Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-09-17

light he could IT insure 10 take the par
ty back to Minnewaukan that night, but
if they were willing to take the chances
he would go on; If not he would turn
back. Many Of the party could not re-
main over night and it was finally decided
time we arrived at Mlnnewaukan the
the clouds had broken away and Capt.
Herman made the generous proposition
to carry all who desired TO go and could
remain over, TO Fort Totten that evening,
and next day to DEVILS Lake City and
return TO Minnewaukan without extra
charge. This would nccessitate remain.
ing away day and half longer, but
still quite little party renamed and &C
cepted the captains generous offer, while
the most of the excursionists came back
to town and whiled away the time as best
they could until eight O'Clock, when the
excursion train started for Jamestown,
arriving at midnight without accident to
train or person during the entire round
trip.
Fer the following description of the
sub-excurslon over the lake we are in
debted to Mr.. G. H. Cowles, who was one
of the party:
The party that concluded to remain
and make the voyage across the lake set
out for Fort Totten from the landing at
Minnewaukan about half past five in the
evening and reached the Fort about dark
after pleasant trip of 25 miles. There
is ct present only one steamboat
from a small government boat at Fort
Totten-which makes regular trips to all
points of interest around the lake, and
this steamer IS the "Minnie H. captain
E. E. Herman. Prominent among the
points OF interest are Graham's Island,
Devils Nest, Rock Island, Dana's Grove,
Devils Heart, Fort Totten, Jerusalem and
Minnewaukan.
There is quite number of small sail
and row boats on the lake which are used
to convey hunting and fishing parties.
There IS great quantity of game on and
about the lake, such as ducks, geese,
cranes, swan, brant, snipe, prairie chick
en-, plover, deer, antelope, foxes, badgers,
and jack rabbits.
Fort Totten, which we visited, is about
l6 miles southeast by land and 25 miles
by lake from Mlnnewaukan This fort
was established in 1867. There are now
on this reservation about ], 300 Indians of
the Cut Head Sioux tribe who have for
sometime cultivated small farms and
prove to be quite successful In growing
sweet corn, wheat, oats, barley, potatoes
and all kinds of garden vegetables, and
they are becoming rapidly self-support-
ing and prosperous. There are now
about 100 young Sioux thoroughbreds in
the mission school which is situated on
this reservation about six miles from the
Fort.
Some of the party visited Sul.y Hill,
about six miles east of the fort. This
noted spot is where Gen. Su]ly last made
a stand against the Indians and was
driven by them to Fort Lincoln near Bis
marck. Rev. Buchanan, who was among
the visitors to Sully Hill, said that Of all
the scenery he had visited IN lis travels
through the states and even IN California
he had never seen any which equalled
the view from Sully Hill, overlooking as
it does every nook and corner of the lake,
showing all of its various bays and prom
onterles as we'll as the varied scenery and
at the same time giving such beautiful
view of the prairles for 20 to 80 miles dis
tant.
The next morning after our arrival at
Fort Totten those OF the party who de-
sired left on the Minnie II for Devils
Lake City, to reach which we passed
through about six miles of channel which
is covered on either side with heavy tim
Der, and IN few instances quite lofty
bluffs border close upon the water which
make the scenery all the more romantic
and attractive. We then entered Creel's
Bay which is most beautiful body of
water, at the head of which IS Devils
Lake City, fine townsite and thrifty
town being the present terminus Of the
Devils Lake branch of the Manitoba rail-
road. Here We were coulteously enter
tanned by Mr.. Hansborou Oh, of the Inter-
Ocean, and Mr.. Benham proprietor of
the Benham House.
On the islands are found large quanti-
ties of wild plums, black haws, and other
small wild fruits. We saw three soldiers
who had been out from Fort Totten for
only a few hours, and returned with
about seven bushels of plums, which they
fix up for their own use during the winter,
as such delicacies do not come with their
list of rations.
Through the courtesy of Capt. Herman,
of the boat, We stopped at his own private
house on the shore of Rock Island, where
he has a beautiful residence, and were
shown through the grounds, which were
delightful. His family consists only of
himself and one daughter. who often rides
with HIM on the lake. We found them
both kind and obliglng, and anxious to
make everything pleasant for our little
party, for which they had our most heart
felt thanks.
On our return to Fort Totten we were
met at the boat by the proprietor of the
Palmer House, Mr.. Frank Palmer) well
known to many people IN this city, and
were kindly conveyed by carriage all