The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-08-04
'clal Correspondence Of tha Courier.
Up The Mississippi.
Trempealeau, Wisconsin, |
R$Hs Jnlv 26 1870

f2a July 70, 1870.
DEAR CoUnIEa Suppose, for a
change, we forsake Minnesota for a
little time, and take an excursion
over in Wisconsin. e.a la -gs
| About 100 miles below st. Paul,
just at the point where . clear, beau.
tiful stream empties into the Father
Of Watcrs, rises a high, bold peak,
around whose base the waters flow,
and from which circumstance it has
its name, Trempoaleau, a mountain
in the water. The little river bears
the same name; the county follows
suit, and q little farther down is the
pleasant little village OF Trompealcau.
Here is an illustration Of the foolish
custom in our country of transfer
ring names. Here is q name appli-
cable enough for the peak itself, but
just as inappropriate for the river and
county and village. Names fitting
in ono locality are transferred to
another where they have no sort of
pcrtincncy. One town at the conflu-
ence OF two streams, is termed Men.
dota (meeting of the waters >
somebody, in another State, takes q
fancy to it and gives the name to a
village ont on the broad prairie.
But talking Of names, we shall be
past our landing place unless we
hasten. The boat stops at tho
village of Trempealeau, aud we are
on shore. If it is in the middle of the
day the mercury has probably run
up to 1902 in the shade, and we shall
not care about exploring much until
it is cooler. There is high rocky
bluff for you to climb towards even.
ing. It does not seem very far to
the top of it, but you are glad to stop
and rest several times before you
reach the summit. Once at the top,
you ar 800 or 400 feet above the
river, and . magnificent panorama is
spread ont around you. There is
the river at your feet, winding
among its beautiful grccn islands |;
q boat here anda skiff there, and the
little village with its observation-disclosures
nestled in the valley beneath Up
the river and 10 the east, il tho little
village Of Galesviile, the county scat;
still further above Z and across the
river is the young city. of Winona,
the pridc Of Minnesota, and twenty
three miles below, is tho busy city
of La Crosse, made by famous Brick
Pomeroy's "La Crosse Democrat" :"
and determined to mako herself q
name by her enterprise and growth.
Just across the river is o cave in the
bluff, where, when the water is high,
you may row your skiff and explore.
but which isnow dry. On the walls
are hundredsof names, and some with
dates that 60 as far back as 1919
Trempealenu was an carly trading
fort situated within the lands of the
Winnebagoes. Y
But let us go back into the country
from the river. For some distance
the road is level and sandy. Seven
miles away and you are at Gales
vile, a cluster of houses and inhabi-
tants, which has two things, at least,
in which you are interested.
There is pile of grayish white
limestone built into structure that
marks the folly of its proprietors, a
largo stone mill rising seven stones
from the water and intended to run
seven run ofstone. A hundred thou
sand dollars have been put into that
one built, and it's whole work cannot
pay the interest ofthe money. Buff.
falo Creek, spring-water stream, af-
fords an immense water-power, just
on tho opposite side of the mill, a
white stand stone bluff rises about
800 feet about perpendicnlarly, the
white pines grow out Of it's lodges
its summit is covered with oak, birch,
&c. The mill is built so closely against
the bluff, and so near the water, too,
that it seems almost a part of the
native rock.
But let US 90 back into tho country
from tho river. For some distance
tho road is level and sandy, but as
yougo on, it is wild broken coun-
try, such as you hardly thought to
see in this region. Every few miles
you cross streams and rivers that
make towards the Mississippi, and
between the valleys are high, Jagged
peaks, 100, 200 and 500 feet 6igh,
sand, mari, rock and almost oyery
sort ofsoil enters into their compost
tien. fHs
Yonder in the distance, is Deco
rah Peak, which perpetuates the
memory of q noble and brave red
skin. In the early settlement OF
Pairie du aChion, the Winnebagoe S
had determined on tho massacre of
the whites there, and Decorab, who
was friendly to the whites, determin-
ed to apprizo them of their danger.
This the Winnebagoes ascertained;
and determined to take him with his
warriors. Decorah fed and ascen.
ded this peak. At tho top is q rock
about 40 feet in height rising almost
perpendicularly, giving but one path
Of ascent, and that, a difficult one.
The summit was covered with stones
from the size of a mans hand to the
size Of his head. Once there, the
ehief, of course, commanded the
situation. Some of his pursuers
attempting to follow, he hurled the
rocks upon their heads, and they and
tho rocks rolled down together.
This was too much for
Indian vindictiveness, and they sus-
pended operations to hold council.
1t was resolved to starvo him out,
and they scnt for provisions. After
remaining for about SO hours in this
uncomfortable situation, he stole
down during the darkness of night,
cluded even Indian vigilance, and
before ten o'clock merit day was in
Prairie du Lhien, a distance of 100
miles, to warn the whites of their
danger. In recognition Of his bra
very and service, the President gave
him a beautiful flag, which he priced
almost with idolatry until his death.
Whom he died, about eight years