Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1905-03-24
A MONUMENT TO PIKE
To Commemorate Explor-
or who Built Fort Near
Here in 1905

Representative III. A. Rider has in
troduced bill providing for the
building of monument to Zebulon
NJ. Pike on the west bank of the
Mississippi opposite Pike Rapids in
Morrison county. The bill provides
that the historical society shall be
authorized to prepare the plans and
specifications + the monument and
direct the construction of the monu-
ment:
The bill appropriates 1000 for the
monument, which is to be erected
where the explorer built fort in
October, 1906. not far south of. Little
Falls.
Zebulon MONTGOMERY Pike was a
native of New Jersey. Years after
his visit to tho valley of the Missis-
sippi, he became . general and was
killed at the battle of York In the
War of 1919.
It was under the order of General
Wilkinson that Lieutenant Pike Wis.,
tied Minnesota, the primary object
being to expel the British traders who
were violating the laws and to form
alliances with the Indians. It is said
of Pike that during the day he would
perform the part OF surveyor. geolo-
Rist and astronomer, and at niQht,
though hungry and fatigued, his lofty
enthusiasm kept MIN awake until he
copied the notes and plotted the
courses of the day.
On October 16, 1905, Pixies expedi-
tion reached the rapids named after
him, near this city. He says In bis
journal of the expedition:
when We arose In the morning,
kA>k AAA 4A0u
the night, the ground was covered
and it continued to snow. This, in
deed, was but poor encouragement
for attacking the Rapids, In which
we were certain to wade to our necks.
I was determined, however, If pos
slble, to make Crow Wing the high
est point was made by traders in their
canoes. We embarked and after four
hours work became 40 benumbed with
cold that our limbs were perfectly USE
less. We put to shore on the opposite
side OF the river, about two-thirds of
ire, and then discovered that our
boats we're nearly half full of water,
both having sprung large leaks 50 as
to oblige me to keep three hands bail
ing. My sergeant, Kennerman, one Of
L
a blood vessel and vomited nearly
porals also had trouble.
dition of the men, the plan of pro.
cedine north at once, PIKE says:
In the evening I~went out upon a
small, but beautiful creek, which
emptied into the Mississippi, for the
purpose of selecting pine trees to
make canoes. l saw FIVE deer and
killed one buck weighing 1877 pounds.
By my leaving men at this place and
from the great quantity of game In ite
vicinity I was ensured plenty of pro-
visions for my return voyage. In the
party left behind was one hunter, tt
be continually employed, who would
keep our stock of salt provision.
good.
Pike says of the blockhouse he built
Enclosed my little work complete.
ly with pickets. Hauled up my twt
boats and turned them over on each
side If the gateways. by which means
q defence was made to the river, an6
had 1t not been for various politica
reasons, I would have laughed at tht
attack of 500 or 1000 savages, If all
my party were within.
The location of Pixies fort was on
the west bank of the Mississippi about
fifty roads below the rapids. The
stookade was built on the summit Of
the bank, and was about 80 feet
square. Until comparatively recent
years. the spot was easily identified.
n. Richardson says that in the early
days OF the county the decaying logl
of the stockade were still visible
In December Pike and some Of hi
menwentnorthand reached what's now
Cass Lake on Jan. 20th. Here he Wis.
tied Canadian trader named Roy,
father of the late Peter Roy of this
city. Pike then returned to his fort,
from which frequent expeditions were
made, and OIL April 7th broke camr
and left the region, never TO return.
Pike was the first American Officer
to visit the region Of the upper Missis
sippi. The proposal to mark the con-
tenfy of his visit oy erecting q monu.
ment on the site of his fort is com.
mendable one.
Ole Lysne, who visited here wher
his sister, Mrs. S. M. Siverts. lived
here, died at Mortified last week.
John Batters is back from the Sulli'
van Lake region, whore he has beer
hunting and trapping during tho win
ter.