Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-26

Winona. where lived the Indian mai
den who sought death rather than be
captured by the chieftain of a rival
tribe, then La Crosse and Prairie du
Chen with its curious Indian mounds.
mute testimonials TO race now ex-
tinct. The smaller villages seem like
Alpine settlements with their back
ground of beautiful hills.
little further down and the Rock
Island rapids appear. The boat with
its special pilot, makes an exciting Is
mile trip. Watertown, with it's insane
asylum is seen in the distance, and
Rock Island, Davenport, and Moline
are reached. No need to tell of the
beauties of these cities, the Indian leg
ends that cluster around-of Black
Hawk, old Fort Armstrong, the old In
dams watch tower and the stories that
who love the beautiful island city.
So far, the trip has been one ever
continuous vision of beauty and there
is no diminishing of interest from Rock
Island down. Muscatine is touched
with its sweet potatoes and melons
and the flourishing manufacturing city
of Burlington follows. Then comes
Nauvoo, where once was the magnifi-
cent Mormon temple. erected by the
followers of Joseph Smith. 1t cost
more than half a million dollars and
the town boosted $4,000 people when
religious sentiment drove them out.
The old stone warehouse on the riv-
er's bank is built from the material in
the temple. Keokuk. at the end of the
Lower rapids is reached, Quincy and
Hannibal come into view, the last the
old home of Mark Twain and finally
Piasa Bluffs loom up. These are just
above Alton and in the days of Mar
quette bore a gigantic painting of two
enormous birds sacred to the Indians. ,
The Missouri river is reached. pouring
its muddy waters into the green of the |
Mississippi, under the Merchants and |
Eads bridges goes the boat and "All |
ashore for St Louis" is the cry.
Is Memorable Voyage.
1t is a memorable voyage, full of en-
joyment, medley of beautiful seen !
cry, soft breezes, exciting landings, |
street car rides over the cities, and in |
terest in river industries. a volume !
could be written on the beauties of our |
river and one who travels any distance |
feels he is passing through enchanted |
lands. The delicate olive green of the |
water, the magnificent bluffs, the tur-
reted rocks-dark brown, dull green
and other shades-the wooded islands
he white boats and little skiffs, all |
seem part of dreamland Yet one
whose practical side supports many
towns and people Besides seven riv-
ers between St. Paul and St. Louis
which empty into the . Mississippi.
here are the two rapids. and that mag
lificent widening dgnified by the
name of Lake Pepin. four miles wide
and thirty miles long.
Not mile but bears story, for the
indian. the French-Indian trader, the
trapper, the Mormon, the steamboat
men, each had his share in the history
If this stream. 1t runs through land
Of plenty. an ever changing body of
water bordered by dark ridges, corn
fields, farms. meadow paths and cities.
This Mes-sa-se-be of Indian legend fur
fishes a thousand different pictures
with its hundreds of habitations and
grand valley. In the history of the
world it has played its part. Today it
s the artery of commerce, the high
way to peaceful homes and the gate
way to cities of enterprise. Many ma
ions have been concerned in its wei
are yet the mighty stream flows calm
V on as in the days of Marquette
whose prophetic vision saw the part it
vas to play in the development of our
KATHERINE LOUISE SMITH.