The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-09-29
From Minnesota.
RED Wing, Mimi, Sept. Is, 1855

most remarkable as we'll as the most beau
tiful stream in the world. Its deep cleal
waters rush along through It's mario"
channel with the speed of torrent, here
and there diverging INTO wide, still lakes
or bays, as If to pause for short TIME
to regain new vlg"r to pursue
with rcdoubled haste its ccaselcss flow TO-
wards a warmer cline and final rest in thu
blue ocean.
Its narrow valley, outlined by high anc
precipitous bluffs and towering head
lands, is iull of interesting scenery, con-
stantly changing before the eye as you
glide along upon Its limped waters. Al
convenient distances large and flourishing
towns and cities, full Of life and energy
furnish brief opportunities f,r witha
draw from the wild grandeur of the natur
al panorama to admire the gigantic strides
industry and enterprise are steadily max
ing IN this new and wonderfully develop
ing western world. A short time ago
had occasion to spend few weeks at Red
Wing, the county seat OF Goodhue county
MINI, forty.onc miles below st. Paul, and
Jus, at the head Of Lake Pepin tbs one
of the most charming cities IN the north
west. Its population, according to re-
cent school census, is about 5000. 1t is
cLiefly built of stone and brick, which are
manufactured or quarricd IN It's immediate
vicinity. Many of its edlflces will favor
ably compare with those of any city in the
west One seldom meets with city OF
equal size having so few shabby buildings
in it or 80 many elegant ones. There are
here fifteen churches, representing as
many different religious denominations,
five hotels, three national banks, three
weekly newspapers, large foundry and
machine shop, extensive furniture and
wooden ware, stone ware, boot and shoe
manufactures, large Touring mills, saw
mills, lime and brick kilns, wagon and
carriage and agricultural implement fac
tories, two brewerlcs tanncry, besides
several planning mills and cooper shops.
The scenery along the banks Of the MIS-
slssippl from TT Snclling,at the mouth OF
the Minnesota river, 10 the foot of Lake
Pepin, is especially wild and picturesque,
and is linked with interesting romance
and Legendary. The bluffs on either side
are from $50 10 500 tcet above the water
level, rent ut intervals, by immense can
yons, which extend far back into the rich
and fertile regions TINT form the states OF
Wisconsin and Minnesota. Bold promon-
tories or head lands usually mark the en-
trance to those dark and gloomy chasms,
each OF which is coupled with some story
of foul CRIME, heroism, noble daring or
disappointed love, Cooper, Prescott,
Longicl0w ana host of minor historians
novclists and poets haye detailed in prose
and IN song the wllt, real and imaginary
history of this romantic region. Prom
lnent among tie points of interest here
stands Barn Bluff, around the base OF
which clusters the city OF Red Wing. 1t
is an isolated peak 465 feet high and about
half mile long. 1t is separated from the
man highlands by a narrow valley, and
It's sides are almost perpendicular. Next
10 the river it is covered with dwaried
growth of timber, while each end and the
sile next to the main bluff are covered
with rocky debris precipitated from the
top, which is capped with precipitous
ledge of sand and lime stone over 100 feet
high. It's summit covers an area of tif
teen acres, and is dotted over with stanted
oaks and patches of gross and underDrush
Its surface is undulatlng with an occasion.
al high mound denoting the tomb of some
dIgnitary of prehistoric race. Formerly
there were but two narrow winding paths
by which It's heights could be reached
one from the waters edge on the north
side, and the other from the land side near
the west end. Presently, however road,
which affords easy ascent, has been con-
structed up the west side to its summit,
where the lime stone rock is blasted from
its brow, converted into lime of the finest
quality, and hauled down and shipped all
over the country.
II was on the top of this lone peak the
veteran Sioux Chief Red Wing used To
5ongrcgate his braves in counsel while en-.
gagged IN bloody strife with his wiley
nelghbors, the Chippawa's, under their
equally sagacious chief, Waucutah, who
congregated his warriors on that lofty
promontory now known as Maiden Rock,
about fourteen miles below and on the Cd.
posl.c shore of Lake Pepin For years
these two tribes wagcd war with each
other, and 1t was from the many bloody
conflicts that occurred, during their pro
tracted warfare, that gave to every promin.
cnt gulch or towering head.lands along the
shores of the Mississippi from Prairie du
Chienc to the Falls of ST. Anthony a name
IN commeInoration OF the tragic events
with which il was connected Then we
have the Vale Of Mlnnehaha, with its