The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-01-15
From the Dubuque Times.
The First Trip of the Ice Boat.
LA Crosse, WIS, JAN. 4, 1861.

LA CROSSE, WIS, JAN. 4, 1861.
DEAR TINES Il take the first occas
ion To write to you, knowing you will be
much interested in the events whicl
have occurred to me within the last few
hours. went TO Prairie du CHEN tc
spend the holidays, and while at home
renewed my acquaintance with Norman
Wizard. the well known inventor of the
Ice boat. My own love of mechanics o
course attracted me strongly towards
this ingenious visionary, and within a
short time | found myself hand in glove
with him
Wizard was busily engaged in launch
ing his beautiful new machine, the . La
dy franklin" and had for several days
been exploring the river and preparing a
track on lhe lee to this place. H. Ia!
hoped TO be able To celebrate New Years
day by a uial OF his novel vehicle. bul
was unable TO complete all his propta-
tlous before Thursday.
On Thursday afternoon evervthn.
was in reaIiness, and he had promised
the citizens of the Prairie he would
CRAFTY their curiosity by setting the
wheels in motion Oh the next morning
These last few days were doubtless Tie
most exciting moments oil WiarG's lie
In Il lew hours he was to know Whether
the result OF his years Of labor was ;
proud success, or be a bankrupt vision.
AIRY. A. he saw AT last the beautiful cal
resting upon ihe snowy surface OF the
ice. his teverish anxiety knew no bounds
lie coull not keep away from the objec
Of hl9 ceasr.e-s devotion. We spent the
eveniu. ia The saloon ot The b mt specu
latlng upon tie probable result ol ,Hl
first trial until a il,e hour. Oar en- in
eer ami >leer.mm We're uilb u. AMI iul.
y rs much interes ed rs ourselves.
Aier II long conversation Ward pro-
posed lhat We should ralse steam, auu
take a short excursion On the river, il
order 10 become familiar with the work
ing Of the machine IL. would not nj.
mat The possibility OF failure, AMI no tu,
inventor will, The idea WAS eayell,
seconded by the rest OF Us, and wlthr
ten minutes the fire was roaring beneath
the boiler. Before halt IN hour had
elapsed the engineer announced sufficient
steam to work the machinery.
Wizard was hyias around everywhere
with his lantern anI monkey wrench,
tightening aud adjusting the screws. A
last he pronounced all ready, and gave
the word 70 start, 1T The same time elm.
bed upon The root where was stan,
ding.
The steam WAS turned ON; there wa,
a motion oI the machinery, and in The
next moment the boat Was propelled
smoothly over the ice towards The Me.
Gregor shore. She moves thank
God, she moves - exclaimed Wizard in 9
great stage OF excitement. ! sympathl-
zed with him deeply, aud | presume eX
pressed nay delight IN various Ways.
Our motion as yet was no faster than
a brisk walk, but after we had gained
the main channel of the river anl head,
ed up stream, the speed was increased
10 about six miles an hour. The patti
selected BY Ward thal day wAs clearly
discernlble IN Tie clear moonlight Be
SIDES 'h!s there was large locomoav,
lantern fixed upon The forward part OF
the cabin, which shed Il slrong hight for
long distance ~ front Of Us. The boa
ob"yed the helm readily, and could ca
SHY be turned completely around in I
e'fe,e OF MY ieet ia diameter and
'h'nk less
we had not been running more than