The New York herald., 1872-07-09
CANOE DOLLY WARDEN.
Searching for the Source Of the
Mississippi.
Ascending the Wild Rice River-"WiudfsuS'- =
Beautiful Lake-The Famous Spirit Islspd
Aaw-ns-do-me-nis-In Appearance and
Legend Related by the Indian Guide.

/
Legend Related BY the Indian Guide.
CANoE DOLLY WARDEN, MISSISSIPPI RIVER !
EIGHT MALES BELOW LAKE IrAscA, Minn.,
June 8, 1874 }
The Wild Rice River was ascended for thirtyoDs
miles In the manner described in the last letter.
Az the END OF that distance landing was made.
and early this morning portage Of five miles was
pegun through tamarack forest, in the direction
OF chain OF three small lakes. The general courss
was south-s0utheast. The forest was quite boggy
In places, and frequent windfalls were en-
countered. The term windfali Is applied by the
halfbreeds OF Northern Minnesota to the path
of tornado. 1t is not unfrequent occurrence to
encounter In the heart of pine forest the track Of
hurricane which has cut for itself a passage
through the largest trees, and left them torn and
uprootcd, so that they form an almost impossible
barrier to the traveller. Several were enc0un-
tered In this portage OF ve miles, all evidently OF
different ages. 1t with little fear and trenl.
bling that the crew, stumbling along behind, saw
the Dolly on the Indians head frequently twelve
ana fifteen feet from the ground. Tho
results OF misstep or of rotten
limb upon the future OF the voyage were
repeatedly suggested to the mind Of the an xious
crew. Not unfrequently the guide, who went ahead
| Win the brch-bark canoe on his head, would be
forced to stop and hew passage along the trunk
OF q prOstrate tree. The axe was never out of hia
hand during the entire portage. Never since the
exploration for the Panama Railroad was such u
forest OF matted brush and fallen limbs encOap-
! tered The SOIL wherever observable through the
underground, was composed chiefly of a pale red
sand
Within about one-half mile of the end of tns
portage fine forest of oak and Eastwood was
reached. 1t was only separated from the tamarack
Wilderness by small clear stream, but the line
was as clearly drawn as an open plain could have
mauc IL. ms grove with Its green grass, ttS
shadow shade and sunlight, was quite, relief, aud ths
through the trees the glistening waters OF
| BEAUTIFUL LAKE.
| Is continuation of the Wild Rice River which
after lowing long distance to the northeast.
turns and flows to the south-sOutheast surrounded
on all sides by grove similar to that in which
we were. This charming lake, scarcely and
sand, was picture to delight the eyes Of the ttred
voyagers, and throwing Off our packs, guide, Indian
and crew rushed down to the waters edge to
binger OF civilization and its entire circumference
was scanned with field glass In the vain hope that
was soon launched, and the bright paddle blades
Glove the dark green water. The trolling line soon
dinner sS sS Sss ts s'
towards the inlet was about northeast A stream
enters enters the LAX lake at at that nat point, and the canoes
distance, however, 1t was lost In the rushes, and
the guide springing into the water, while the In
dragged through what appeared to the crew of the
! New YORK craft to be an invisible channel. The
guide aad indian waasd up to their waists and the
-s: .S.c BUSHES SOON BECAME so DENSE s., J
the creH was forced to get out nso the ne water
size was shortly after reached, and all getting
aboard, was soon crossed. Seeing number OF
OF the Dolly got ashore and after creeping through
| the wet grass until within very short range nreo
into the midst Of them 1N say e e ap
over half mile of noating bog they were again
launched in Lake Ah-shaw-way ayse-ta-gen or
reaches the banks of the Mississippi. In this lake.
| the source OF the Wild Rice River, Is
| THE FAMOUS SPIRIT ISLAND,
reverenced and dreaded alike by the Chippewas
and Sioux. The island Is nearly In the middle OF
the lake and does not contain more than half an
symetrically to height OF thirty feet. The Indian
that single sSmtha ZEN 81 e tses s0en I'm te T
lated to the crew. the guide acting as interpreter,
the legend Of the place and IN the narration nal alto & ex
stantally, that long years ago, before whte man
was ever seen In
a party OF Indians were crossing this lake In
canoe. That when they were about opposite to tho
y saw We e sSpe ana veny Ga na e
away. Her hair, as white as snow, hmng IN a
giared aerceiy and her jaws with their toothiess
gums champed with rage. The crew would say
here that the picture & OF that poor as sou,
by the Indian and guide was enough
to strike terror into listener around the hearth
stone of q country homestead. The vagaries to
which Ichabod Crane gave ready ear would have
paled before it. In conclusion, the Indian said that
the woman had been watched from distance and
had been seen to go Off to the mainland on q log
and to return with sprigs OF each species or tree
That the Indians would not set foot on the Island
| even to this day and much as possible avoided
the lake. The crew Of the Dolly resolved to take
dinner on the island,
KNOWN AS MAw-NE-Do-ME-NIss,
in Chippewa and, pulling ashore, began to collect
fuel for tue fire. The guide soon arrived and took
entire charge OF the culinary departments. Ascend
| ing the mound 1t was found to be perfect sugar
! loaf The trees OF the surrounding country were
OF the same kind, but how the old lady could have
| been so careless as to overlook the
tamarack, the crew, after passing so many
i'm the morning. could not imagine. The Indian
over, the island was searched from one end to the
| other. but not the slightest trace OF an Inulaii
camping ground could be detected. The mound
| was quite curious and may be OF artificial iorma-
tiOn, for traces Of
| THE MOUND BUILDERS
exist I'm several places in Northern Minnesota. me
excavation of that probable relic or past race ~
left to the next visitors The canoes again IN the
fivemile tramp through country very much similar
to the tramp Of the morning the
| BANKS OF THE MISSISSIPPI
| were reached. During the whole OF TINS walk
moment. The Mississippi at this point, about eight
miles from Lake Itasca, is not more tnan mIteen
| feet in width, and wanders through valley OF
| about twelve hundred feet In width, bounded on
| at present inaccessible to the lumberm man, will
| one day furnish the material TO keep the saws OF
| MINNEAPOLIS running. We will ascend to the lake
early In the morning.
Died.
| =