The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-03-10

deed, honey. times is gwan to be red hot
arter awhile
For The Cecil Wing
TROUT FISHING IN THE NEEPlGNON.
1t was Sabbath morning, July nth, 1873,
that the steamer 81. Paul passed slowly
out of the harbor at Buffalo, y. Y, into
the blue waters of Lake Erie. The day
was beautiful beyond description. The
lake was quiet yet the vessel rolled grace
fully along under the inevitable d" swell >
which disturbs all large bodies of water.
We passed the time quietly, and in com
pany with two genial gentlemen whom We
become acquainted with at the company 5
dock, walked the deck the greater part of
the day, watching with a new and strange
interest the dancing waves of the lake made
memorable 10y Perry's naval victory. We
were bound for Duluth, Minnesota. OF
course our readers are aware that there is
a continuous water route from Buffalo tn
this eastern terminus of the North Pacific
Railroad. The voyage was uneveutful un.
til we reached the Detroit river which sepa-
rates the United States and Canada. This
picturesque stream presented scene of
/ ever varying beauty. The Canada South
ern Railroad crosses here gu a steam ferry.
We passed up this beautiful river, dotted
with it's many islands, to Lake St. Clair,
with its famous ducking flats, through the
ST. Clair river out into the broad expanse Of
Lake Huron. pass over The Huron trip,
as it Was uneveutful, and pause to describe
the beautiful and romantic passage Of the
St. Mary's river, or. as it is technically
called "Saulte st. Mary" but more COM
monty called the "Saulte !" pronounced
Sue -. This river is the outlet OF Lake
Superior, and is the connecting link be-
tween this "unsalted sea - of the north
and Lake Huron. 1t has much variety
and many changing scenes of picturesque
beauty. It's shores are a constant source
of interest: they are denseiy wooded and
wild, and the monotony is relieved by an
occasional Indian wigwam with its white
party of these semi civilized beings pad
ding their frail canoes along the shores.
The steamers of the American line stop at
the town Saulte st. Mary, situated on the
American side of the stream. The Cana
dian vessels must go to a town of the same
name on the Canada side. as this is not a
port OF entry. The magnificent ship canal
which has been built here by the United
States, and through which all vessels must
pass to reach Lake Superior. has been en-
larged upon u scale that has made it If fin
iShed) the largest and finest in the world
The Canadian vessels pay a toll to pass
through the canal. Here are the famous
"Saulte rapids" the "leap of the St.
Mary"
BY an accident, | enjoyed here what was
to me rich treat, as our vessel lay at the
"Saulte' for some tritling repairs. The
Captain told few of US that the Indians
frequently ran the rapids in their canoes.
and would take us safely down for $ 90
apiece, if we implicitly obey their direc-
birch bark" and having a taste for
aquatic adventures. l Joined a party of
five and hired two Indians to take us down
the roaring, rushing torrent. They spoke
4 broken English, and we readily under
stood their direction. " White man no touch
canoe" Taking our seats in the bottom
of the canoe they have no benches and
carefully trimming the frail, shell-lke
thing, we were skillfully pushed ont from
cove where we loaded, with an Indian in
each end. armed only with a short cedar
paddle. about four feet long. We shot
ahead, as soon as we struck the current.
like an arrow discharged from a bow: the
canoe flew with the speed of the wind upon
surface as smooth as pane of glass. |
cannot truly describe the exhiiration OF
that trip over the waters: we were speed
ing it like race horse, yet sitting as quietly
as | am at this moment in my easy chair
Bus this did not last, long. In a few sec
onds we were rocking and dancing like an
egg shell, upon the now disturbed surface.
View approaching the lower part of the
rapids, where iutting rocks dashed the
water four, five, and even six feet in the
air. Our guides, without taking their eyes
off Of the course, with their paddles firmly
graSped, drove us between rocks that
frowned at us on each side, and through
whirlIng eddies, with the skill of water
nymphs, and at last brought us out safely
into the quiet waters at the foot of the
falls. Thought had been apparently sus-
pended for as we looked back at what we
had come over. it seemed like dream.
We had travelled mile in about three
minutes, and were carried without effort
of ours, by the mere force of the waters
which were dashing and splashing about.
aud sometimes over us, all the while. We
we're wet with the spray, but our enjoy
ment of the exciting, exhiirating trip
amply repaid us for any amount of personal
discomfort. The memory of that flying
journey will linger i'll my mind as long as !
C IN recall the past.
Marquette was our next stopping place.
but must pass by this thrifty, beautiful
town and hasten on. Bayfield, was next,
and then the famous Duluth, which still
affectionally cherishes the memory of Proc
tor Knott W. W. II.
LETTER FROM THE WEST.