The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-08-09
AN INTERESTING TRIP
Continued from page ~

$1,000 NCoiioihuO.t iLoul page LII
spicuously. This church or rather it's
bell is connected with an historical in
cident Of savage indian revenge in the
early days. On it's passage from France
the bell was captured by an English
cruiser, taken to Salem, Mass, and sold
to the church at Deerfield in the same
state. The ST. Regis indians, hearing of
the capture and the destination of their
bell, proceeded stealthily to Deerfeld
attacked the town, massacred forty
seven Of the inhabitants, and brought
back one hundred and twelve captives
with them, along with the bell, which
now hangs in the little church.
We are now nearing the line which
divides Canada from the United States,
as we'll as the line separating Eastern
Ontario from Quebec. Below Cornwall
the river expands forming Lake ST.
Francis, and far in the distance can be
seen mountain range, looking like a
cloud against the sky. 1t is the old
Adirondacks. At the lower end of the
lake we draw up by the long wooden
pier of Coteau du Lac, whose struggling
row of little French houses, looking
smaller still in contrast with the great
stone church and cleaning spire, give
evidence that we are now in French
Canada. After leaving Coteau landing
the steamer passes under the magnifi-
cent iron bridge of the Canada Atlantic
R. r. which is a mile and half long.
Just below the bridge we enter the
Coteau Rapids, which are two miles
long and have an exceedingly swift
current. Seven miles further down we
sweep past a small island whose trees
almost dip into the hurrying stream,
and rounding sharp curve enter Cedar
Rapids. These are very turbulent and
the passage is most exciting. At times
the steamer seems to be settling to sink
but she glides swiftly from the threat
ened danger, past ominous rocks until
she energies from the rapids. But
scarcely has she left the Cedars when
she enters Split Rock rapids, sentineled
by hugh boulders guarding the entry.
A short distance below Split Rock
Rapids are the Cascades, the last of
this series of rapids. conspicuous by
white-crested waves which mount
unanimously from the dark green
waters in such choppy angry way
that they make the vessel lurch and
toss as though at sea. This group of
rapids, four in number, follow one an
other in close succession, having a
descent of eighty-four feet, and extend
ing for distance of about eleven miles.
Below the Cascades the river en-
pands into Lake st. Louis. Almost at
it's head, where the Cascades seething
waters soften into calm, the Ottawa
river discharges one of it's branches
into the broad ST. Lawrence. The
scenery is very fine along this lake.
Calm and shadowy, the Chateauguay
hills rear their lofty heads behind the
trees; lower down the dim outline of
Mt. Royal can be seen, while further on
the cloudy tops of Beloeil, st. John and
Shefford loom up against the sky. On
our left as we go down is the Island of
Montreal. Along it's margin can be
seen the cottage of Montrealers who
come here to spend the summer months.
After issuing from the lake we pass the
town of Lachine, nine miles from Mont
real. This place is associated with the
name of La Sale, who about the year
1870 obtained a grant of land from the
seminary of Montreal and formed a
settlement, giving to it the name of La
chine. 1t was La Sale who, during his
wanderings to the land of Illinois, first
pitched upon Chicago as trading
post. Here the famous Lachine canal
commences; it was built to overcome
the descent of the river in the Lachine
Rapids. Even as we pass along we can
see the enclosed waters of the canal
bearing upon their bosom the huge
form of some up-going steamer. Across
from Lachine, on the south bank, is the
Indian village, Caughnawaga, meaning
praying Indian" just below this town
we pass under the magnificent cantil-