The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-10-05
Turtle Mountains.

son OF batngate, lett our town on the
morning of the 11th inst, for Turtle
Mountain. We took the most direct
route with the intention ofseeing as much
as possible of the intervening country,
and not cross the lines into Manitoba.
Passing somewhat south of Walhalla, we
passed over the first bench of the Penn
bina Mountains in the usual place-where
there is good road, though the hill is
quite steep. We crossed the second
bench of the Pembina Mountains near
Beaulieu, and followed the main road
westward to the north side of Rosa Lake,
and camped for the first night at some
distance from the lake. On the morning
of the second day we left all roads and
trails and bore more to the west than any
road would take us. BY accident we
bore little too much to the north and
experienced, on that account, the misfor-
tune of having to 60 around-or cross
through what is known as the Chain of
Lakes-probably what is marked as Rush
Lake on railroad maps. We spent about
half day getting around these lakes or
sloughs. After getting past these we
came upon what is known as the Grafton
trail, to Turtle Mountain. This is very
plain trail and for the most part passes
over good land, though there are few
alkali sloughs, where there are evidell-
ces of wagons going down; and the holes
are still visible, that teamsters have dug
in extricating their wagons. Fortunately
there are only few such places. The
next body of water worthy of mention is
Rock Lake-marketlesSon the maps as
LAC Des Roches." AWe drive through
the neck of this lake, which is probably
about one mile wide and two miles long
This lake is about eighteen or twenty
miles east of Turtle Mountain, and is in
Towner county. There is quite an extent
Of country in the neiglborhood of this
chain of lakes that is low and worthless
for wheat land, but will furnish an album
dance ofhay. There is some land east of
this chain of lakes that show some signs
of a!kali After passing few miles lie.
yond the chain Oh the Grafton trail one
comes upon as fine tract Of prairie as
can be found any where, the extent of
which seems to be boundlcss in north
and south direction, while it extends
about thirty miles from east to
west. After passing the Rock
Lake, one finds Il more rolling coun-
try which continues until the Turtle
Mountain is reached. Here We find no
abrupt rise in the land; but a gradual
elevation, and one is still looking for the
mountain when i'll fact ne is at it's top.
The first signs of civilization we found
were about five miles east of st. Johns and
the timber, where we find the furrow
plowed around the squatters claim, and
soon come to small pieces ofbreakng and
houses. Things then begin to assume the
appearance of an older country, and we
drive into st. Johns with something of a
feeling of relief after passing over about
one hundred miles of country without
seeing a trace of civilization save the
ashes that remain from some camp fire.
the traveller having carried wood from
either end of the road to burn. St. Johns
is smallNown, at the east side of Turtle
Mountain and about four miles south of
the International boundary line. Here
we find that foremost of pionccrs-the
saw mill. Mr.. Hutchinson, formerly of
Emerson has charge. There are three
saloons; one store owned by Brunnelle
& Deschenes of Grafton, Mr.. Brunnellc
being in charge; and one stock of goods
awaiting inspection when we were there,
belonging to Messrs. Smith & Robertson,
who had just broughttheir stock of goods
over from Manitoba. Mr.. Brunnelle also
keeps hotel, and from general appear
ances we judge that one would be we'll
cared for at his house. St. Johns is
nicely located and seems to have
promising future. The U. S. custom
house is situated on little hill few rods
from the main part of town, and here
the genial and well known Martin Nc
right hand man, to both of whom we are
much indebted for their kindness du:-
our stay at St. Johns. When we drove
into St. Johns on the evening of our third
day out, we were very forcibly impressed
with the rough appearance of what we
supposed to be the citizens. Driving a
short way beyond the town into the
woods we campcd, but could hear
at intervals the wild and dscor-
dant yells Of drunken half-breeds, who
were holding some kind ola jubilee after a
few drinks of alchohol.' A breed having
sold his pony that day. The whole mat.
tor was thus explained. Revolvers and
knives played an important part in that
nights orgies, but morning dawned and
no one was seriously hurt. On the fol-
lowing day we spent our time trying to
cheat some of the poor half breeds out of
their ponies and other trinkets, but came
to the conclusion that nothing but cash or
whiskey could induce them to part with
ponies at this time of the year. Ponies
are as dear there as they are here. We
also talked so much about Turtle Noun
tain and asked so many questions about
Willow creek, which is about twenty-five
or thirty miles from st. Johns, that poor
Rolette's and McColum's arms got loose.
We were informed that the body OF tim
Der at Turtle Mountain extcndssixty miles
east and west and about thirty miles
north and south. The timber is mostly
oak and poplar, The writer did not see
any very large oak trees growing, but saw
dimensions already sawed that indicated
u very fine growth of timber. The ooun-
try arnlnd ST Inl,ns is r1ll1ncx hut 4l,e