New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-21
SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
Not Itaska but Another Lake the FOun-
tain Head of the King of Floods.

/
tain Head of the King of Floods.
Correspondence of the New York Herald
CANOE DOLLY WARDEN, }
Mississippi river, near Itaska Lake, MINI :
June 10, 1872. }
Satisfied, after 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, the crew, knowing that the Her
aid would not be satisfied with any incom-
plete exploration, determined to make a
thorough examination of the vicinity of
Itasca. When SehOOleraft visited this vi
cinity in 1881 at the head of an expedition
sent out by the government, he became sat
isfed after his long journey through the
brush to O-musz-k Ose Sawagaw-e-gum, or
Elk Lake-as the Chippewas termed this
body Of Water-that the very source had
been reached. He then coined. out of two
Latin words, Ver-i-tas, ca-Gut-by eliminat-
ing the first syllable of the first word and
the second of the second woFd-th6 new
name of Itasca. Such, then, having its
origin in want of proper research, is the
ground for the commonly received story
that Lake Itasca is the source of the Mis-,
sissippi.
The Dolly Warden was rid of every ounce
of extra luggage, all being left with the
| guide and Indian at the camp near the out
| let of the Itasca, for the crew was about to
start on voyage in which he might have
to carry her on his head. Everything in
! readiness, a small bag Of hard bread and
cold bacon and roast duckj on board, the
! crew pushed out alone on the lake for a
! thorough decentralization 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 average of 800 feet from shore,
/ IL 0-oH 4 ba
ern point a small stream enters the lake,
but does not extend further than 1900 feet
back along the ridge between the edge of a
meadow and a hill of pines. Here it is a
rivulent which trickles down from the rocks.
The crew is satisfied that it does not flow
throughout the year, and that it owes even
us present size to the recent storms. 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 it
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. 1t was not
thought best to make a landing at this
point, but the shore was followed on the /
side toward the main land. The channel |
which separates the island is not more than |
$40 feet in width at the broadcast point. |
The island bears the same general direction |
northwest and southeast. A landing was |
erected, and opening the DOlly's water
tight locker, the delicate set of ships instru- |
ments and the chrOnometers, imported for
TINS very occasion, were carried to clear
spot near the centre of the island. The ex-
act geographical position Of SchOOlcraft isl
and was then found to be latitude AZ ~
- longitude 90 2 /" west of Greenwich I
1Als calculation, carefully verified, the crew
Is satisfied Is correct.
The crew then returned to the canoe, and |
the search tor an inlet was continued The |
true canoeIst Is not a relic hunter; he is far
TOO practical to carry one ounce of worth
less baggage, That which the crew now
most desired to see, next to the true source
OF the river, was human being EyCeD+
the Indian and guide, he had not seen
man, living or dead, for more than four
Gays. Everything was as primitive and
deserted as in the heart of Africa. Cross
ing to the Tamarac forest, which h0unds
the, lake on the southern side, it was found |
10 De quite swampy in places. The lona !
tramp OF two days ago through inst such a
swamp was still uHfOrgOtten. Although
frequent landings were made, the cruise
-2nIlhued until at the southern angle of the I
AXE a small inlet-was seen, from which ia {
sued stream of clear water. 1t had cut Y
oF It5en a channel about four feet in t
lfpth and sCarcely more in width, throurb !
he thick turf, and defed discoloratiOn bv '
Is shiny banks. The heart of the crew |
leat IN wild and hopeful expectancy. The I
lGLg was pushed up through this chan '
Ie;, ana after about one-third. of a /
ME OF pushing, padding and haul C
ag, the stream brought the craft v
Q a small round lake. The inlet o
40 not been easy of navigation by auv '
5-eaas, ana growing much shallower, after b
ne uf5I I9U feet, several pOrtages had been b
IaQe oy dragging the boat across +ba Fl
lIcks and logs in the Tamarac SWAMP, The t.
axe was not more than from 1000 to 100 r
5et IN diameter, and about circular in C,
laPe' 1t was quite shallow, with cOnsid- e,
ra3Ie grass IN places. The crew crossed a
Ihe opposite side, and found it a tIoatino h
Og-a Large lake, in fact. with q sod 4oaP a
g at one side, thus narrowing il dow ~ o.
le circular lakelet which had at first an. fl
cared" Beyond this bog, after lon, 81
an through. the water to the knees no u!
~; tteL streams or open lakes could be fOuDd q
ne same was found to be true after tba e.
- was Completely circumnavigated ht
4 Ter ., are no other streams Of water t6wing I'll
10 this lake. From this hog II Is Jor-LS n
IS, thaT theI1dian found the stream H. d
z Wnlch connects the Red river with Tho d
Ississippi. VIII the r.
Here then is the source of the LONGEST II
:eL III the world; here in Cass cou9tv ey
IL small lake, scarcely one bC
Ia t5I ot d mile IN diameter in the midst be
Ioating bog, are the fountains TbioL Nm
I We birth to the Mississippi. -ilel ma
Inc greatest depth of the lake was found elk
De only twelve feet. After batbing in III tic
He, LOT small sandy beach exists - ne e,,T
Z outlet the crew christened the IittTo to
eet Of water Dolly Warden lake, and III he tia
resolved to maintain that name again lt ali
competitors The little daughter 6f tLa SCI
OF 'Barnaby RudgeH sboTid he he thI
Gl even by the Chippewa indians 00 eIe
me return to Itasca began. and. aftar bis
y tedious journey, ended at the n@ipF "a ex
Icn the inlet entered. The charm, az or;
sea lake was gone: 1t was strango ~ Del
llze what change the view of tbe fo1 ~ &c
yyIGnd had wrought in the pstbetic to- rec
the crew, The Lake was crossed foT 1ce1. Obi
norfHward, in the direction of an on Sel1 do
IN the forest which appeared to he IL it i
rance OF stream. The northern e Ia moi
me lake IS skirced by a fine beach and u hol
est OF hard wood. small stream ~ T,os str
nd flowing in from north-northwestt has has ruI
er short walk up its channel tbe cr 80 mo
) confirmed in his belief that the oHIv
e i stream entering Lake ItasC Cali =
inlet from Dolly Warden lake. -
amp was reached at sunset. and tho
!" round supper of fish, bacon aannaJ seIt
G:hes, tea and hard bread AWAITING b;yS cry