Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-07-19
NOVEL CANOE VOYAGE.
From tho Source Of tho Mississippi to
New Orleans.
rom the Minneapolis Tribune, June 81.

From the Minneapolis Tribune, June Fl.
The canoe "Dolly Varden," OF
New York city, from Lake Itasca OF
the sth inst, arrived safely Al
Minneapolis last evening. The
boat and crew are at the Nicolle1
House. Realizing the fact that the
summer amusement of canoe travel
ing would become as popular here
as in England, Mr.. julius Chambers
a young journalist Of New Yorl
city, determined to make a cruise
down the Mississippi river during
the summer of 1872. The Longest
trip of MacGregor, of London, did
not exceed one thousand miles
This among the rivers and lakes OF
Europe was voyage of considera'
BILE magnitude, and the novelty OF
the trip at once charmed and de-
lighted every .one. The numerous
great rivers which traverse the
United States offer thoroughfares
for canoe travellers compared with
which the largest European streams
are indeed diminutive.
The "Dolly Warden" is~of paper,
and instead of tapering from the
waist toward either end, she rises
from depth of 1o4 inches amid
ships to 20! inches at the stem and
II at the stern. The length is II
feet, and beam % inches. She is
fitted with water-tight compartments
at each end, so that in the event Of
capsize, she would "right" in the
water of herself. She is fitted with
two masts and rugged with spreet.
sail seven feet in height, a jib and
mizzen. Ample accommodations
are arranged for sleeping in the
canoe. A double-bladed paddle
affords the means ofpropulsion when
the wind is adverse.
The "Dolly Warden" left New
York May 81, reaching Duluth on
the morning of the 3Oth, and Oak
Lake Station, on the Northern
Pacific railroad, on the day follow
ing. Thence she was transported by
train twenty-one miles across the
prairie, to White Earth trading
post. There it was found necces-
sary, as the country 70 be passed
for the first 500 miles was uninhabi-
ted, and provisions were not to be
had, to hire a guide and an Indian
to carry provisions. A birch-bark
canoe was procured for their use,
together with a two weeks outfit of
provisions. An additional Indian
was hired to carry the "Dolly," and
on Tuesday, June 4, the crew
started through the brush for Itasca.
FIRST to the northeast seven miles,
where White Earth river was
reached; thence ten miles to the
eastward by this river and the
Twin Lakes to desert of red
sand; thence on foot ten miles,
through binding rain storm, to
the northward; thence by Wild Rice
river thirty miles, first to the north
east and then to the southeast, then
after fivc-mile portage through a
windfall and tamarac swamp to a
chain of three lakes; thence through
forest of pine and large swamp
to the Mississippi, eight miles
above Lake Itasca. During this
trip, occupying four days, it rained
almost continuously. The Missis-
sippi was then followed to Lake
Itasca and beyond. All of June sth
was passed at the true source of the
Mississippi, beyound the lake.
The cruise then began in earnest.
Lake Pemidji was reached on the
10th, where the first human beings
were encountered since leaving
White Earth. After a hard afier-
Moons work among the rapids,
Lake Cass was reached on the
evening of the same day; Lake
Winnebccoshish on the llth; Poke.
gama Falls on the 18th; Sandy
Lake on the l4th; Muddy River on
the l5th-where the guide and
Indian were discharged; Brainerd
on the 10th, and Minneapolis as
stated. The "Dolly Warden" will
leave for St. Paul, stopping at Min
nehaha, this morning at s. 1t is
proposed to continue the voyage to
the Gulf.