The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-27

Elaboration Of the Upper
Mississippi.



CANOE DOLLY Warden, |
LAKE CASE. Upper Mississippi, June IA, 1874
ne Mississippi lows placidly out Of Lake Pemidji
trough delightful forests Of hardwood The water
hso clear that the pebbly bottom may be seen,
DsAough at depth OF more than six feet. The
links are bright green turf, even to the waters
soge. The river seems nled with fish and the guide
0eared quite number. They could not be taken
Nth hook. and trolling, down stream, in shallow
wafer has long since been abandoned by the crew.
nouting tackle had been brought from st. Paul,
~ repeated trials In the river, near Itasca had
nled 70 indicate the presence Of any Of the speck
- sinners" The only fish existing TO any extent
- the Upper Mississippi ore white, pickerel, bass,
1ke, suckers, cat and perch. The white fish OF this
phatn OF lakes are in every way equal To those
pnAght In Erie or Ontario
RAPIDS AHEAD.
After mile OF travelling under shady banks and
SVer smooth water q short bend In the river dis
sAsses dincult rapid ahead. The water Ia just Of
nat dangerous height sufficient to obscure rocks
which, under ordinary circumstances, would be
hare and easily avoided As 1t ls, the water is not
1pep enough to render the rocks safe. The current
gweeps down headlong among the stones drawing
NE canoes along with great swiftness. The con.
sent wreck. In the first rapid the Dolly was pre-
soded by the birch bark The Indian had been
Dvor the route before, and claimed to know good
1Aannel The crew of the Dolly kept his craft d.
Decty behind but the almost constant oaths OF the
Rutdc satisfied him that the Indian had not taken
good channel and that the canoe ahead was suf-
eYing. Although the keel of the Dolly scraped
pgainst several stones no damage was DONE and
NE first rapid was
PASSED IN SAFETY.
me crew had scarcely time to fasten up the ends
q the waterproof apron and to remove his mecca
ms before the second rapid was reached This,
IKE the first, began near a bend in the river, and
asuld not be seen until fairly entered The sensa-
Non 40 the canoe PUSHES through the foam grazing
mis- rock and scarcely avoiding the next, Is one
which fosters anxiety; the running Of rapids is o
sonstant strain upon the nervous system The sails
I'D been well dashed down below and everything
nade snug on deck. On the approach Of the boiling
Wa4er the crew carefully slipped back on to the
Geek, midway between the well and the stern. with
Bis feet in the water In this manner the steering
q the craft could be managed more easily, as the
more advantage In the reverse stroke. Ont of the
second rapid and before the guide had finished the
Gy,
both canoes again dashed into the beginning Of a
quarter OF mile Of rapids The crew, by going to
I'D from the companion craft, and out Of the
channel There was no help for 1t now, and the
guides was seen or to the right shooting along
Through the foaming water. Ahead in the path Of
oe Dolly ledge OF rocks projecting out OF the
vas sputtering. The main current OF the river
PASSED around to the right, but could not be
reached by any possible means on account OF the
sew OF boulders which stretched down the middle
1t was absolutely certain that the keel would
led a Tha
great fear was that, striking near the bow, the
stern OF the canoe would swing round and 60 over
ssrtain to ''go down standlng.n All this was seen
IN an instant and desperate alternative adopted
Dolly was trimmed with strip Of wrought iron for
last such emergencies. The crew raised himself on
pc knees on the aiter-deck, and with the paddle
1ertaking was great risk for the craft and the
prospect OF ducking for the crew with his feet
doubled up under him
He AWAITED THE SHOCK.
me little craft struck sqnarely on her keel, and
% the bow was so much higher than the stern she
Ntd not stop. The very instant the midship Sec
Ton grated the crew rose and sprang forward of
the wen, thus sinking the bow and releasing the
the water below being comparatively smooth for
the next $50 feet the crew had time to resume his
as t .ne t Mn, was WIN great
tAntly in the rapids
The river from near PemidIi, until we reached
such rapids The distance Is fully seven miles, and
b n scarcely possible to tell where one rapid ends
and the next begins. Near the last Of
this run, the water being there covered with
Roth 30 that stones cannot be readily SEEM the
M4oe was in an eddy and out of the main channel
OK the result must have been serious. AS 1t was q
small hole, about the size OF tencent fractional
currency, was broken in the starboard bow. The
bank was easy OF access and reached In few mo-
Wents.
ON THE DRY DOCK FOR REPAIRS.
The spirit lamp OF the Rob Roy cuisine was soon
eblaze and the marine glue melted. wax end
had, meanwhile united the broken edges, and the
hrge end OF an axe, heated over the lamp, had
dried them thoroughly. The glue was applied with
Q brush and allowed q few moments to cool, during
which piece Of Manila paper was cut to the
proper size. The glue dry, q good coat OF
phellac varnish to the broken portion, the paper
spilled and dried on with the heated axe another
coat OF shellac over ALL and the Dolly Warden was
ready to resume her travels-the whole operation
occupying eighteen minutes. II the Dolly had been
. lap-steak cedar boat she would have had TO be
carried to st. Paul for repairs The river had trav
e1sed fine forests OF poplar, oak, birch and pine
eho scenery In many places was wild and charming
4he first OF series OF three small lakes reached
the river began to meander through a meadow OF
fall rank grass. The first lake was about one mile
y width and devoid OF beauty.
TERRIFIC HAIL STORM.
The frst two lakes were passed, and the Dolly
vas about entering cut-On TO avoid the third
which, by the way, Is not one-ffth the size marked
b the maps, when a rainstOrm burst forth nom
heavy mass Of white clouds. The guide at once
made for the shore, and advised the crew OF the
Dolly to follow, saying, "a heavy haistOrm Is sure
10 come" The large waterproof sheet was brought
nshore, ell drew their heavy coats over their heads
end awaited the result The rain disappeared, and
n hot hai torn no m