The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-10-06

SNrrH'S HorEL, CIIENuwATANA. MIMI
Sept. II 1860 )
To the Editor Of the Pioneer: .-r.r-
Taking passage by Burbank popular stage
line. we left ST. Paul on the morning OF the
Doth instant, for the gold mines near Duluth,
on the North Shore Of Lake Superior.
Although the gold excitement was of but
forty.eight hours growth, the stage was
crowded to repetion and unable to carry all
that begged for conveyance,--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 will be taken at par
tor oats. good drivers and horse flesh.
The passengers being mostly of healthy.
ioyial temperament, the coach and the time
passed as rapidly rs could be desired The
conversation, of course, was mostly of a 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, one of the wheels succumbed to the
pressure of circumstances, and went down with
q 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 good lumber wagon, and
we were all soon under Roadway again. as live
ly as ever.
At Wyoming, we stop at Benton's Hotel,
and partake of dinner fit to grace the table
of a king. As it takes many graces to make
christian, so many requisites are necessary
for o 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 dinner of the costliest
fare, that was entirely ruined in effect by a
dirty fly spotted castor. At the Benton House
we had 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 fve,--dane
Nature got up for our special bene6t,-one of
her first class storms. The wind blew furious
gale, and the water came down not in simple
drops, ms or buckets, but in entire ivert-
ed lakes. No constitutional grumblers being
in the party, it was voted unanimously to ''le
it rain land it did.
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
Minnesota-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
fonnd by Prof Eames the State Geologist, and
that two eminent assayers have announced that
it is worth over thirty dollars to the ton. of
rock.
Eleven miles north from Sunrise we made
stop of about half an hour at q small Inn by
the roadside where we changed drivers and
horses. One of our passengers, DIR. Mcdonald,
from Fort Ridgely, now en- route for the post
at Chengwataua was dressed in military appar-
Ell and as he entered the hotel, he was greeted
nv big two listed countryman with the infor-
nation that
"Them soldiers up thar at Chengwatana is
all towards. They dassent look over fence
arter shutdown for fear of iDjuus.'
The Doctor, who is exceedingly sensitive III
regard to the reputation of every one wearing
Uncle Sans livery, turned and looked at the
fellow moment US 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.
s.And SO you think the soldiers are all cow
ards, eh?" said the Doctor.
'Wall. know they'd be mighty scarf ef the
ipiuns was to come round"
"Are you afraid Of Indians 2" inquired the
Doctor.
"No cir. I'd ruther shooiem than not. II
we was to have war with the ipjuus, I'd be the
inst man to begin shootin EN- down."
81 am glad to hear of your courage said
the Doctor, "but very sorry to hear so bad 8
report of the soldiers. 1t is 60 grave 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, viii you take the
mans testimony now, or will You send a file o
soldiers down and take him up to Chengwa
taua. tomorrow or the day afters"
Prof Webb adjusted his small steel.bowes
specs, and giving the fellow long, vacant
RI