Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-01
HDULUTH TO BUFFALO.

An Enjoyable Trip In Good Company ana
On a Safe and Splendid Boat-Points OF
Tnterest En- Route-1he Notable Towns.
To the Editor of the Globe.
BUFFALO, N. Y, July &c, 1SSo.-lt may De
of interest to some of your readers to learn
something of the delights OF a summer
trim from Duluth to Buffalo, N. Y, by way
of the great lakes, and upon one of the
elegant steamers of the Lake Superior
Transit company.
We left Duluth on the steamer India,
July Dist, at 1890 A. NJ. just as our vessel
swung from the dock, the cry of oman
overheard 10 startled our passengers, and a
rush was made for the stern of the boat-a
mans head and shoulders were seen in the
water whirling around in the eddy of our
ships propeller, and struggling to keep afoat.
BE was soon rescued, and We proceeded
upon our voyage. The India is an iron
hulled steamer built in 1871. She is OF
1,24O tons burden, and is one of three steam
ers constructed especially for passenger SER
vice on the lakes, the sister steamers being
the Japan and China. They are all iron
hulled, and each divided into four compart-
ments, insnripg perfect safety against accl-
dent by collision, or otherwise. Inc
officers of the India are, captain,
BENJAMIN Wilkins; first officer, VIM. Smith;
second officer, A. Shaver; first engineer, Jere
E. Smith; second engineer. Jno. Miller; third
engineer, Watt Hines; clerk, E. 81. Peek;
steward, John Hulligan. Capt. Wilkins is
the second oldest lake captain now IN service,
having been forty-two years on the lakes,
and more genial kind hearted and gentle
manly officer it IS seldom ones good fortune
to meet. He is untiriDg in his efforts to en-
terrain and amuse his passengers, always
ready to point ont objects of interest and
answer all questions with gracious smile,
which, in my experience as passenger on
steamers generally, is rare accomplish
ment. HIS kind manner IL reflected IN his
officers, all of whom won the highest respect
of our passengers by Agreeable kindness and
attention to their every wish.
We reached Bay field, Wisconsin, at $50
P. NJ, July 21st, and for half an hour ram
bled about the town. 1t is prettily located
upon o hillside, at the head of a crescent
shaped bay, which affords an excellent har-
Dor. But before we reached Bayfield,, We
~SA~~-NSt
called "Apostle Islands," There are twenty
one islands, and neither one of them bears
the name Of an apostle, yet all have name
They vary in size and shape, are covered
with yerdure, and but one or two of
them inhabited or cultivated, yet
they are very beautiful, and
excite the admiration of all who love the
wild beauties of nature. We left Bayfield, at
6P.M.
After supper the "String Band" of the
India put IN an appearance in the saloon,
aud the merry dancers tripped the "light
fantastic until after midnight. The band
is composed of five members, belonging to
our corps of walters, and they discourse most
excellent music, filling the intervals between
the dancing with fine selections from their
list of Negro songs. This has been our
standard evening entertainment, and We en-
ioyed it exceedingly.
At 10 A. M, July 22nd, we arrived at Mar
quette. It is, believe, the largest city on
The Upper Lake. We had an hour here, and
enioyed the walk about this beautiful city
very much. 1t is a busy place, being the
shipping point for The iron ore products of
the Iron Mountain mines some ten miles
back from the city. The fishing in this vi
cinity is very fine. We left at II A. NJ. AS
the afternoon wore away, we sighted the
dPictured Rocks the most wonderful geo.
logical phenomena / have ever witnessed.
As we approached the rocks We appeared to
be about to enter an enormous archway, or
entrance to grand fortress. This is called
the "Grand Portal" and is magnificent
piece of natures handiwork. 1t is sur
mounted with massive towers, battlement
walls and angles, to all appearance the work
of consumate skill in architecture.
For about five miles along the shore of
the lake, this wonderful panorama passes
before the bewildered spectator. Captain
wilkins ran his ship near to the shore to
give Us a perfect view of these pictured
Rocks" Every possible and conceivable
device or design can be drawn upon these
storm-stained cliffs in the mind of the OBJ
server, and it was very amusing to hear the
remarks of the passengers as they pictured
their impressions upon the face of these
rocks. While in front of the cave our cap
tain blew the whistle several times, and the
echos came back TO Us repeated dozen
times, from the full blast Of our whistle to
the faintest, softest note, seemingly from
the innermost recesses of the cavern. Now
we pass the "Chapel," which, when first
viewed, has the appearance of an ancient
altar, but as we pass away from tive OBJ
serve that { exI aids into vaulted roof,
with its altar and railing distinctly defined
The first object that entrances the beholder
is the lovely cascade tumbling from the
summit of perpendicular bluff 60 feet
high, veil of bright water so feet wide
leaps into the sunlight, and before it reaches
its basin it resolves itself into sparkling
beadp, rejecting the brilliant hues of the
rainbow as it dances and frolics with the
suns rays. This was fitting finale to so
grand subject.
On we steam toward the 500. We arrived
at Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, at A. NJ.
July 23d, and passed into the Ship Canal,
built by the Slate of Michigan, to facilitate
transportation in passing the st. Mary's
rapids. Our passengers amused themselves
and others-by going to the head of the
rapids, packing themselves snugly in the
bottom of Indian canoes, and with an Indian
at each end of the canoe as guides, shooting
the rapids, at which business the Indians are
very skillfu]. They also excel in their ad-
roitness at capturing the white fish which
are abundant in the rapids. The Ship