The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1906-03-07
FORTY YEARS AGO.
Excerpts Taken from St. Paul Papers of
Forty Years Ago.

Fifteen miles in six days was the
progress Maj. Newson and his little
band of gold seekers had made at
last account. The pioneers who are
welding the axes with such good
effect are led on by the indomitable
Col. King. 1t is very laborious
task to cut out road through an
unbroken wilderness in the dead of
winter. Just imagine three feet Of
snow on the level, the thermometer
80 degrees below zero, and men
cutting and hauling trees out of the
road to allow the OK teams to pass;
the oxen wallowing in the snow; the
sled striking a stump, breaking the
runners or sending the driver head
long into the road.
At the time this was written the
wagon train was sixty miles from
Duluth, and only twenty-five miles
from the Vermillion gold mines.
Thus far everything has moved like
clockwork, and while Maj. Newson
is constantly on the move to keep
harmony and press forward, no
member has yet seen him out of
temper or utter an impatient word.
Early in the morning comes break
fast. Then off go the boys, with
their snowshoes and axes, dressed
in unique garb, adapted to their
laborious toll and the intense cold
weather, carrying with them cold
pork and biscuit for grub" at noon.
At night back they come to COM
Portable and genial tents and warm
suppers. After this comes the dry
ing of mocassins, repairing torn
garments, grinding dull axes, plas-
tering new sores and doctoring old
ones. While the aXmen are out the
others are kept busy driving oxen,
hauling up provisions from camp to
camp, which is shifted every two
days. Thus they are moving on
steadily, slowly but surely to the
land of gold. Minnesota, as state,
could we'll afford to donate $4,000
to the company as a slight token of
regard for what they are doing
towards opening up such mineral
regions, and thereby inducing tide
of immigration which will certainly
roll up at least 100000.
The route has been principally
through spruce and tanarack
swamps; some pine, birch, cedar,
balsam, etc. On the 9Th inst they
reached Lake Mullen, named after
Capt. Mullen, a member of the COM
pany. On Sunday, the 18th, they
camped on Lake King, so named by
Maj. NeWson in honor of Col. Joseph
King. Many caribou, or North
American reindeer are seen in this
vicinity. The party had met no In
dams up to this time, but expected
to meet quite a delegation after pas
sing the St. Louis river. Regarding
this the writer says:
We go to the mines to enrich our
selves fairly and honorably. We
have no desire to interfere with the
rights or property of the redmen,
and in return all we ask is fair treat
ment. We are strong enough and
sufficiently prepared to enforce re-
spect.'
A letter from Capt. Wellman, one
of Newson's advanced pioneers, al
ready at the falls, states that Messrs.
Dilworth, Cox and Lambert are
busily engaged in saving lumber for
the purpose of housing the main
body when they arrive.
The Davis party, Dodge party,
Sibley party and Bircheneau party,
were passed one by one on the road
from Duluth and now Newson's men
are in the van and intend to hold
that place to the finish.
On the 10th inst, the camp was
surprised by a visit from Mr.. Sy-
monds of St. Paul, and Messrs.
Coburn and Bly, of Superior. accom-
panied by number of other gentle
men. They were RECALLED to the best
IN camp, consisting of pork, biscuit,
hard tack and hot coffee. They had
come from Superior with two horses
and six men in little over a day.
This is pretty good time to cover
sixty miles.