The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-07-12
SOURCE OF THE MIssIssIPpi,
Not Lake Itasca, but a Smaller Pond
Report Of the Dolly Warden

Not Lake Itasca, but q Smaller Pond
Report Of the Dolly Warden
Canoe Explorer.
The following from a letter to the
New Yor Herald, dated near ltasca
Lake, Minnesota, from the "crew" Of the
exploring canoe "DOlly Warden"
Satisfied, alter q cursory examination
that all former explorers who have given
publicity to their discoveries, from School.
craft TO the present day, had stopped
short OF the true source Of the greatest
river OF the world, determined 10 make
thorough examination Of the vicinity
Of Itasca. When Schoolcrait visited
this region in 1881, at the head Of an ex.
petition sent out by the government he
became satisfied after his long Journey
through the brush to Elk Lake that the
Every source" had been reached. He
then coined out Of two latin words, Yer.
i.tas, ca,put-by eliminating the first
syllable Of the first word and the second
word-the new name Itasca. Such,
then, having It's origin in o want OF
proper research, Is the ground for the
commonlyreceived story that Lake Itasca,
Is the source Of the Mississippi.
Under paddle, our canoe coasted down
the eastern side 10 reach the southeast
end Of the lake. Near the southern
point small stream enters the lake, but
does not extend further than 1900 feet
back along the ridge between the edge Of
a meadow and bill of pines. Here Is a
tiny rivulet which trickles down from
the rocks. This is the position OF a small
stream marked on the map, and two
lakes are represented, but the bed of the
creek was followed until 1t was clearly
seen that such lakes did not exist.
The crew then returned TO the canoe
and crossed to Schoolcraft Island, finding
twelve feet Of water about midway.
The channel which separates the island
Is not more than 800 feet in width at the
broadest point. The island bears the
same general direction as the lake, Its
extremities being located northwest and
southeast.
A landing was effected, and, opening
the "Dolly's" water.tight locker, the deli
cate set of ships instruments and the
chronometers were carried to q clear spot
near the centre Of the island. The exact
geographical position Of SchOolcralt
Island was then found to be latitude AZ
deg. - min. So Sec, longitude 95 deg.
min. sec. west Of Greenwhich.
The crew then returned to the canoe,
and the search for an inlet was continued.
Crossing to the Tamarac forest, which
bounds the lake on the southern side, II
was found to be quite swampy in places,
Although frequent landings were made
the cruise continued until, at the south.
western angle:sot the lake, small inlet
was seen, from which issued stream Of
clear water. 1t had cut for itself q
channel, about 4 feet in depth and
scarcely moro in width, through the
thick turf, and defied discoloration by Its
shiny banks. The Dolly was pushed up
through this channel, and alter about one.
third Of mile of pushing, padding and
hauling, the stream brought the craft to
small round lake. The inlet had not
been easy of navigation by any means
and growing much shallower, after the
first $50 feet, several portages had been
made by dragging the boat across the
sticks and logs in the Tamarac swamp
The lake was not more than from one
thousand to twelve hundred feet in d.
ameter, and about circular shape. Il
was quite shallow, with considerable
grass in places. The crew crossed to the
opposite side, and found it q floating bog
"a large lake in TACT, with sod floatieg
at one side, thus narrowing it down "a
the circular lakelet which had ut first
appeared. Beyond this bog, after o long
tramp through the water to the knees, nc
other streams or open lakes could be
found. The same was found 10 be true
after the lake was completely circumnRv.
igated there arc no other streams OF
water flowing into this lake. From
this bog it is, doubtless, that tho Indian
found the stream flowing which connects
the Red River with the Mississippi.
Here then is the source of the Longest
river in the world here in Cass county
Minnesota, in small lake, scarcely one,
quarter OF mile in diameter, in the
midst Of floating bog, arc the fountains
which give birth to the Mississippi.
The greatest depth of the lake was
found to b only twelve feet After bath.
ing in the lake, for small sandy beach
exists near the outlet, the crew christened
the little sheet OF water Dolly Warden
Lake, and he is resolved TO maintain thai
name against all competitors. The little
daughter OF the blacksmith Of "Barnaby
Rudge" should be known even by the
Chippewa Indians.