Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-08-12
PETOSKEY TO CHEBOYGAN.
The Inland Water ROute-.A Curious
Passage,

The Inland Water ROute-.A Curious
Passage.
Correspondence POST and Tribure
CHEBOYGAN, August, 18S2.-While at
PetOskey your correspondents attention
was called to what is familiarly known
as the inland route to ChebOygan. OBJ
serving the crowd that leaves the hotels
in the morning and a corresponding
crowd returning in the evening, l soon
learned the cause of what at first appear
ed singular in the movements of such a
prOmiscuOus crowd, made up of the aged
and gray, young men and maldens, boys
and girls of all grades of society; the
merchant prince with his richly dressed
family, the mechanic and farmer with
less pretensiOns, as they take the train
going north in the morning, returning
the next day or evening with satisfied
look at having accomplished what to the
tourist is an important link in the chain
of summers travel. Sitting on the
grand veranda at the Arlington or Cush-
man house, after tea, the topic of CONVEX
sation is, II have just returned from
ChebOygan, via the inland route" or II
am going in the morning. 1t is a most
delightful trip. l would not have miss
ed it for anything" etc. Thus it be-
comes contagious. All want to make
this trip, and feel dissatisfied If they do
not. For the benefit of those that have
not as yet experienced the novelty OF rid
ing on a steamboat across the country,
| will give brief description of the trip,
how to make it, and the accommodations
provided.
Leaving PetOskey at IA. NJ, on the
Mackinac division of the Grand Rapids
and Indiana railroad, ride of six miles
takes us to Crooked lake. Aligbting
from the cars i'm the woods few rods
from the lake, we pick our way to the
dock, where lies the wonderful craft
that is to navigate what appears to be
land, as from this point no inlet nor
outlet is visible. A careful examination
of this singular craft Is the first thing in
order. Curiosity sometimes OvercOmes
discretion in this matter. Those who
remain too long outside do not obtain
the best positions on the boat to fully
enjoy all the romance of the trip. The
Northern Belle and its companion, the
City of ChebOygan, were built expressly
for this purpose. They are side-wheel,
fiat-bOttOmed boats, 60 feet in length,
and draw from Is inches to feet of wa
ter. Smith Brothers, Of ChebOygan,
own the boats, and are careful to provide
every comfort and convenience possible
to make the trip pleasant. At SAM. the
captain calls out, GAIL abOardv' and we
steam out among the bullrushes, with
the assurance that we will not drown If
the boat does sink, as the water is only
about three feet deep. Taking north
easterly course for about two miles, we
enter Crooked river. The name is sig
nificant of the fact. 1t is indeed crook
ed. AS we steam along past the break
water erected at its mouth, we bid good
bye to sunlight, and enter forest Of
timber Overhanging in many places,
forming an archway through which we
pass. The river is so narrow that we
can step off ON the banks and run race
while the boat rounds bend. As we
enter this river the captain suggests
that there are fish here, and anyone who
wishes to fish can find trolling lines on
board. This offer is eagerly embraced
by those who have the patience to try
and beguile the beautiful pickerel, bass,
and sunfish that lay quietly near the
bank while the boat passes.
Passing through this river we enter
Burt lake, beautiful sheet of water
some eight miles long and about six
miles wide. To the left there are the
ruins of an old Indian town, once mis-
sion station. The foundations of what
was once church remain as lone SEN
tinel, telling of the time when this sandy
lake was known only to the dusky sons
of the surrounding forest, and the mis-
siOnary that cast in his lot here to plant
the cross in testimony of his zeal to shed
abroad the light of the gospel. Around
this lake are the white tents Of tourists
from Pittsburg, Boston, Cleveland and
Chicago, who spend weeks here in the
enjoyment of natures primitive beauty.
AS we pass we are hailed by parties and
greetings are exchanged. At the foot OF
this lake we encounter large RATS of logs
floating down to ChebOygan. They are
held here in bOOms, awaiting tugs to
convey them through. This is the head
of Indian river. At this point there is a
junction formed with the railroad run
ming to Cheboygan. A small town has
sprung up here since the road was COM
pleted. The boat stops here for few
minutes to take on passengers who wish
to visit Mullet lake at the mouth of the
river. 1t Is now P. NJ. The captain in
forms US that 1t will take 80 minutes TO
run to the Mullet Lake house for dinner
Indian river connects Burt lake with Null
let lake. Running through a marsh,
the channel Is very crooked and quite
deep. Between these two lakes are the
famous duck marshes of northern Mich