The New York herald., 1872-07-06
CANOE TRAVELLING EXTRAORDINARY
success Of the Expedition to the
Source Of the Mississippi.
LAKE ITAsoA NOT THE HEADwATERs
Biographies. Must Be Corrected Origin
Of the Word Itasca.
A DAY ALONE IN THE ITAscA REGION.

A DAY ALONE IN THE ITAscA REGION.
CANOE DOLLY WARDEN
MISSISSIPPI RIVER, NEAR ITAsCA LAKE, MIMI, !,
June 10, 1S72 !,
Satisfied, after Q cursory examination, that all
former explorers who have given publicity to their
discoveries, from Schoolcraft to the present day,
had stopped short Of the true Of the greatest
river OF the world, the crew, knowing that the
HERALD would not be satisfied with any incom-
plete exploration, determined to make Q thorough
examination Of the vicinity Of Itasca When School
craft visited this region In 1884, at the head Of an
expedition sent out by the government, he became
satisfied after his long journey through the brush
to O-musz-kose Saw-gaw-e-gum. or Elk Lake-as
the Chtppewas termed this body Of water-that the
''very source" had been reached. he then coined
out Of two Latin words, Ver-i-tas, caput-by elm
mating the rst syllable OF the first word and the
second of the second word-the new name Itasca.
Such, then having its origin in Q want Of proper
research, is the ground for the commonly received
story that Lake Itasca Is the source Of the Hssis
sppi.
The Dolly Warden was rid Of every ounce Of extra.
luggage all being left with the guide and Indian at
the camp the outlet OF tasca, for the crewwas
about to start on voyage In which he might have
to carry her on his head Everything in readiness,
small bag of hard bread and cold bacon and roast
duck on board,
THE CREW PUSHED OUT ALONE
on the lake for thorough clrcumnavigation OF the
shore. Under paddle the canoe coasted down the
eastern side to reach the southeast end OF the lake.
The soundings to the first landing place at an aver
age Of 500 feet from Shore were 49, 49, and IA feet
Near the southern point small stream enters the
lake, but does not extend further than 500 feet
back along the ridge between the edge OF meadow
and q hill of pines Here II is q tiny rivulet
| which trickes down from the rocks The crew is
satisfied that it does not now throughout the year,
and that it its present size to the recent
storms. This is the position Of q 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 Schoocraft Island, finding twelve feet OF water
about midway. 1t was not thought best to make e
on the side toward the mainland. The channel
which separates the island Is not more tnan
island bears the same general direction az the lake.
Its extremities being located northwest ana soutn
| east. 4A l +-
| and opening the 'Doly's" water tight locker the
delicate set Of ships instruments and the chronom-
to clear spot near the centre Of the island. The
exact geographical position Of Schooleraft Island
Ne
sec. longitude o5 deg. min. / second west Of
Greenwich. This calculation, carefully verned, the
The crew then returned to the canoe, and the
search for an inlet was continued. The true canoe
| list Is
NOT RELIC HUNTER, .
he is far too practical to carry one ounce OF worth
less baggage. THAT which the crew now most de-
a human being. Except the Indian and guide he had
not seen man, living or dead, for more tnan lour
s neaet OF aca Crossing the
forest, which bounds the lake on the southern slde
was found a. to be qts III such
swamp was still unforgotten. Although Te9nent :
landings were made the cruise continued unsil, at
the southwestern angle OF the lake,
was seen, from which issued q stream Of clear
the the thick turf and de6ed dis oloration by It's shiny
Of ss Dolly II pusd w
through this channel, and after about one-third OF
mile q pushing padding and hauling the stream
SMALL, ROUND LAKE.
The inlet had not been easy OF navigation by any
means, and growing much shallower after the hrst
l5o feet, several portages had been made by drag.
ging the boat across the sticks and logs In the
one thousand to twelve hundred feet in diameter,
and about circular In shape 1t was quite shallow,
crossed to the opposite side, and found 1t oatins
bOg-a large lake, in fact with sod boating at one
Which H i had at at rst appeared Beyond this bog, after
O long tramp
THROUGH WATER TO THE KNEES,
no other streams or open lakes could be found.
The same was found to be true after the lake was
completely circumnavigated there are no other
streams OF water flowing into this lake. From this
bog 1t is, doubtless, that the 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 q
floating bog are the fountains which give birth to
The greatest depth Of the lake was found to be
only twelve feet. After bathing In the lake, for o
small sandy beach exists near the outlet, the crew
christened the little sheet Of water Dolly Warden
Lake. and he Is resolved to maintain that name
against all competitors. The little daughter OF the
blacksmith OF "Barnaby Rudge" should be known
even by the Chippewa Indians
The return to ltasca began, ana, after q very
tedious journey, ended at the point at which the
inlet entered. The charm Of Itasca Lake was gone.
1t was strange to realize what change the view OF
the lake beyond had wrought in the aesthetic
taste Of the crew. The lake was crossed
opening in the forest which appeared to
be the entrance OF q stream, The northern end Of
the lake is skirted by fine beach and forest Of
hard wood small st ream was found 1owing in
from north northwest, but after short walk up its
channel the crew was confirmed in his belief that
the only perennial stream entering Lake Itasca is
the inlet from Dolly Warden Lake.
Camp was reached at sunset, and the crew found
supper OF fish, bacon, canned peaches, tea and
hard bread awaiting him. The guide and Indian
have everything ready for start and the tramp
back to the point at which the main part OF the
begin at once ......-