The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-07-17
Rowing Twenty.three Hundred Miles.

The ST. louis Pgst says. Robert
Tbobler, a youth Of nineteen, and Leo
Mitchell, twenty-one years Of age, left
their homes in this city some months
ago, with the intention Of seeking their
fortunes in the far West. They vent
from here by steamer TO Yankton, Da-
kota Territory. Not finding things TO
their liking there, they concluded to
return to Bismarck. Arriving there
they were even more discouraged at the
business outlook than they had been
with that of Yankton. Their money
war giving out fast and none coming in.
They could not afford TO pay the steam
boat fare back TO st, Louis. What
could they do3 While Illuminating over
what was the best course to pursue
under the circumstances, on old river
man appeared on the scene, to whom
they confded their troubles. he, with
an eye to business, advised them to buy
a small skiff which he was in possession
OF, and row their way back to st Louis
This advice was taken, the boys paying
him 81 for a cottonwood skiff large
enough to carry the two comfortably.
After investing in a liberal supply of
bread, bologna sausage, cheese and
crackers, they bade Fort Bismarck good
bye, while hundreds lined the banks of
the Big Muddy to see these two st.
Louis youths start on their long journey
for home, distance of 1890 miles.
They made the trip in just three weeks,
travelling over one hundred miles per
day, and stopping at nearly all the prom
inent points on the river. The weather,
with the exception of two or three days,
was cold and wet. At times they were
soaked to the skin, having no other
extra covering than their overcoats,
which proved but poor protection
against the incessant rains. They stop
ped on the river banks at night to rest,
but kept fire burning and sharp
lookout for Indians, who have the name
of being treacherous and crafty in these
parts. They saw hundreds of Indians,
the majority members Of the Sioux
tribe. Once or twice while resting on
their oars, they were forced by the swift
current high and dry upon sand bars,
from which they had hard work to
launch their little craft. At Vermilion,
Dakota Territory, the inhabitants, who
had been informed of their coming,
turned out en- D1Gsse and cheered the
young voyagers as they glided by. The
current at this point was so rapid that
they were unable to make landing.
Here eddies and whirlpools line the
river, the latter so strong that huge logs
and trees are sucked to tho bottom, At
Drowning Mans Rapids they had sew
eral narrow escapes from being capsized
by the snags and rocks, which are SO
numerous that only old river pilots Can
take steamers through safely. Provi-
dence seemed to favor the boys, how.
ever, as they passed down the rapids
without any more serious adventure
than good wetting from the water
which splashed over the sides of their
cottonwood bark. BY the time they
reached Omaha they were nearly tagged
out; their arms were sore with rowing,
while their hands were blistered from
the same cause. In this condition they
pulled up at Omaha to recuperate, as
well as to lay in fresh supply of pro
visions and look around for employ
ment. The latter they found, but the
wages being only twenty-five cents a
day, without board, they refused the
offer. So, after sojourn of three days,
they packed their traps and were soon
again homeward bound, reaching here
richer by far in experience, although
much poorer in purse than when they
left. Robert Thobler, who gave the
writer the above facts and notes, is
good-natured, honest-looking lad, with
face and hands tanned brown with ex-
posure. He looks rugged and hearty,
and says he does not now feel ony the
worse for his long Journey, although on
his arrival he was pretty well tagged
out. He is barber by occupation, and
remarks that, allowing the far West is
good enough place for gamblers and
bull-herders, it is the last place in the
world for a tonsorial artist.