The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-07-09

Hall, citizens Of this place, returned to
our city about two weeks since from a
trip up the Minnesota river, further than
ever steamer before had ascendcd. We
hnd lengthy account Of the trip in q
recent number of the St. Louis Democrat
and avail ourselves OF it to make few in
seresting extracts, speaking Of the diff.
Guilty OF the navigation the Democrats re-
porter, who was on the trip, says :-DaS.
enport Gazette.
"Oftsn two or three time: in hour,
we have had to put out line, and bring
into use capstan, poles and engines to
wa'p the boat around bend, where the
river was not more than 125 feet wide,
(the Belfast 100 feet long, )and where the
bow or stern was crushing into tie trees
ut every turn. We reached New Ulm in
the afternoon, and as an example of the
ookcdness of the river, we may mention
hat during a run Of ten miles, ", saw
this place three different times before
reaching the landing, and four or five
times after leaving it, aud at a point im.
mediately above the town, we bad to 20
by the river three miles to get to the neck
of land 20 feet acros
We reached the Sioux Agency at seven
o'clock 10 the evening, aud the whole
population-white, Indian and mixed
Aocked down 10 the landing, to welcome
the first boat Of the season, which was
the bearer Of peace aud plenty for them in
the way of money and provisions.
The Indians almost all dress in native
style. paint their faces all sorts of hideous
colors, draw fancy pictures on their bla k
cts, and consider it disgrace to speak
English. Every Indian carries his weap.
ons about continually-either gun,
war club, or bow and arrows. Their
dress consists Of leggings. shirt and jack
ct, aud the white or colorcd blanket which
covers them from head to foot None Of
them wear any covering on the head ex-
ccpt. perhaps, a few feathers or fine fur
for ornament.
The Indian Agent at this place was
very desirous that the boat should con.
tinue on as far as the mouth OF the Vel.
low Medicine river, and though the com
pensalion offered was insufficient to cover
the expense and risks of navigating
eighty miles never before attempted by
any steamboat, yet Captain Force, actua.
ted by desire to test the pra:ticability
Of navigation above the month Of the Red
wood river accepted of the Agents offer
We accord nglv started on the morning
of Saturday, the 2lst of May, for the Up,
per Sioux Agency, or Pejuta Zizi, (Yci.
low Medicine as the Indians term it,
and in two hours run. passed the highest
pin, ever reached by steamboat, pane.
ly. the "Clarion" in 1854
From the A.en y to the II Radvood, the
r!rer Is very similar to what is below
but above the mouth, the channel be
comes narrower, aud the baak much
higher Immense masses of rock are
seen on the buiF-, in the bottoms. aud
sticking on, OF the banks and great caution
il required to keep the boat from being
damaged by the trees or rucks surround
ing it. The current, which is rather
sluggish below, is very swift here. There
was stiff breeze oil day, making it very
difficult 10 handle the boat, and In the
afternoon she was blown Oh a cluu,p Of
trees. The .tanchious aud ratings were
broken considerably, aud one stump
passed through the after bulkhead aud
broke the escape pipe. During the day
We passed several Indian villages, and vi
course the big .'hre canoe;" drew all the
natives down to the banks, where they
would salute Us with chorus Of yell- -
We passed the Patterson or Lower Rap.
ids in the evening, and laid up for the
night Started again early on Sunday
morning. aud encountered three more
rapids within few miles.
The lower -apids are distant about
thirty Eve miles from the Redwood, and
the I've rapid. We passed extend over
pace Of about fifteen miles. The danger
snd difficulty of prssipg them with u bat
the size Of the Belfast, can scarcely BE-
uver-e.,imated and the clear judgment,
ready skill, and nerve displayed by Capt.
Force, aud the Pilot, MIR + Hall, deserve
the highes, praise.
At all these rapids immense masses Of
rock stick out of the river, even in high
water, aud there is fall Of one or two
feet, often within the space Of hundrs d
yards, The Indians aud trader. here
seem TO k~ow little or nothing about this
part of the river; but the probability il,
that in low wafer this is one continuous
chain Of rocks for hitesn miles or more,
and perfectly inpass.bc.
The lower rapid is called Pa,terson's
Rapid. but we might here suggest that
the whole chain be call Fore Rapids,"
a. such tribute is due to the command
er Of the first steamboat tina. ever crossed
them
From tho Force Rapids up, bends and
shoals are frequent. People from the
Agency came several miles down the riv-
,r To NEE. Us, aud when at l. o'cluck we
tied up in the mouth Of the Yellow Med
iciue, 4f6 miles from ST. Paul, we found
awaiting u- as motley a crowd Of white
men. painted Indians, half breeds. .sguaws
and children, as ever was behe'l by the
ardent sdmirers Of the picturesque and
savage.
!" Belfast landing." as the spot was
named, is prairie at the mouth OF the
| Yellow Medicine. The Agency is about
txo miles up, in the wides. part Of a
beautiful sheltered valley, wherever fancy
or convenience dictates, the Indians have
erected their "tepes," or wigwams
These wigwans sre conical tents Of
brown cotton. The fire il built i'm the
center. aud the family sqnat or lie down
A
on bark and buffalo robes laid on the
ground All Of these tents are blackened
with smoke, and dirty inside and out
The men are tall and handsome, and