River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-11-18
Historical Incidents of the City Of
Prescott, Pierce County.
BY W. II. MASON, ESQ.

What is now known as Prescott was
thirty years ago bowling wilderness,
inhabited only by the savage beasts of
the forest and prairie, and the still
more savage red man. In 1888, Hilton
Doe landed with one companion and
found one white man who had been
placed there by some officers at Fort
Smelling to hold their claim, and he
(Doe) had some pretty rough expert.
ence. Learning from this squatter
that the country abounded in game,
he borrowed a gun and with his friend
started on hunt. While they were
wandering around, it began to cloud
up and rain: They were soon bewil-
dered and tried to strike the Missis-
sippi, but could not tell in what direc-
ton it was, and after night-fall, hun
CRY, tired and wet, they felt gloomy
and disheartened,w when suddenly there
was a rift in the clouds, and the broad
expanse of the mighty, rushing, roll
ing river flashed before their vision,
far below. But where they were,
whether up the lake or down the river,
was more than they could tell. After a
good deal Of trouble they succeeded in
getting fire by the means of some
gunpowder and rag which Doe tore
from his cotton shirt, and ignited by
striking fire with the flint of the gun.
Not mouthful of food or water had
touched their lips the whole day; the
pangs of thirst with water in sight be-
came an agony, and Mr.. Doe resolved
upon reaching the river. His com.
panion weary with the endless tramp,
and terrified by the bowling of the
wolves, refused to leave the protection
of the friendly fire. Doe scrambled,
rolled and fell down the bluff until he
reached the water-side, where he threw
himself prone upon his face and drank
in the delicious fluid. Again and
again he drank, until, his intolerable
thirst assuaged, he rose to his feet and
looked back. But what was his dis
may to find an apparently perpendicular
bluff in front, and stretching away I'M
til lost in the gloom, the glimmering
fire on the top, half a mile or so dis
tant, and no way to reach it. lie
called and shouted, but could only hear
faint response. Truly his situation
was an unenviable one; wolves retreat.
ing before him and swapping their
teeth with anger, while the dread of
the rattlesnakes arose in his mind and
made, it clear that he must get back TO
the fire. After long time and much
travel, he found his way up rayine,
and back to the fire, where they both
then lay down and slept through the
rain until morning, when the storm
having ceased, the bright warm rays of
the summer sun aroused them to life
once more. (Mr. Doe has visited the
spot many times since. IL Is between
Diamond Bluff and Trenton.l
They wandered on, hunger tugging
at their vitals, until they came to
where a stalwart Indian, who with the
help Of two squaws, were launching a
large canoe. IIailing him by signs,
they made him understand that they
wished TO 60 where white men lived
in houses. The Indian agreed TO take
them for two dollars, and paddle them
over to Red Wing which was then a
missionary station, where their wants
were attended to by the missionary
and his wife, and there they deter.
mined to stay and rest.
m