The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-04-18

U0lu8 Ouly AAO A0oo AOAS Wy 90 LOU
wide and she only assembled as far as
Mendoza and Fl. Smelling, which.
during the period between the years
1890 and 184S were about the only
points Of importance in the territory |
now embraced within our state.
Hence, all the boats navigating the
upper. Mississippi a.. those days had to |
enter the. Minnesota !. to reach these
terminal points. Except for these
landings at its mouth and save that in
1898 small steamer-.with party Of
e1cursionists son .board. ascended it as
far as the old Indian village near
Shakopee, no real attempt was made
to navigate the Minnesota with
steamboats, until 1850. Prior to this
time it was not seriously thought that
the river was navigable to- any great
distance for any craft larger than a
keel boat, and the demonstration to
the contrary then witnessed has made
that year notable in the history of the
state. In June of this year the
Anthony Wayne, Mississippi river
boat in charge of Captain Daniel
Able, arrived at st. Paul with q party
Of st. Louis people. They were jolly
crowd and to enliven their trip had
brought with them a small band Of
music from Quincy, Illinois. just
then there was quite a freshet in the
Minnesota and it was suggested to
Captain Able that to entertain his
guests he take his. boat on an excur-
sion up this river, then little known,
to see the country. The people Of St.
Paul were soon enlisted in the project
and purse of 1926. 90 was raised tc
defray expenses.
On the day set, to-wit, Friday, the
2sth of June, 1850, early in the morn
ing, the Anthony Wayne. with hel
decks crowded with ia of st. Paul
prominent citizens and 70 st. Loui
people started on her memorable
u journey up the Minnesota. $4,000
All nature seemed propitious. Tn
day was clear and balmy, the luxuri
, ant vegetation freshened by recen
showers, and the river full to tn
J brim, glistening like silver betwee
= it's winding avenue of trees gayl
decked and festooned in varied green
= all combined to make a glorious para
disc of this most charming of Valley
t Louis Pelon and : Thomas J: OdeI
because of their acquaintance wit
: the river, acted as pilots.
4 At Ft. Smelling our excursionis
4 found Captain Monroe with only fiji
q men in charge and expecting ever
moment to be summoned to Sau
q Rapids to quell disturbance by IL
r Winnebagoes. which happened ne:
: day. Here the military band und
y the leadership of Mr.. Jackson, joint
4 the excursion. The first point of no
h above the fort, and at distance
IL about three miles by land from it, W
n Black Dogs village, comprising a 70
IL of huts and teepees ranged on Il
# brow of the north bluff. The interve
n ing ground between the bluff and riv
"a was covered with patches of corn al
N beans, which the squaws were bust
70 hoeing. Near by on the same side
n the river, but close to its banks, tn
N passed Man Clouds village. Five
six miles beyond Cland measure) Go
IF Roads village stood on the south ban
az About ten miles farther and on
m same side of the river lay SKIS villae
" where Samuel Pond had his missi
of station. Nearly opposite the prese
30 village of Chsska was village
th Wahrahton Sioux. where Louis Rob
m had trading post for which the be
NJ unloaded some goods. At the foot
g. the rapids near Carver, our steam
,ir overlook boat bearing the ma
nd "Rocky Mountains, whose crew WI
engaged in the arduous task of forci
on their boat up the rushing waters
en- dragging it with a long rope pass
in around tree above and pushing
ID, with their long poles. The Way
TO concluded not to attempt the rapi
TO- and turned her prov homeward.
he The fuel having given out, the CT
re. made a raid on an Indian GENET
i've close at hand and replenished til
IN, stock from the dry poles and pich
ng there found. This vandalism
hid probably excused on the ground of
ie, necessity, no other dry wood be
as available. Be that as it may, i
he certain that the steam generated
art this funerealfuel soon carried the Wa
in and her happy burden home. The voy
i've had proven eminently successful
ng the people were wild in their prais
M the river and the beautiful countr
drained.
ot- Emulous of the Waynes ACHE
his ment. the "Nominee, rival boa
the command of Captain Grin Smith,
in M another excursion party and on
ped 18th of July sailed up the river
ow passing the formidable rapids plar
ms, her single three miles above
ese then returned home in triumph.
ing The Wayne, not to be outdone
cru rival, on the 18th of the same MOI
with third excursion on DO;
II. assembled again the now famous ri
id The Ft. Smelling band participa
;no also, in this journey Passing
dar rapids and the single of the Nom
49, on the first day, the Wayne spent
voc second night at Traverse Des Sic