Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-16
FROM LAKE SUPERIOR,
From Cleveland TO Marquette-PIeaS-
ures Ofthe Trip-BeautifuI Scenery
Points of Interest ON the Route
The Town of Marquette.



the region below, in the luscious c~oolnes
of these Northern Lakes, your CORE
spondent finds himself to-day in the hand
some village of Marquette-the northern
most point yet reached by rail on tn,
American continent. He confesses to
pleasant disappointment as to this region
of the upper lakes" Guide books, tour
lists and specials have not exaggerated
for the scenery is as fine, the water a
clear, the air as pure, the islands as fair
and the mines as rich, as enthusiast,
travellers have represented.
The water trip is especially arranged
for the comfort and convenience of tour
lists, and when ence embarked, one canno-
help yielding to the spirit of enjoymen-
which always reigns supreme among the
pleasure seeking passengers. A stroke o.
the steamers great engine and you are
adrift, cut off from the h~um-drum, work.
a-day world, and straightway sermons,
briefs and patients are forgotten, corro-
ding cares of business are thrown to the
winds, and useless "physic to the dogs"
Fortunately, We were "ticketed" foI
the Meteor, which we found swift, staunch
and well-appointed. Old Erie gave US
none too kindly q reception, and the rough
caresses she gave the good ship added lit
tie to the comfort of the Gland lubbers,r
who made ludicrous staggers about the
decks, or lay sleeplessly upon their berth:
with a "huttering" sensation in tberegio1
of the stomach, until daylight brought u;
to the quiet waters of the river, and sci
all to rights again. A run Of three OIL
four hours between the wooded banks and
among the charming islands of the river
brought us to Detroit, with a whole day
for sight seeing and exploration.
The steamer did not leave until after
midnight, and then most of the passenger:
having done the town to their entire
satisfaction, were quietly dreaming in
their ststerooms, to open their eyes IN the
morning on the handsome banks of the
st. Clair river, bordered with sawmills
with great RATS of logs and docks piled
with lumber, and here and there a cIump
of houses, the nucleus of some future
city. Just at breakfast time we stop at
the thriving town of Port Huron for q
half hour, and then We push out into the
broad waters of Lake Huron and settle
ourselves for an uubroken run of twenty
hours. Games, chatting, reading, singing,
sleeping, and in the evening, dancing. fiji
up the time so that not an hour hangs
heavily. The dance, by the way, was not
a perfect success, because, as an old nsalt'
expressed it, most of the passengers
'hadn't their sea legs on" In the alter
noon a heavy rain storm had oveItaken
US and, though it passed by in time to
reveal a magnificent sunset, the long
swells made the deck seem an unreliable
footing. The party, however, made good
progress In acquaintance in spite of diff
fculties. Of course We had our fair wo-
men and marked men together with the
usual "illing' of nondescripts.
Saturday morning, bright and clear,
brought the famous island of Mackinae
into view. The little village has two or
three good hotels, but is scattered and de-
cidedly shabby in appearance. The old
fort is on q high bluff overlooking the
landing, and must have been a strong
hold once. The stone walls are still
standing, in tolerable condition, but two
or three field pieces, just visible over the
ramparts, and a solitary sentinel, are the
only signs of a garrison. The scenery of
the island is charming, and its MANY
points Of interest and curiosity make it a
favorite resort for those whose aspirations
do not reach to Lake Superior.
From Mackinac to the Detour the
course, for four or five hours, is nearly
eastward along the shore of the great
peninsula which divides the waters Of the
upper lakes. From the Detour to the
Sault the SEEM is one of wonderful beau
ty. The channel winds about amid num-
berless islands and other shores unindent-
ed with deep bays and deeper inlets whose
pure waters are without a ripple. The
water is clear and limpid, and singular
freshness is impaired to the islands and
shores by the rich, dark verdure of the
pine and spruce trees which thrust their
roots into the crevices of the rocks. or
draw a scanty s~ustenance from the barren
soil. a single Indian village and here
and there q solitary fsherman's hat, with
a boat at anchor or upturned upon the
beach, or a wOOdman's howell and a little
dock piled with the wood chopped from
pines, are the only signs of mans
presence or handiwork. On the RIGHT
of the river, for miles, the forests
were destroyed by frs a few years since,
but a second growth has now sprung up,
and the white, dead trunks thrust them
up through a mass of living green.
Working our way up through Nebish
rapids, which are no rapids at all, and
George, which is onl ? a wider and
shallower part of the channel, we round
Sugar Island and land at Sault Ste Marie.
The village, built up by the trade around
me rapids before the great canal existed,
now finds its occupation gone. 1t is still,
however, a favorite place of resort, espec-
ally for sportsmen, and its hotel accom-
are excellent.
The Revenue Gutter, General Dix. late
y returned from an extended tour around
Lake Superior, with General Sherman. |
les at the landing waiting the appearance
II the Assistant Secretary of State to re-
peat the trip. Captain Wilson, well
as the second in command of the
Doctor Kane Arctic Expedition, is her
commander.
just above the village are the rapids !
With a fall of twenty feet in something
ess than q mile. The bed is rocky and
-angerous, and the current swift, so that
My light, bark canoes can pass, and they
equire the most skillful pilotage. Along
lde the rapids is the Sault Ship Canal.
1hleh, IN 1854, opened Lake Superior
nth its i~nexhaustible mines. to the COM
lerce OF the world. It is large enough
the passage of any lake steamer. and
S walls OF solid masonry will stand for
ges.
Two or three hours are occupied in mass
lg the ponderous locks, of which there
re three, and there is fair and omen sail
lg as we push out into the clear waters
I old Superior. 1t was dark by the time
re had passed Gros Cap, and morning
'und US ~eoasting along the southern shore
18th nothing in sight but hills and inter
unable forests On the one hand, and the
ooundless blue of the lake on the other.
Re passed Grand Island and the Pictured
oeks at noon, but at too great a distance
see their more attractive features. and
two o'clock left the lovely bay of Mar
!
We left the deck of the "Meteor' for a
ief stay on terra JfrnG with profound j
gret, for her arrangements were quite to
II liking. The state rooms are neat and 7
ry, the cabin cosy and comfortable, and
e lsrder always well supplied. Every
ing on board, even to the little details {