St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-07-25

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Cu1PPIwA LAKE, July 18th 1867

n1hg, the 4ltn, MI. barrett ana myself, by
invitation ~ i TIC Of Alex. Kinkead, spent that
night with him, and as the mosquitoes
promised. ODE very troublesome the iu1i.
tation YVES specially agreeable. He has q
very comfortable frontier house oh Lake
Winsna across from Alexandra. The
"trip was madein~a' ssdug GU, 124whieh@being
somewhat leaky, when we arrived at the
opposite shoreEI was, sitting yon. the bottom
Of the boat (Which position is necessary
with this kind Of boat in about four inch
es Of water--a situation decidedly more
safe than agreeable. The mosquitoes were
efectually barred out and the night pass
ed very pleasantly. Next morning We we're
up, breakfasted and rccrossed to camp just
as our party were getting up for breakfast.
At five o'clock it commenced raining
very briskly, so that We were unable to
move, and lay..in camp, sleeping, and read
ing some OF your exchanges forwarded US
until noon. At two o'clock it had clear
ed up sufficiently to allow Of our striking
tent and proceeding.
The rain in the morning had rendered
the road through the woods very slippery,
and as tho country is extremely billy We
had much difficulty in getting through.
We had over twenty hundred pounds on
our wagon, with ono yoke of cattle, and
the continued strain up one slippery hill
after another tired them almost complete
ly out. Indeed, had not our cattle been
an unusually good yoke, We should not
have been able to ascend the first hill
AS it was, we were indebted to Mr.. John
Missing, of St. Cloud, who was hauling
supplies to Fort Abercrombie with span
Of mules, for assistance. At length we
reached the open prairie, which was also
worry rolling; though the wind had dried
the road more, and rendered the travelling
easier. We had been able heretofore to
procure milk from the settlers along the
road, but as this was now becoming some
what uncertain, sour coz (or rather two
Of them came home" about five o'clock,
and we provided ourselves with couple
Of gallons Of good milk, which proved very
acceptable at supper time. At seven
o'clock we camped within three miles of
Chippewa Lake, having travelled about
fourteen miles that afternoon. Being
tired aud relying upon the high wind
blowing at that time, we neglected to
place musquitoe bar before our tent door,
but we paid for it. ".>..
About one o'clock the wind went down
to a perfect. calm. Simultaneously there
was general movement through the tent.
Just beside me one poor fellow groaned
out, "By the 'horned spoons how they
bitc!" Slap! "Take that you sucker OF
the world yelled another. Soon the slap
ping become more general and the excla-
nations more fierce and expression, until
from one corner there arose an agonizing
wall, Good Lord Strike a light y"
After considerable sputtering, slapping
and swearing light was obtained, when
what sight! Half.emerged from the
blankets, ranged along the head of the tent,
could be seen by the sickly light Of the
candle half dozen woe-begone, forlorn
creatures, slapping right and left, and
vainly trying to comprehend their exact
situation. The tent was filed with blood
thirsty, blood-suckins, merciless, devilish
mosquitoes, many Of which really locked
as large as moderate sized goose egg.
After looking around : little, Bradley
drew himself out, and selling his hat rush.
ed right and left, .laying his "thousands
aud tens of thousands" another followed
with q newspaper slapping tho side Of the
tent another run around clapping his
hands together, killing an inuumerable
quantity at each blow, and still another
stumbled about burning them with the
candle. In the midst Of all this, Barrett,
rolled up in an endless quantity OF bl.n-
kets, and his face protected by piece Of
musquitoe bar, grinning sardonically called
out "Hilloa, boys !! What's the excite
ment" He was uucerimoniously hoisted.
Bye -and- bye we cleaned the tent moder-
erately Of the bloodthirsty vermin, placed
a bar over the mouth Of the tent, aud