The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-06-09

then went nttle below and started him IN
again from another track. but h. got into q
deeper hole, aud It being impossible tor him
TO swim against the current. he whirled
round and sought the shore; and We made
separate landings. My friend then suggest.
ed that might turn him out to grass while
We would sccare the assistance o, some
ne'ghboring settlers aud make ran upon
which 10 get the buggy over. THIS ! did.
aud then, solitary aud alone. took my way
acrss the river 10 where | first started,
We got the assistance Of three Germans
and all worked basily for two hours in
making the raft We made il fast and
strong. and finally got il launched with the
buggy tied on. But alas with the buggy
and one man on. II sunk. The only expla.
nation We could discover for such lament
able result was ITS being made Of green tim
Der. We rescued the buggy and let the
raft feat oil down the s,rrau. We now
reluctantly concluded to abandon the un.
deitaking. But the horse was on the other
side. My Efforts to catch hun were no ton
~ unsuccessful but ! was alarmed lest had
50 frightened him that he would absolutely
run away. Here then VT were to summon
resolution from despair" At place a
little above where had just crossed found
j, would perhaps be possible 10 get the bug
~ over by hand, We finally concluded to
Try but with many misglvlugs. us my TEL
low traveller could not swim. We let II
down into the river cautiously, There was
little need Of drawing II Tor the current
quickly put il ia motion An that was
needed iM success was Ia keep the shafts
turned against the curreOt, For minute,
while IN the middle ol the river, Il seemed
rs If an additional pins weight would give
the current the victory and send the buggy
beyond our reach but by strain'ng every
nerve We got /, safely across, The delight
OF this success was in proportion 10 our ob
s,acles aud perlls. In hall an hour We were
safely ON our journey.
Five miles further on, passing the pleas.
nut settlement Of Melrose, Is another eros.
sing OF the Sank River. There Is skill
there to be had on going mile above, and
calling the owner. Ihls delayed us an hour,
but VIZ got il at last and 4, crossed over
the buggy. IN there was no difficulty In
swimming the horse. II was then dusk and
We went on mile and quarter and stop
ped with Mr.. Bruce. one OF the first settlers
Of Sauk Centre. II Ia the intention Of the
settlers to build a bridge ut this last crossing
vi Sank river next winter. They built u
good one near Sank Centre last winter
They expect to have q saw and grist mill
in operation there by fall The settlement
has greatly improved within u year. II Is
reported that many cmigrants have passed
here this spring Tor Alexandria.
THURSDAY, May 2G.--lt began to rain
early Ia the morning aud continued iii about
eight o'clock, when We again started Tor Long
Prairie. We leave Sank Centre at nine
and take the old Wipncbago road through
the timber, in u nortberly direction. but
little encouragement IL given Us respecting
the condition Of the road. The first twelve
miles is principally along the eastern shore
Of Sank Lake (O'Sankis Lake being still
further west and being the principal source
Of sauk riyer,) through u rich aud generally
level hard wood lorest. IN which the
sugar maple predominat's. The sougbs
troubled us none. though two or three
OF them would greatly obstruct loaded
to iild that settlers had fallen heavy TIMBER
across the the road aud left II there. II was
hcwcd aud seemed 10 be- for n mill. We
were much delayed 10 finding IA way round
tl.~ ns,nerous distractions. We we're ire
qucntly IN sight oi Sauk Lake ani on the
coas, We sometimes caught "a glimpse OF
smaller Ink,s. Birds Of various pIumage
and so0g served tn divert our attention, aud
had il not b.en lor ,hc rain the drlvo would
have bso pheasant.
II was two O'Clock before We came out
upon Round Prairie. Wind aud rain strong
from the North against Us. Round Prairie
is surrouDded with hard woOd liipber, In four
miles long aud bei xeen two aud three mi ~
wide. !, ia u handsome aud fertile prairie
having three or four small lakes and about
the same number Oi settlers. The three
miles aud y halt beyond II, towards Ling
Prairie, IL partly meadow and partly brush
The travelling Is far except tho iording OF
| two swollen outlets Of u lake. In the midst
Of dfcnching rain and thoroughly wet and
shiycribg. VT ei,ta the old village Of Long
PraIrg and soon get into very comfortable
quarters.
FsiDAr, May 27.--Tbsre arc now three
families IN the village oi Lolg Prairie
Bu, there are between 40 aud 30 buildings
standing rather promiscuossly. There IA
also saw aud grist ,oll. The buildings
now vacan. were once occupied by the first
families Of the Winnebagoes, and with some
repairs would be- tidy aud comfortable
Much Of the land Dcar the village IN IN q
good state " cultivation. The prairie itscl
extends bortbward along the river of th'
samc name about 70 miles. and N skirtet
with hardwood lumber. Is average widti
IL two miles. The soil II black loan
yielding thick and iaxoriaBt grass. IL vii
supply 400 families with select farms.
Gen. Van Clcve has resi,ted here two
years aud pur,u's farming oa . liberal and
scientific System. iis cattle are Of Dur
ham blood, brought rom Rcd River settle
ineDt, aud are 10 wost exceicat order. uh
hyrs,, also are in 6ne condition having b'st
wIDtcrod without slabllng. lie thinks tina
stock raising 10 this part oi the State wi