The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-10-06
GOLD LETTERS, No. /.

GOLD LEI EnSs Mo- IL
From Our special Correspondence.
SMrrHs HorEL, CJIENawATANA. MIMI
Sept. 81 1860 )
To the Editor of the Pioaeer: ss e,rt.,,-
Taking passage by Burbank popular stage
line. we left st. Paul on the morning OF the
goth instant, for the gold mines near Duluth,
on the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Although the gold excitement was of but
weight hours growth, the stage was
crowded to repletion and unable to carry all
that begged for conveyanee,-a good lesson,
by the bye, for those who never book their
names until five minutes before the time for
starting. AS the gold excitement increases.
however, we learn that the Messrs. Burbank
will, if necessary, run five large Concord
stages daily, as they are determined to sustain
their old reputation of never leaving passen-
ger behind, as long as gold viii be taken at par
tor oats, good drivers and horse flesh.
The passengers being mostly of healthy.
iovial temperament, the coach and the time
passed as rapidly as could be desired. The
conversation, of course, was mostly of gold
character, and each one was prepared to relate
incidents of colossal fortunes being accumu-
lated by spectators in mining property.
The late storms have had tendency to in
jure the roads on low grounds, and our full
load of passengers, together with the express
matter, told so severely on the stage that when
about eighteen miles this side of st. Paul, and
perhaps half mile north from Traver's post
Office, of the wheels succumbed to the
pressure of circumstances, and went down with
faint groan. The driver being imbued with
the go-ahead spirit of his employers, started off
On run to an old farmers, half mile distant,
quickly obtained a good lumber wagon, and
we were all soon under Roadway again, as i've
ly as ever.
At Wyoming, we stop at Benton's Hotel,
and partake of dinner fit to grace the table
of king. As it takes many graces to make
christian, SO many requisites are necessary
for good dinner; and it is never accomplish
ed as we once saw it attempted in Alabama
by seven different ways of cooking hog meat.
We once sat down to q dinner of the costliest
fare, that was entirely ruined in effect BY q
dirty fly spotted castor. At the Benton House
we had a table cloth that We'd with the snow
for Wilderness and purity; the knives and
forks showed marks of daily polish; the table
contained not only good variety, but great
abundance, and we had the cheering presence
of the worthy hostess in the room to see that
every guest was freely and promptly supplied.
Such meats, such bread, such sauce, such but
ter, and such melons, would put the weariest
traveller on the best of terms even with cross
mother-in-law and her poor relations.
Between the hours Of four and ive,--dame
Nature got up for our special beneft-one of
her first class storms. The wind blew furious
gale, and the water came down not in simple
drops, s21 ms or buckets, but in entire ivert-
ed lakes. No constitutional grumblers being
in the party, it was voted unanimously to '.le
1t rain and it did. Ell $3.50
At eight o'clock in the evening, we reached
Sunrise and put up for the night with our old
musical friend Mold of the American; where
we found everything in the best condition and
plenty of it. Leaving Sunrise the next morn
ing soon after sunrise, we continued our way
north toward the wonderful gold mines Of
Mipnesota-which at present seem to be the
subject of comment of everybody on the road.
All are making enquiries about the quantity
and location, but no one seems to know any
thing beyond the general fact ofthe gold being
found by Prof. Eames the State Geologist, and
that two eminent assayers have announced that
il, is worth over thirty dollars to the ton.of
rock. i'eF
Eleven miles north from Sunrise we made
stop of about half an hour ct small Inn by
the roadside where we changed drivers and
horses One of our passengers, DR.. Mcdonald,
from Fort Ridgeiy, now en- route for the post
at Chengwatana, was dressed In military appar-
a. and as he entered the hotel, he was greeted
by q big two. listed countryman with the infor-
nation that III
"Them soldiers up thar at Chengwatana is
all towards! They dassent look over Is fence
arter shutdown for fear of iDjuns.'
The Doctor, who is exceedingly sensitive in
regard to the reputation of every one wearing
Uncle Sans livery, turned and looked at the
fellow a moment as if he would rivet him to
the spot, but noticing from the critical glance,
that brains didn't predominant, he concluded
at once to have little joke for our general
amusement.
'.And SO you think the soldiers are all cow
ards. eh? 2" said the Doctor.
.'Wall. / know they'd be mighty scarf ct the
iniuns was to come round" 9
s'Are you afraid Of Indians ?" inquired the
Doctor.
"No sir! I'd ruther shoo'em than not. II
we was to have war with the injuns, I'd be the
fust man to begin shootin' EN- down."
"I am glad to hear of your courage said
the Doctor, "but very sorry to hear go bad q
report of the soldiers. 1t is 60 grave a charge,
however, that think our Colonel here had
better investigate It," The Doctor now point
ed to Prof. Webb, the United States Surveyor,
who was one of our passengers. and continued.
..What say you, Colonel, win you take the
-. .,.t,,,,c.v uov or will Won eond file q,