The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-10
CORRESPONDENCE
On Board Steamer, Pittsburgh, Near
Clinton, Iowa. July ed 1891.

On Board Steamer, Pittsburgh, Near
Clinton, Iowa, July I'd 1891.
To the Editor Of the Banner:-DEAR
SIR Thinking trip down the river
would be pleasant variety. | took the
steamer at st. Paul for Vicksburg. Miss.
st. Paul is 1882 miles from the mouth of
the river. From st. Paul to st. Louis is
100 miles, and the stated time is six
hours over three days, but Sunday morn
ing before daylight, we were tied up for
four hours waiting for the fog to lift.
Besides the fog we have been hindered
some by head-winds and shallow water,
SO we are nearly five hours behind. Lake
Pepin begins near Red Wing, about 80
miles below st. Paul, and is some 20
miles long. 1t was beautiful moon
light evening as we sailed through it. 1t
is beautiful body of water of moderate
width, and has some Indian traditions
associated with its banks. Maiden Rock.
about 400 feet high, is so called, because
an Indian maiden threw herself from the
top in preference to marrying a man she
did not love. The rock which is partly
limestone is on the Wisconsin side of the
river.
In the river bank just below st. Paul,
| is Carver's Cave, so-called from iona
than Carver, who visited it in 1867, and
treated with the Indians, who made it a
general resort for council.
st. Paul is very pleasant city. The
pretdest street that l saw is Summit
Avenue, which has lookout built a
the highest point, where for ten cents
the traveller may go up and enjoy fine
view of the city. Another view that ]
enjoyed, was from the dome of the CAPT
toll. meant to visit the estate Fish
Hatchery" but did not get time. The
eggs Of California salmon, brook trout,
Lake Superior trout, German carp and
other edible fish are Matched by the
million, and the small fry are kept in
ponds there until large enough to be
sent over the State to stock its waters
As contrast to the st. Paul of to-day,
! was interested in sketch from Fifty
Years in the Northwest by Fulsom, Of
dance given--I think in 1S49-by the
proprietor of what was then first-class
hotel. The author prefaces the story by
the statement that it was considered
good accommodation for a man who had
blankets to spread them ON the floor and
enjoy good nights sleep, but if he had
no blanket he spread himself on the
floor and paid for his lodging by tending
the fires and keeping the dogs from
fighting; it being generally understood
principle that no man who had blankets
to sleep in should be disturbed by the
dogs. But to our story: Everyone in
town was invited, and they all went ex-
cept one family, and a number of the
guests went to see what had become Of
them. They found the man with a
broken leg. He said he had been help
ing neighbour to put a barrel of whiskey
in the cellar and it had rolled on to his
leg and broke it. But it was otherwise
found out that he had bet with the man
that he could raise the barrel of whiskey
up to his lips and take drink. 1t was
his efforts to win that bet that caused
the broken bone. His wife had baby
nine days old, but said eff her husband
had not broken his leg that she had in
tended to lock up the house and take the
baby along" Among those who did go
were fourteen babies, and they were all
put together. Everything went smoothly
until the wind-up, when it was discovered
that some mischiev0us person had
changed the wraps on the babies, and
moved them around in the bed so that a
large proportion of the mothers started
home with some other mothers darling.
The writer says he is not sure that the
mistakes were all of them ever rectified.
So much for primitive dancing party
in the Northwest.
g. e. BRECKENRIDGE.