The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-09-30
Erouo Lake Superior.

We are in the receipt OF private letter
from our old friend and former neighbor,
Col. Drew. The borean climate of Lake
Superior has not-more than the frigid doc
trines of Lecomptonism-chilled the warm
sympathies nor abated any of the genial and
kindly impulses of the Colonel. He is in
glowing spirits, and as cheerily busy as the
maternal bird building her nest. He has
all the Indians around the western shores
of the Lake under his paternal care. He is
laying off the reserves allotted to the sepa-
rate bands and establishing stations with a
farm, and mechanics shops for each. He
had on the 18th inst, just returned from the
Fondulac Reservation where the govern
ment had opened farm, built several COM
Portable dwellings, store-house, blacksmith
and other work shops for supplying the
wants of the Indians, and to teach them
some of the habits and arts of civilized life.
He was about to start for the Bad River
Reservation where he expected to meet 5000
Indians to whom he pays one of the heav-
lest annuities of his agency. He has four
Reservations under his uperintendence -
Daring the season of navigation he is kept
diligently at work, and most of the time
upon the wing.
The Colonel wishes it to be most distinct
ly understood that he is Hoosier, and es-
pecially an Evansville man-that Wander
burgh is the home to which he hopes to re-
turn to enjoy the fruits of all his exertions.
After the completion of his payments for
the season, he will, if he can procure short
furlough, make visit during this fall or
winter, to his old friends, among whom he
will be sure of cordial welcome.
The country, around the Western shores
of the Lake, is described as possessing agri-
cultural advantages equal to the best por-
tions of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The
climate is the most salubrious on the CONT
nent; every one grows fat and strong in
breathing the pure and invigorating atmos-
phere. Fish and game abound everywhere
The Colonel makes his journeys principally
in canoes and on foot In describing his
last excursion, he says:
We started from Superior on Tuesday,
with a fine breeze, which soon took MS to
Oneota. when the wind went down, and we
were compelled to resort to our oars. We ar
rived at Fondulac before SHUTDOWN and pro-
ceeded at once to climb the mountain, and
look for a camping ground. After tramp
of about four miles, we came to beautiful
spring creek, where we "pitched our tent y
for the night; we. Of course, had relish
! for thesubstantial supper prepared by Frank
our vOyageur, and we were soon in the
arms OF Morpheus. With an early break
fast the next moru5 we were again "on
foot" We reached the St Louis river, op-
posite the reserve, about noon. This point
is about eighteen miles above Fondulac, and
is one Of the most picturesque spots on the
river, which, here, is about forty rods wide
A beautiful island, covered with large
elms, stands midway between the shores.
The Agent in conjunction with the Chief:
(three in number,) selected site for their
residences, on ridge some sixty rods back
from the river, overlooking the country for
miles. Two comfortable houses are already
finished, and the third is under contract, to
be completed early this fall A mith-sho[
! and temporary ware house have been cree
ted and several acres of land cleared, which
are under cultivation. I
The land along the whole route, and on
the reserve, will compare favorably with the
!, best farming and timber lands in Ohio. We
3 passed through groves of maple, pine, ash
D and oak, equal to any in the west, while thu
4 scenery is indescribably beautiful. AL
4 kinds of game are plenty. We were inform
3 ed that over forty bears have been killed in
I that vicinity within a month. We were
g introduced to an Indian boy, not more thar
I eight years old, who had killed bear weigh
e ing about eighty pounds, with a small spear
l a few days before our arrival. The little
r fellow skinned and dressed his game withon
any assistance. An Indian was employee
to shoot some game for supper he was gon
Il but an hour and returned with nine large
e fat ducks.
Our evenings were spent around the CAM
fire, listening to voyageur songs, and storie
of camp-life by Frank, while he was in tn
employ of the Hudson's Bay Company Of
' the Saskatchewan, interspersed with trick
n of jugglery, by one of the party, windin,
!, up, OF course, with rubber of "ol,
q sledge."
: The third day, we started for home, Ell
!, the river, running the rapids above Knii
i portage, in canoes. This seems perilou
: undertaking, as the least deviation from th
e channel, would dash the canoe on the rocks
d but, guided by the Indian, the passage is
0 safe one. The falls, and their surrounding:
0 in grandeur, are but little short of Magyar.
q fully equal to the Gennessee, and far sur
d pass those of st. Anthony and Min-ne-ha
C Ia.