St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-05

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time the island was the seat OF large Indian
trading enterprises, under the auspices Of
the French, the Hudson Bay company, the
Astors and the American Fur company.
Subsequently as the county seat Of the terri
tory now divided into Bay
field and Ashland counties, it had
season of comparatively modern pros pertty.
At this time it is the home of few fisher
men, French end mixed bloods, descendants
of early inhabitants. and is again being set
tied by families who are engaging in farming
and will give the island permanent popula-
ton Among the old residents is Judge
Bell, whose home has been on this island for
about fifty years. He remembers the re-
building of the mission church and has wit
messed changes in the region which are ex-
traordinary even for this country of changes
from old to new.
Among the relics to be seen at the mission
church, there is shown small painting,
which is certainly an ancient work Of art and
of high order of art. 1t is said to have
been brought from France by Father Mar
quette.
| BAYFIELD,.
The run to Bayfield, was made by the Japan
in about six hours. Here we were landed,
tired enough, but delighted with what we had
| seen OIL lake anu SuOre anu
island views There was a short
wait at bayfield, for the boat which
was to convey us to Ashland, and meantime
the party scattered about the town. Some
of them visited the prettily located Catholic
church, some called on friends in the village,
some went up the hillsides to gather flowers
and wintergreens and a few climbed by
winding path three-quarters of a mile and
then up the stairways of an observatory
seventy-two feet high. From the top of this
observatory, five hundred feet above the
level of the lake, the view takes in all of the
islands, a long stretch of the south shore
of the lake, and the villages of Washburn
and Ashland, with also the north shore of
the lake and the mountainous Penoka range,
| thirty miles south of Ashland. 1t is grand
| view That evening the lake was still, and
the island group dotting its vast surface
looked as if a rarely perfect bird's-eye view
was pictured before those who stood on the
observatory. Madeline island, fourteen
miles long, lay as if at our feet, with all its
shores visible, and the houses and fields of
| its inhabitants mere dots and little squares
in the green expanse of the young wood
which replaces the old forest long ago cleared
away.
bayfield,, which succeeded La Pointe as the
county seat, was laid out as village by
Hon. II. NJ Rice, of ST. Paul, about thirty
six years ago. 1t has had long period of
waiting for the railroad, which was to have
come to it in 1857, but did not. 1t is at last
a railroad point, being the terminus Of the
st. Paul & Lake Superior. Tor North Wiscon-
SIM branch of the st. Paul 81 Omaha railway
1t has in most important respects,
the best natural harbor on the
| 1akna h,1t he railroad cnrnpopv hoe ocfah-
lished it's principal lake dock and warehouse
at another point, having equal advantages
though little out of the route for steamers,
and Bayfield, is not the transfer port. 1t has,
however, some growing industries, stimu-
lated by the railroads coming, and is likely
to become an important town with consider
| ably larger population than now. It's
principal industry is in fishing. Two
establishments engaged in the business
employ each about 100 fishermen, whose
stations are scattered along the coasts and
among the islands. There is a prospect of
this business being much enlarged at Bay
field bya lea ding fish packer and dealer Of
| Chicago, who proposes to erect a freezer
which will cost $50, 900, and which will keep
fresh the year round enough fish to furnish
steady supplies to all the markets with which
| Bayfield, Is directly connected. The lum Der
trade has been prominent part of the bust
ness Of the place for twenty years. Recently
the opening of new brown stone quarres on
the mainland has added to the demand for
labor at Bayfield,. From these new quarries
was taken the stone which has been used in
the German American bank building at ST.
Paul. From the old quarries on Bass
| the stone for the Milwaukee
court house, and for other large buildings in
that city and in Chicago. The Potsdam
stone of these quarries is of fine, even color,
and is pronounced by architects and stone
cutters to be at least equal in all respects TO
any other sandstone for building purposes.
THE wAUBUN.
| Our stay at bayfield, was limited to half an
hour, and some OF the party were left. Those
who were at the dock in time embarked on
the small steamer S. B. Barker, which plies
daily between Bayfield, and the towns on
Chequamegon bay. About thirty of the party,
including all who had climbed the hill to the
observatory, approached the dock only in
time to see the Barker gaily steaming away,
and above the lower deck almost covered
from sight by the crowd of people on board.
The sight suggested some consolation for be-
ing left behiud. 81 wouldn't like to ride
with such crowd, said philosophic lady;
II should be afraid of being pushed over
board. I'd rather be In Bayfield, where there's
room enough for me.'' But they were not
badly left. Messrs. Franklin and Teasdale
had engaged for the missing ones another
small steamer, clipper yacht, the ''Waubun,"
one of the fastest of small steamers on the
| lakes.
1t is said of the Waubun that she was built
at cost of $4,000 for fourishing insur-
ance agent of Chicago. Her owner used her
for trips on Lake Michigan and into the nav
igable rivers emptying into that lake, on
which trips he combined business with
pleasure, and pushed insurance soliciting
with an energy and success only equalled by
his passing the champagne at the rich din
ners given to his guests and customers The
| vessel then, from her fine appointments and
| glistening finish, was known as "The Nickle
Plate" 1t happened, as often it does to men
who are showily enterprising and Herewith
! prOdigal in expenditure, that our insurance
man failed. 1t is said he was short very
large sum for one in his position and with
his income. His pretty yacht was sold and
here it is, an excursion yacht, plying on the
waters of Chequamegon bay and to and fro
among the Apostle islands.
| The Barker had to land at Washburn, and
the Waubuu was first at the dock, having
made the run of sixteen miles, with low
steam pressure, in an hour and twenty min
utes. So those were left were not belated,
and they had had the grand view from the
| Bayfield, observatory.
THE CHEQUAMEGoN.
| Right here it may be permissible to give
away the all-knowing editorial fraternity by
remarking that not one of the party could at
first trial correctly pronounce the Indian