St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-03
TRACING ITS SOURCE.
Professor Kirk Explores the
Country Adjacent to
Lake Itasea.
The Father Of Waters Is an
Outlet Of Nieollet
Creek.
Primitive Customs Character
istie Of the Northern
Part Of Minnesota.
A Monument Proposed to a
Pioneer Explorer and
Scientist.

The question of the true source OF the
Mississippi, like that OF the exact loca-
ton of Fort Perrot, seems never-end-
ing historical question for Minnesota.
Attention has been directed to the
matter by the recent explorations of j.
V. Brewer and party. whose investiga-
lions have been made public during the
past week. In connection Herewith. a
question was yesterday put to Prof. L.
III. Kirk, assistant state superintendent
of public instruction atthe capitol. Mi.
Kirk has read widely on this subject in
connection with his capitaly- written
history of the state, and has made eX-
plorations to some extent in the Itasca
region. The professor detailed recent
visit in the following racy style: 81 was
at Park Rapids, Hubbard county, III con-
nection with state school work, and UNI
expectedly found that | would have a
few days to spend in exploration. en-
gagged team, and invited two gentle
men, Mr.. Vanderpool and Nh. Patter-
son. of Park Rapids, to accompany me.
With few supplies and armed with
Winchester rifles and an axe, which no,
woodman forgets, we started on
our Journey for the lake. The
road, somewhat smooth to begin with.
soon became narrow and rough, along
the heights of land and through tam
arack Swamps and across a stream
now and then. with lakes lying On
either hand. The hills we're covered
with scant herbage and jack pine.
Towards dusk we found ourselves at
the foot OF a small hill. where a new
trail turned off from the main track
into the dense forest. Things looked
uncivilzed, and yet we found we were
still
IN UNCLE SANS COMMONS,
for on small poplar tree we found a
box inscribed: U. S. mail. Please
leave mail for the Lowe family in this
box, and take all letters found iii it to
the postoffice. We found MIR. loves
house about mile from this point.
Here we left our team and wagon, and
after hurried supper shouldered our
Winchester rifles. taking a small SUP
ply of hard bread and tea and coffee,
and started for the lake on foot. 1t was
now quite dark, but we kept on at
vigorous pace to the music OF frogs
aud whip-poor-Wi When within
about five miles of the lake we paused,
anu SpGub lilG HISliU IA q Tvs S"oiil VII
bed of spruce b0ughs. In the morning,
having investigated the larder, we
again started on foot, and by
9 O'Clock reached the stream
which Mr. Brewer calls Mary creek,
having left Moose lake on our right
short distance alter crossing the rayihe.
By the way, Mr.. Brewer calls Moose
lake by the name of Lake Josephine.
This lake is quite sheet of water, and
is situated near the corner of Beltrami
and Becker counties. We found fish
running in Mary creek in such large
numbers that we could throw them out
by hand. We climbed the hills at the
southeast arm OF the lake on its western
side to cabin of Mr.. Green's, who was
absent, but had very Hospitality tackled
a note to the door which read: Lake
ItaSca main height. You will find the
key at the southeast corner OF the cabin
under the shakes. Waiting for no
{ other invitation than this mute one, we
entered, and, as is always expected in
this country, helped ourselves to what
ever things were necessary to make us
comfortable. 1t was our purpose to eX-
plore the lake. We crossed the. swamp
at the foot of the hill and found rude
and very leaky scOW, and two oars of
still ruder pattern, and very unevenly
balanced as to size. Extemporizing
rowIocks, we trusted ourselves and
camp fiXings to this uncertain craft, and
set out joyously to make the circuit of
the lake. True. we felt just little en-
vious when party Of Indians glided
swiftly by
IN A BIRCH BARK CANOE,
but as they were about the only people
we had seen, we were disposed to greet
Al oil nd nnr
landing point was Schoolcraft island,
where the explorer whose name it bears
landed with his party in 1881 or '32.
Right here, let me say that [ have great
respect for William Schoolcraft and his
work as an explorer and writer; but [
think, nevertheless, he has been given
too much credit by those who have dis
cussed this subject of the sources of the
Mississippi, white Mr.. Nicollet has been
granted too little. Mr.. Sch0olcraft, in
the first place. was we'll guarded by
detachment of troops, who relieved him
of any annoyance from Indians; then,
too, he had a large party OF voyageurs to
carry his supplies and propel his boats.
In the second place, his exploration of
Lake Itasca was quite cursory. | have
conversed several times with W. Z.
Boutwell,, the venerable missionary,
who still resides near Saltwater in this
| state, and who was one of the members
| of the expedition. He says that the
stay of the party was not prolonged at
| this part of their journey.
eve commenced to examine the Mis-
| sisSippi where it leaves the lake, and
| camped near deserted cabin. BY this
| time the wind began to rise, making the
whitecaps roll SO high that it became
quite difficult to manage our old boat in
crossing to the western shore of the
island on our way to Elk lake. that
figured so prominently in the Glazier
discussions. We reached this about the
middle of the afternoon. Mr.. Brewer
speaks of the outlet of this lake as being
almost dry during the time of his visit,
but when | was there it was swift
though shallow stream. We propelled
our boat through into Elk lake. My
companions were confident that we
could not do this, and several times
when the boat stuck i'll the shadows de-
sired to turn back, but with some effort
and by stopping to get under the falling
trees we at last succeeded. We assembled
the small hill west of this stream, be-
tween
ELK LAKE AND LAKE IrAscA.
ssHere we found board set up by Mr..
Clark and party. bearing an inscription
in honor of NicolIet. 1t seems absurd
to any one visiting this spot that Nlcol-
let could have seen Lake Itasca and not
have seen Elk lake, separated as they
are only by few rods. Then, too, the
absurdity is increased when one eX-
amines the map of Nicollet and dis
covers that he has placed Elk lake upon
it, as we'll as the other small lakes and
streams in the vicinity of Itasca itself.
From this we went to the mouth of
Nieollet creek. Although, as | have
said, stream emptying out of Elk lake
| into Itasca was running rapidly at this