them a.
prisoners. One of the married women, Mrs
Marble, is said TO be recovered from her cap
tors by the agency of some of the friendl,
Sioux. Mrs. Thatcher is dead. The two girls
of the ages of sixteen and seventeen, have no
yet been recovered. This is from reports tha
have reached Us by way of Minnesota.
Truly your friend,
- ALEXANDER IRWIN.
Lake okaboji. Spirit Lake has no outlet
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