The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-08-07
Canoe Travelling Extraordinary.

Canoe Travelling Extraordinary.
SUCCESS OF THE EXPEDITION TO THE
SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI 49, LAKE
ITAsCA NOT ITS HEADQUARTERS
BIOGRAPHIES MUST BE CORRECTED.
{ Correspondence New York Herald.
CANOE Dolly WARDEN, }
Mississippi River, near Itasca Lake, ;
June 10th, 1872. }
Satisfied, after a cursory examina-
ton, that all former explorers who
have given publicity to their Qiscove-
ries, from Schoolcrafr 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 in
complete exploration, determined to
make a thorough examination of the
vicinity of Itasca. When Schoolcraft
visited this region in 1881, at the head
of an expedition sent out Ivy the Gov
ernmept, he became satisfied after his
long journey through the brush to
O-musz-koze Saw-gaw-e-gum, or Elk
Lake--as the ChipFewas termed this
body of water-tbat the every source
had been reached. He then coined out
of two Latin words, Yer i-tas, ca-put
by elimitiDg the first syllable Of the
first word, and the second Of the Sec
ond word-the new name Itasca.-
Such, then, having it's origin in want
Of proper research, is the ground for
the commonly received story that
Lake 'Itasca is the source of the Missis-
sippi River.
The Dolly Warden was rid of every
ounce of extra luggage, all being left
with the guide an Indian at the camp
near the outlet Of Itasca, for the crew
was about to start on voyage in which
he might have to carry 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 a thorough circumnavi.
CATION 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, were l9, Is, 8 and IA feet. Near
the southern point a small stream en-
tiers the lake, but does not extend fur
Their than 1900 feet back along the ridge
between the edge of a meadow and a
hill of pines. Here it is tiny rivulet
which trickles down from the rocks.
The crew ia satisfied that it does not
flow throughout the year, and that it
owes even its present. size to the recent
storms. This is the position of 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, find
ing 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 800 feet in
width at the broadcast point. The is
land bears the same general direction
as the lake, its extremities being loca-
ted northwest and southeast.
ALAND1NG WAS EFFECTED,
and, opening the "Dolly's" water-tight
locker, the delicate set of ships instr
ments and the chronometers, imported
for this very occasion, were carried to
clear spot near the centre of the is
land. The exact geographical position
of School,raft Island was then found to
be latitude AZ deg. IL min. SO Sec,
longitude IS deg. min. second west
Of Greenwich. This calculation, care
fully verified, the crew is satisfied to
be correct.
The crew then returned to the canoe,
aud the search for an inlet was contin-
ued. The true canoeist is
NOT RELIC HUNTER,
he is far too practical to carry one
ounce of worthless baggage. That
which the crew now most desired to
see next to the true source of the
river was human being. Except the
Indian and guide he had not seen a
man, living or dead, for more than
tour days. Everything was as print
tive and deserted as in the heart of
Africa. Crossing to the T a M ar a
forest, which bounds the lake on the
southern side, it was found to be quite
swampy in places. The long tramp Of
two days ago through just such a
swamp was still unforgotten. Al
though frequent landings were made
the cruise continued until, at the south.
western angle Of the lake,
! A SMALL INLET
was seen, from which issued stream
&c oInor ,rotor II 1o6 rnt far ifon1f