Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-09-26
Letter From jesse Newton

WASHINGTON, u. u, Scpt. 10, i.,Ul.
En-. TIMEs:-It has been some time since
intruded on you, and on this occasion will
try not to offend. just returned from one OF
the finest trips that ever experienced.
| 1 left this city August 18th for New York
while in New York l attended the wedding of
his home during 1898. also called on H. j.
Millcr, found him the same as ever and glad
to hear of the Valley.
Two years ago Mr. Cook, Mr.. Miller and my
self met in New York and had dinner similar
to the ones set out by the old Grid Iron Club"
of the Valley with Butch" Myers as chef.
After few days in New York city took the
train for Clayton, N. Y, arrived at Clayton in
tho morning, had breakfast at the Hubbard
house. thon started ON one of the tnest water
trips of the Id, down the s.. lawrence.
We left Clayt at 7:l5 a. m. for Quebec via
the Kchciieu 4 Ontario Navigation Co.'S line
on board the new steamer Toronto, which is
little less than a floating palace. Our trip
through the Thousand Islands was one of won
derous changing beauty. On these ia!snds are
the homes of many of our milllonaires, while
on other islands you will see the modest home
of many who arc not blessed with millionn of
dollars.
One of the islands was beauty, this one
had height of 25 feet above the water along
| the face of tit was ono solid rock and on all
tho lodges flowers and vines had been planted
and were in bloom-it made most beautiful
picture Twill not try to mention the many
things of interest as it would take too long At
one town the boys sold papers with fish poles,
tho boat did not stop long enough for them to
come on board, 80 to reach the passengers they
put paper holder on pole with can undcr
it to receive the money.
| At Prescott we changed from the lako steamer
to the river steamer, 30 az to run the rapids;
this is where the excitement begins. At Pres
colt everything about the boat is inspected
before the start is made to run the rapids, from
Prescott to Montreal it takes four men at the
wheel nearly all the timo Tho first rapids arc
the Galops and Rapids Du Plat, these are small
and not very exciting, still it gives you an idea
of what the rapids are like.
| Next IN line are the Long Bault rapids, these
are the first of the great rapids, being nine
miles in length. In these rapids are the heaviest
swclls of any, the sensation is something
strange, one can feel the boat gaining headway
till the boat reaches what is called the "ccllar"
then you can feel the boat shoot ahead Just the
same as sled when it passes over the edge of
an incline starting down hill. was at dinner
when the boat started through these rapids, the
i an nh, tho,, hoI IN,
dows to keep the water out We did not see
any more rapids till we reached Cotcau Land
ing. Two miles below tie landing are the
Coteau rapids, thcse arc small but very swift. !
admit right in these rapids l did some quick
thinking, the cause for the same was the &C
u -.af s.st IN e,,- s''el y ,rd
winding; to avoid the rocks the BOAT must turr
short and quick; on one of these turns tho boat
listed 30 much that many of tho ladies made
their presence known by screaming and rush
ing to the other side Of the boat; the question
with me was how long it would take mo to
reach land. Next came the Cedar rapids, they
caused our boat to dance around some md
made very pretty picture, in many place.
| you could see tho rocks and the waves rushing
and dashing over them. Split Rock rapids are
next. I'm told they are the most difficult of
navigation, the channel being 30 narrow; one
could look ahead and see tho rocks in the chan
mel and the boat bearing dOwl on them till
when you felt sure the hhock must come then
to your relief you would glide by in safety
only to go through the very same experience a
moment later
Cascade rapids arc next Our boat goes rush
ing on into thcse with the white crested waves
dashing all around us, making most beautiful
picture. In these rapids we encounter the
swiftcst current of the river. The fall in the
last four rapids mentioned s eighty-four feet
in eleven miles. Last, but by no means least
comes the Lachine rapids Our captain at first
declined to run these rapids owing to the fact
that the boat was 30 heavy loaded, VIC had GAO
passengers on board, the largest number to 20
through the rapids this year. just before reach
ing Lachine the captain ordered the boat to
continue. All on board were happy and began
trying for places Of advantage.
On nearing the rapids the engine was shut of
and the boat allowed to drift. As soon an tho
full force of the current caught the boat you
could feel it shoot ahead with cver-increasing
speed till all at once the boat shoots ahead with
greater speed than ever, snd then one feels the
boat sinking and it looks MS il it would, that IL
your first impression Il. before you are through
the rapids you are sure the boat will sink, such
is not the case, however, much to the 10Y and
satisfaction of all on board In running these
rapids on either side of the boat arc reefs of the
most treacherous kind, one place I'm sure our
boat did not clear the rocks five feet. 1t is
quite relief to know that the danger is over
and that you will soon be landed at the wharves
as safe and sound as when you boarded the boat
I'm very anxious to make the journey again at
some future date when there ia not 40 MANY
passengers aboard; on this trip there were too
many passengers for comfort.
At Montreal VIC changed to the larger boat to
continue our journey to Quebec. Arrived in
Quebec the next morning we registered at the
Chateaux Frontenac for the day. Soon after
our arrival VIC ordered carriage for drive
around the city; during the drive we passed ths
following places of interest, Wolfe and Mont
calm monument, also the house where Mont
gomery was laid and the place where he fell.
The Oldest church in Quebec is Notre Dame de,
Victories, built 1858.
To me tho most interesting place was tn,
Citadel, it has commanding view of The
country for miles around, the location is righ
ON the verge of the cliffs overlooking the river
it is $50 feet above the water, it is of the ole
style Notifications; under the walls of tn,