The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-01-24
4 PERlLOCS JOURNEY.

emitted "A Narrative Of the ExtraOr
auarN SufferingS of Mr.. Robert Forbes
his Wife and Five Children. During a,
Unfortunate Journey through the Will
derne>S from Canada TO the Kennebe,
River" We presume but few copie
OF this pamphlet have been preserve,
Ia the present time.-Ed. Name Farm,
syl.
Mr.. Robert Forbes. not being natiy,
OF Canada. but having resided there ;
number 81 years. was desirious of be
tng where he might have more fire
quent opportunity of associating will
his own couutrymen.
He and his wife premeditated a re
moval TO the United States of America
when failing in company with thre,
Dutchmen. by the names of Midstatf
Pancake and Christian. were induced
by their insinuationS to undertake the
Journey by land, the said Midstaff en-
-aglnG. Tor Z certain sum. that with
5he assistance OF the other two ht
would conduct them in twelve DAYS
time to the settlements on the Kenne.
bee River.
Mr. Forbes neighbOrs endeavorei to
dl>>uade him from the attempt, not
only on account of the length and ditfi.
Guilty of the way. but because there was
possibility of his being deserted by
his guides in the midst of the wilder.
mess. Nevertheless. being determined
an removal. and having paid Midstafi
a large stipulated sum for that purpose,
on the 18th of March. A. ID. lisa,
they entered upon this unfortunate
journey.
From Eouvelle Bots. on the River
thadore. they took their departure, the
inca and Mrs. Forbes, and Mr.. Forbes
son John. q lad about thirteen wears
old. on snow->hoes.
Their provisions and other effects. to.
gether with four children-yiz: Mary.
about seven years: Peggy, about five:
katharine. about three. and Robert
about fifteen months old-they under
took 10 haul on Indian slcighs, or hand
>leu>.
In this manner, but with great diff
Guilty. they pursued their way eight
days; and on the ninth. being obliged to
leave the river, which they had hitherto
followed. and wherein they had tray
e'led some part of the time, they found
The country so broken by large nj doo,,
rull!es, and so rough and mountain
ou- that they concluded it next to inn
possible to proceed farther with the
>leighs.
Here they were obliged to make a
malt, and. after short consultation,
having first erected a small camp.
wherein to leave the woman and chill
iren. they took the chief part of their
provisions. and as much of their bag
-;,ge as they We're able to carry on their
backs, and leaving: the woman and
children. about ten o'clock in the morn
ing, set out in quest of Mcconnell Pond
otherwise called Lake Chadore), ex-
pecting to return the next day. But
meeting with much difficulty they did
not reach the pond until the next day
about three . clock in the afternoon.
Here. being much fatigued. they left
their baggage, and Midstaff having
some previous notice that there was an
Indian residence not far from there,
went in quest Of him to the other side
Of the pond, where they found an old
camp. but without inhabitants, and
there encamped that night.
The next morning, being Sunday, the
9th day of March, they crossed the
pond back to where they had left their
baggage. when to the great astonish-
ment of Mr.. Forbes, his pilot and the
other two taking to themselves the pro-
visions, and all his other effects of any
considerable consequence, frankly
told him that they were determined moi
to return with him to his family; and
that they must now leave him and
make the best of their way to the Ken.
nebec.
This may we'll be supposed to have
been shocking indeed to one who was
already discouraged and disheartened
This said he, "struck me to the
heart. and my eyes filed with tears; j,
confirmed what my neighbors had re-
peatedly mentioned among their fear:
Of what might happen to myself AMI
family"
Notwithstanding his opportunities
his most earnest entreaties and solicit
ations they would not be prevailed upor
10 continue any longer with him; but
leaving him only one poor AK, a small
tirelock and two small loaves of bread
they departed.
With heavy heart did this unfortu
nate man then make the best of hi
way back to his family, where he ar
rived, with the sorrowful tidings tina
evening. Here were they left in tn
wide wilderness, strangers to the cOun
try. destitute Of provisions and withou
compass. eight days journey from
the inhabitants in Canada, and how fa
from any other settlement they knew
not: but probably not less than Is
miles. The wife and son had lahore,
under the most terrible apprehension
during Mr.. Forbes absence, especial
that he did not return at the time ar
pointed. The fears had driven then
almost to despair, and the poor littl
lad, a little before his fathers return
had fatigued himself almost to death
having followed their tracks for sever
al miles, and had just got back whe
his father arrived.
The next morning they were in tn
most doubtful perplexity whether to g
backward or forward. Should they un
dertake to return to Canada, it nigh
take them more than double the lenet
of time in which they got thus far, tn
river being then about breaking ny
and in that case they must inevitabf
starve. While the husband and viii
We're in this pitiable situation, gain
at each other, and tears gushing frol
their eyes, their children were hangin
round them, crying bitterly for MOI
sci Of bread.
Upon the whole, as the before-mer
Toned two 1oo VOC IF h,.oad Nyors. in fl,
way toward Kennebec, and as the
might. perhaps, find the Indian I
Meconich Pond, they concluded. by th
help of God. to proceed on their joul
ney. Accordingly they left the mo!
cumbersome, though necessary, art
cles which they had now REMAINING