Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-17
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY MORNING. JANUARY Il, 1880.
INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF TRAVEL
IlAr ~ rlIE .EAR MESTr

the "Upper Peninsula is cntlrly shut cut
from the rest of the world during the winter
months. The Detroit Advertiser gives an
interesting description of the mode OF travel
ling during that period:
The mails are carried by Indians and half
breeds, when the travelling is good, on their
backs. and when it is bad, by dog trains.
The snow falls to a depth of from two to
five or six feet. The snow-shoes used by the
men are about eight or ten inches IN width,
and from two and a half to four ana a nan
feet in length. They are fiat, and ARE made
of bow maple wood, round at the toe ana
coming TO Il point at the heel, where the ends
are fastened BY thongs OF raw deer skim
The space is filed by a lace-work OF raw
deer or moose skin strings. with the excep-
ton of a small space Immediately in front of
= cross-piece of wood. upon which the ball
of the foot rests. The shoes used by women
are smaller than those used by the men, and
of a different shape. The feet of the person
using the shoes are encased in mocassins OF
buckskin sufficiently large to admit three or
four thicknesses of blanket. The blanket is
used not only to keep the feet warm. but also
t. prevent the toes from being chated by
the strings of buckskin which are passed over
them, and by which the shoes are fastened
10 the feet.
The dog trains used are made of a fiat
board about half an inch in thickness, ten
inches in width, and from six TO ten and
twelve feet in length and are turned up IN
front. At each side Of the tram rope iStast-
cned, running the whole length of it, and a
train cloth" of canvass is used, considera-
bly larger than the train. The articles to
be carried are laced on the cloth, from one
end of the train to the other. The cloth Is
then wrapped over them. and placed up by
means of IA string passing under the ropes at
the side.
For a tramp. the edibles carried are, usual
lv-Some -four, pilot bread, salt pork, tea
and sugar, and cooking utensils, a tin kettle
and a frying pan. The food for the dogs is
generally tallow and corn meal. The bed
clothes are. u single blanket to each man.
Indians or half breeds are employed as guides
and assistants duringa tramp.
Imagine Il white man and an Indian about
starting on Il tramp" of three or four hun
dred miles. through a forest unfrequented by
NIL living beings except wild birds and ami
mails. The provisions are packed upon the
train. the dogs are harnessed to it, one ahead
of the ether, to the number of four or five
The Indian takes the lead, with his snow
shoes, the dogs follow with the train, and the
..pale face" brings up the rear, with yells to
the dogs in front of him. Tramp, tramp,
tramp, until noon, when a halt is made; the
train is unpacked, the kettle, tea and sugar
are produced, a fire lighted, and after taking
cup of tea, the word is given and again the
tramp commences. The party makes another
halt in time to prepare the camping ground
before the night sets in. The dogs are left
standing in their harness, the Indian takes
the axe and cuts enough fuel to last until
morning, the white man uses a snow shoe for
a shovel and clears away the snow until the
ground is reached. A shelter is then built
over the cleared space. Of poles covered with
evergreen boughs. The front of the wig
warm" is left open, and the ground covered
with hemlock boughs. immediately opposite
the front, a rousing log fire is built, the dogs
embarrassed. and the supper prepared. The
supper is composed of u cup OF tea. some
pork cooked in the frying pan, and some flour
cooked in the fat left from the pork. After
supper the pipe and tobacco are produced
and the white man smokes in the front OF the
fire. while the Indian cooks the supper of corn
and tallow for the dogs in the same Kettle III
which the tea had been but a few minutes
before. After being satisfied with his
"smoke." the pale face and Indian wrap their
blankets around them, and lie dow side by
side on the hemlock bough, with their feet to
the fire and sleep as swee;ly and as soundly
rs "e'er did king upon the richest damask.'
In the morning. before day, the Indian pre-
nores the breakfast. which is eaten, and the
travellers again move on. The dogs are ted
but once Il day and the reason Is, they travel
much better. A distance of thirty miles per
doy is travelled with ease by those accutomed
I, the use of snow shoes. When toward Spring
the DAYS become longer and the sun hotter
the travelling is done at night, and the rest
ing and sleeping by day. -,
The veteran Indian "snow-shoer' will
never drink water, or eat snow, during the
time he is on his Journey, as he says 1t makes
him "yery much weak" The Indians and
half.breeds, on coming in from a long jour
nev, on their arrival at their place of destina-
tion. will. if night is near and a dance IS in
nrosnect. STAY about until the ball begins,
90 TO it, and dance until daylight. We have
known of parties of young men putting on
their snow-shoes on Christmas morning,
walking thirty miles to a ball, dancing all
night, and then walking a distance OF twelve
miles to breakfast.
We have in our mind one of the most Won
derful feats of Professionalism, which, II 1t were
not well substantiated, would be difhcult OF
belief. 1t took place a number OF years ago
Mr.. Schoolcraft, residing at Sault st. Marie
wished to send an express to Macklnac. dis
tant by the trail about seventy-fve miles
He sent for a half breed called La Branch,
and told him that he must go to the Macklnac,
and that he must start at II o'clock, NJ, that
dav. La Branch objected, as there was to
be a ball in the evening of the next day
Schoolcraft told him that he must go, and
that as he wanted to attend the ball, II he
was back from Mackinac by III O'Clock the
next evening. he would give him twenty dol,
lars extra pay. At II o'clock he started and
the next day at 10 P. NJ, appeared again.
having gone the whole distance-l5Om miles
in "a hours. After receiving the promised
twenty dollars, he said che could have been in
by 8 o'clock, but he waited twoh hours on the
hill back of the town, for fear that he might
petin ahead of time, and lose his money
After leaving Mr.. Schoolcraft's store. La
Branch went to the ball, and tripped the
moccasined toe until daylight.
FANCY ARTICLES, &C.