Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-12-24
A TRIP TO LAKE SUPERIOR.


Prof Boyce of the college,
We started on this trip at eight p. m,
on the last day of June, 1885. The steam
er's name was "City of Duluth, and it
started at this hour because the regula-
tons concerning the time of sailing
would not permit it to start earlier on
account of draw-bridges. After passing
down the Chicago rivera very sluggish
and unntercsting strcam-we entered
Lake Michigan. Here we met the cool
lake breeze and were greatly refreshed
after the heat and dust of the city. The
steamer then took northerly course and
passed the crib, which is situated about
three miles from the hore,and is one end
of a tunnel, the other end of which is in
the city. Through this tunnel the water
supply of the city is drawn by three
huge engines which raise it into high
tower. From the tower it is conveyed
throughout the city by pipes. Owing to
the fact that the wind sometimes forces
the foul and muddy water of the Chicago
river out into the crib, thus rendering
the water-supply impure. a new tunnel
is to be made. The last thing seen that
night was the lights of Evanston, which
is the seat of the Northwestern Univer-
sity. 1t had then got to be so dark, of
course, that we could see nothing but
the lights.
Very early the next morning we were
awakened by the whistle. The steamer
had three whistles and they were all
blown together to produce IA chime. The
fog horn is the heaviest of them and is
used alone only in foggy weather. 1t
can be heard to Il great distance. We
found that we were going up the Mil
waukee river and arrived at the city
at five o'clock. There we had four or
five hours in which to take our breakfast
and look around
After resuming our journey we kept
on in a nOrtherly direction and passed
Beaver Island. a large quantity of
freight is transported between this place
and Chicago. 1t sends to Chicago a
large amount of fish and receives in re-
turn such supplies as are needed in such
a place, flour, salt, etc. Point st. Ignacc
was the next place which we passed.
There is a church at that place which is
said to have been established by Father
Marquette.
After passing through the Straits of
Mackinac we came to Mackinac Island, Il
very interesting place. Among the most
noted places on the island are Arched
Rock and Sugar Loaf Rock. Since the
steamer made stop there of three or
four hours, we had time to visit them.
Arched Rock forms natural bridge l20
feet above the water and only yard
wide. Some tourists 60 across the bridge.
Its height is so great and it is so narrow
that they cannot stand upright, but have
to work their way across on their hands
and knees. The surface of the rock
shows that in some past age it has been
worn by the action of water, and hence
we are led to conclude that it was once
submerged by the waters of Lake Huron,
now 30 feet below.
Sugar Loaf Rock is in the form of a
cone. 1t tapers abruptly almost to "A
point at the top, which is only one and
one-half feet square. The summit of the
cone is almost on II level with the next
higher plateau of the island. 1t seems TO
be all that is left of what was once Il
large ledge, the rest of which has now
disappeared. There is fort on the is
land. 1t is not an important post now,
although it was of some importance in
the war of 1872. When our soldiers have
spent some time in active service at the
tar west, or Oh the Mexican frontier. they
are ordered to some small fort like that
one, where they spend two or three wears
recruiting. There are about 80 soldiers
stationed ut that fort. Although we did
not go to visit it, we heard the salute and
the bugle call and the report of guns as
the soldiers shot AT Il mark.
We started again about five o'clock.
After going eastward some time we saw a
light in the distance ahead. 1t did not
shine steadily, but after moment or
two would disappear and afterward shine
forth again. We found it was from a
lighthouse situated on an island about u
miles from Mackinac, the name of which
is written Bots Blanc, but is spoken Bob
low. 1t is called the flash light because
it is constantly being turned by machin-
cry so that at one place it is alternately
visible and invisible. Ii is six or eight
miles from shore, and is maintained be-
cause of reef which is covered by the
water. In rough weather the place is So
dangerous that the lighthouse keeper
cannot reach the shore.
Early the next morning we were
awakened by the clanking of the chains
which move the rudder and the sound of
orders. These sounds indicated that we
were in narrow channel, which we
fOund was ~ Marv'S River tho outlat of