The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-10-20
GOLDEN L E I L Il n 5.
NUMBER FIVE.
From Our Special Correspondent.

To the Editor of the Pioneer:
Strangers are constantly coming into Du
Luth from various directions to learn more
about the st. Louis County gold fields, lately
discovered by Prof Eames, the State Geologist
of it. Some arrive in their broadcloth pants,
and patent leather boots, as if they expected to
attend reception party at Washington. one
jolly featured old fellow who was full OF hre
and mineral glow, exclaimed:
Everybody is talking about the st. Louis
County mines, but there are but few men VINO
have energy enough to come up and look lor
themselves. Now am going right up on 10
the grounds! am going to look, TO near 10
talk and to write. There is no sleep 10 my
energy! I am almost as young as was TWEEN
ty.years ago. l can, in fact, DO everything
Int walk. He was informed that walking
would constitute the principal labor OF bis pro-
posed expedition.
"Cant 1 90 up to the mines in canoes
he inquired with establishment
eyes. there is canoe route, out inc ais
,onoo 10 about two hundred miles and at this
season of the year, owing to low water as
least fifty of those miles will have to DO made
syportage."
lis the walking dry?" he inquired with .
nervous hesitancy.
"Not very," was the reply, "upjess you
wear high-top'd water-ight boots; inasmuch
as you are Obliged to wade many miles In
the bed of the river, and carry your own
canoe and provisions on your back"
"Ah, me-" he exclaimed with sigh, II
can't stand that! Fifty miles portage is little
too much for these old legs. Think I'll try it
cross lot s-straight from Du Luth."
Eyes, that is altogether the best route Tor
some folks"
"Ah, yes; we'll, I'm glad to hear it! How far
is it by that route9"
"As the crow flies, seventy-fve miles; but
as Du Luth is now building the road, eighty
miles,"
Wit hout courage enough to listen to any
more information that so seriously affected the
comfort of his weary legs, the old fellow sat
do wn and began to philosophize on the proba-
bilities of making fortune by specul ating In
Du Luth city lots in preference to gold.
A large party is expected to be made up for
the mines in few days. Meanwhile the ctl-
zens of Du Luth are pushing forward with
their utmost energy good sled and wagon
road direct from this city to the mines. The
opening ceremonies were commenced with De-
coming dignity and energy a few days since,
by ompany OF men, each one shouldering an
axe. and beginning the work under the general
direction of Luke Marvin, Esq, the County
Auditor.
For the benefit of future historians we would
state that the ,Dorkers on the above occasion
were Prof Eames, Luke Marvin, Sidney Luce,
VIM. Nettleton, Frank Salisbury and your
humble correspondent and all OF whom
worked with untiring energy, until they had
completed nearly three miles OF this lmpor-
tant road, which is to so greatly add to the
wealth and importance of this part of Uncle
Sans dominions.
Our prospecting party now being organized,
we start for the gold mines by the river route,
with the expectation of returning by land, in
order that we may know the pecularities of
both routes. Taking large canoe and two
stalwart Indians as guides and workers, we
leave Du Luth at the base of Minnesota Point
the best of spirits We paddle up the St. Louis
Bay and River, sixteen miles to Fon du Lac,
and there, after a sumptuous meal OF pork and
warm biscuit, with few quarts of fresh milk
kindly donated by friend Wheeler, the Govern
ment blacksmith, we commence portage OF
sixteen miles across the country in north
western direction to point on the St. Louis
river where navigation is sufficiently free from
rocks, eddes and rapids as to be good at nearly
all seasons of the year.
The Indian mode of making these portages
isdecidedly interesting to men only accustomed
to life of civilization.
The provisions, -consisting mostly of flour
and pork, and few indispensable utensils for
cookiny-are tied up into bundles weighing
about one hundred pounds each, land these
are TIGHTLY swung over the Indians shoulders
and balanced by o wide strap drawn across the
forehead. With a good natured grunt, the
athletic natives now start of-Indian file, on
an easy dog.trot at speed of about six miles
an hour. At this speed they continue for
about half mile and then swing of their
packs, sit down, and indulge in social smoke.
Fennimore Ceoper's Indians are stoical
race and are generally about as social as so
many mummies,-but they are very unlike
the tawny Chippewas of the present day. The
latter are full of fun, repartee and laughter !;
and if used with blended dignity and kindness,
are as happy as so many school children.
Each resting place on the trail is called
poze,-derived, as some claim, from the
word repose; of this, however, we could
not fully decide, as the Indians claim the word
to belong to their own language and to mean
place, spot, a locality,-devoted exclusive
~ to rest, and smoke.
These poses are generally about halt mile
apart, varying of course according to the con-
dition OF the ground. They are generally Sc
lected for their dryness and convenience for
rest.
This sixteen mile portage is generally wet
and swampy with occasional lodges of dark
roof slate. The latter has been examined bv
ol>o