Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-08-03
Our First Fourth In Dakota.

weeks WHICH inc IOufln OF Ju'y came
For two or three weeks previous the
question had been decided to 90 to
some celebration on Independence
Day" At Mitchell they were 90
ing to celebrate but that was thirty
miles away, almost; at Yorktown
they were going to celebrate also
but that was more than twenty miles
away; Plankinton would have no
celebration. Where should we 90?
AT washington Springs they were
going to celebrate. The Methodist
Episcopal colony would observe the
day under the auspices of the Sab
bath School The celebration was
to be in a grove, yeritable grove
of native oaks of natures planting
The president Of the colony gave us
a kind invitation to attend; 80 Yves
sington was to be the place. Just
how far it was from us we did not
know, but we supposed twelve or
thirteen mics; after the fourth we
could tell better. The day of cloud
Huzzah's" dawned upon us beauti.
fully. We arose with the sun, did
our morning work and by seven
O'Clock were journeying for the
"hills." We travelled mile after
mile over beautiful prairie until
we had left nine miles behind us.
Here we came to the southeast pro
lection of the hills, but not to the
picnic ground. We travelled mile
after mile at the base Of the hills.
passing at times most lovely scenery,
until we had rounded another nine
miles or nearl y so, when we saw the
people gathering from many quarters
to one point We saw near the
point of gathering as we supposed
a lew brush III a ravine, but as we
came nearer we could see that it was
quite a valley wed covered with
trees, mostly oak, some Of which
were more than two feet in diameter.
W hen all had gathered, probably
one hundred and twenty-five persons
were on the grounds. The first or
der OF the day was dinner; all voted
for this for it was about u NJ. when
we arrived. After dinner all the
male members of the Jacka family
with Winfield lIuxtable assembled
one of the Washington heights.
There are two Of them that stand
ont bold and majestic in the prairie
something like Black Hawks "Look
Out" on the Rock river near Milton.
The ascent is deceiving. We climb.
ed the steep hill thinking its top the |
heights, but when we reached it, /
across u narrow ravine another range |
of hills were rising far higher still.
We must get to the top, so on we
went until the top of the second
range Of bills were reached; still |
we were far from the top, Across
a narrow strip Of level prairie anoth-
er range Of hills were rising high |
Painting and sweating we commenced
the ascent of the third hill. after
a firing walk we gained its summit
and looked around upon the scene.
To the south the hills We're rising in
granduer; the second height about
a mile away appeared to have top
as level az a table. To the west and
north we had n varied scene of hill
and valley rs far as we conld see.
The valleys, ravines and gorgcs are
all thickly covered with timber but
the side of the hills as well as the
top are treeless. To the east was a
wide prairie looking like q green
carpet. The heights are about 500
feet above the level of the prairie
and are easily seen for great dis
lance. The formation of the hills
is peculiar. They are not like the
long hills of Iowa County, when
after gaining the top you can follow
along the "ridge" for miles The
"hills" have no ridges; they are all
sides and little top. One would
think nature to be in a playful mood
when they were made. What looks
like hill in the distance is perhaps
a dozen or score Of little conelike
mounds rising one upon the other;
but | have been told, as YOU get
back into the hills they become more
massive and sedate. On the tops of
some Of these hills, i'll some places
are lakes of beautiful clear water
that live all the year round. At no
distant day, We predict, the "Hi'ls"
will be great Summer resort. But
to resume. We descended from the
hills just in time to hear the call,
"Order." The people gathered
around the organ and Glee Club, for
there were both, and with excellent
behavior listened to the opening
song. Then your humble servant
was called upon to offer prayer, and
from the hearty ameus, we felt there
were those present who feared and
loved God. After prayer the evil
lage lawyer" read the Declaration of
Independence. The Glee Club