The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-06-16
Q Of the Pioneer 4 Democrat.

Correspondence Of the Pioneer Democrat.
Foxr ABkRcRoxBiE, June 4th, 1853.
The steamer "Ans. Northrup" was
launched on the waters Of the Red River, at
the mouth Of the Sheyenne on the 10th Of
May. AT sunrise the old flag, which was
triumphantly borne by the "Ans. Northrup"
on the Upper Mississippi to the Falls Of
Pokegama was raised for the first time, on
the Red River Of the North. ? The privilege
Of naming the boat was given to the little
army Of thirty men," They thought that no
more appropriate name could be found for
her than that OF the man who had with 30
much energy and determination overcome
so many difficulties and placed her as the
pioneer boat on the Red River.
[The boat was built at an elevation OF
twenty feet above, and about one hundred
feet distant from the river, which gave q
rather steep inclination to the ways. The
ways had been creased and the boat struck
the water with such force that il the hull
had not been very strong 1t must have been
racked considerably. At l045, everything
being in readiness, q. L. NoRrHRur, the cap
tain's Oldest son, took a stand upon the bow
with bottle Of wine which had been pre-
served for the occasion, and the shores were
simultaneously struck out. As she righted
after striking the water, the bottle was bro
ken over the stem and baptized, amid hear
ty cheers, as the "Anson Northrup." II
must have been proud day for Uncle
STONE" as well as NoRrHRuP, for it had oc-
cupied his thoughts for a long time, and he
had bourne the hardships Of the campaign
as stoutly as the stoutest. After the boat
had been secured, Capt. NoRTnRur was
called on for speech. lie gave a great
share of the credit Of the successful result to
the men who had so ably and willingly car
ried out his plans in regard to the boat. lie
told them that he had never seen man
finch, although they had been exposed to
great many privations and many Of them
had never been placed in like situation be-
fore. He said that be would never have
undertaken the enterprise il be had not been
certain that every man would receive tie
reward, that he had so faithfully earned.
NoRrnRurs speech was received with con-
siderable applause.
On the 10th, the machinery was put 10
complete working order by Capt. j. b.
YOUNG, and the boat made trial trip to
Sheyenne City. Although very little steam
was put on, she made eight miles 40 hour
coming up stream. Late in the afternoon,
the boat started for Fort Abercrombie.
The second day she reached Burlington at
the mouth Of the upper wild Rice. and took
on some wood which had been cut by the
citizens Of that place. soundings were fire.
quently taken and no place was found below
Wild Rice with less than six feet Of water.
Above there the stream became narrower,
and with more distractions.
On the goth, the boat reached this place,
and was honored with q salute from Capt
Davis, which was responded to with three
cheers for the gallant Captain.
An express was received here yesterday
from Fort Ridgely, and il is rumored that
this post will be abandoned.
The Ans. Northrup" will leave for
Fort Garry tomorrow. and il anything Of
interest should occur on the trip, will en-.
deavor to inform you. Capt. NoKTHsUr
will probably visit st. Paul when the boat
returns here. w.