Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-11-13

leave our teams at Amick and commence
our
CANOE RIDE OF sEVENTYTwo NILES.
Embarking we start out in the follow
ing order:
Canoe, Garden City, Antoine Cor.
don, Master, Director Whiting, O. NJ,
Humphrey, and Chas. Gilbert, (Indian)
crew.
Canoe, Eau Claire,.-Capt. E. D,
Whiting, commanding; Commissary
Shaw; VIM. Gordon, and Henry Beau
regard, crew.
Canoe, Brule,-Surgeon Sholes and
Private eld,-detailed to guard the
.stores, and Indians Messenger and
Delgey, crew.
Out of the Eau Claire and up the st.
Croix we go, through beds of wild rice
and rushes, over rapids and through ba-
sins our birch canoes propelled by strong
and skillful hands, and their human
freight as happy as larks. The first
point to notice is the mouth OF Ok Greek,
the most northern tributary of the st.
Croix. The scenery now changes and
becomes most beautiful. The shores are
lined with autumn tinted foliage, and the
dark green balsams send their steeple.
like turrets towards the sky, forming
beautiful groups, or standing out alone,
towering above all else, like sentinels on
duty. The cedar, spruce, pine, maple,
tamarack, elm, poplar, oak, and alder, all
mat together in wild confusion upon the
banks, so thick that no human eye can
penetrate its depths. We never saw such
a mass and variety Of foliage in one 10
cality before.
The riter narrows as we 60 north
ward. and The shores grow more swampy
and low banked. The cedar takes the
place of other growth and we travel
at much less speed. We pass Twin
Rocks, two large boIlders in the bed OF
the river, with just canoe channel be-
tween-nezt we come to an ancient tish
tran built by Indians over one hundred
wears ago, and we are informed by our
guide that every member of the band
who constructed the rude works has
passed away, even to their chlldren's
children. But while we have been talk
ing scenery, our guides trusty fowling
piece has been at work, and the ducks
have fallen in scores, enough surely for a
good hearty meal.-Rounding point
his practiced eye catches sight of beau
tiful mink. Tn an instant the death
dealing gun does its work. and he is add
ed to our trophies. Twelve miles up the
river and we enter
ST. CRoIX LAKE,
the source of the st. Croix river. 1t is
six miles long and from one to two miles
wide. An Island containing about ten
acres, beautiful enough for the home OF
a Fairy Queen, rises up in the center,
and the shores, lined with golden hued
forests, shaded with dark pines, and the
ever beautiful fir-balsams, form n most
charming and delightful picture.
-" The mountains that infod
In their wide sweep the colored landscapes round,
Seem groups of giant Kings. in purple and gold,
That guard the encnanteu gtouIlu
Smoothly we glide over the lakes
CLASSY surface, aud soon pass the site OF
the once famous Indian village, STACKS
town." 1t was abanded eighty years
ago, but the dust of many warrior lies
nea. by in the old burial ground. AT
last we near the northern shore that
forms
THE DIVIDING RIDGE,
that separates the waters of the st.
Croix from those of the Brule. Here
we disembark and prepare to make the
portage.-Our straps" are taken out OF
the canoes and made into ''packs," and
each man shoulders bis burden, takes the
trail and travels on, while the canoes
are transported on the heads of our lndl-
an boys. A few rods up tho trail we
pause for dinner, in beautiful grove OF
Norway pines, high up the bill side and
overlooking the lake below. This is the
camping ground used for years by all
who visit the Brule of
CAMP BARRON.
Dinner over our packs are replaced
and walk of mile and half and
we are on the BRULE! In grove of
young pines we pitch our tent for the
night, and prepare to 'call from labor to
refreshment.'
At CAMP DOCTOR WHITING.
Trout lines are produced and while
supper is cooking, the stream is being
"whipped." A wild hurrah is heard
down the Rrule and those in camp rush
forth to learn the cause. Word comes
back that "Gordon has got a deer" and
we 90 wild over the good news. Soon
be is brought to camp--a noble 200
pound buck with large anters. Surgeon
shoIes being in at the death claimed the
horns and they are now on their way to
Boston to grace his office. This COM
pleted our list of game for the day, which
stood thus:-l deer; mink; 35 ducks
e l.