The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-08-09

into Alexandra Bay, the Saratoga of the
st. Lawrence. 1t is one of the most
fashionable watering places in Amer
lea and thousands of people from all
parts of the world visit it each year.
Leaving Alexandra Bay, the steamer
runs down the widening channel along
the outskirting islands, some decked
with pine and frs, and some but arid
rocks, until it passes the "Three
Sisters the final pickets of the group,
and leave the Manatoana, the Garden
of the Great Spirit, as the indians
named the Thousand Islands. behind.
Scarcely have we emerged from the
still lingering images of the beautiful
island scenery when the picturesque
town of Brockville comes in view. This
town named after General Brock, the
hero of Queenston Heights, is built on
an elevation which ascends by success
sive ridges from the river. 1t has
population of about 5000 and is a pro-
gressive business center. The next port
at which we stop is Prescott, town of
1000. Among it's places of interest are
Fort Wellington, named after the Iron
Duke, the tomb of Barbara Heck, one of
the founders of Methodism in America,
and the famous Windmill, with it's
narrow loopholes peeping from it's side.
This is the Windmill that figured in the
insurrection of 1888 as the stronghold
of the Patriots under the unhappy Van
Schultze. These desperate men were
forced to surrender after several days
defense, and Van Schultze and nine of
his men were executed at Fort Henry.
The government has since converted
the Windmill into lighthouse. Direct
ly opposite Prescott on the American
side is the city Of Ogdensburg, N. Y,
which was captured by British and
Canadian soldiers on Feb. p, 1913, in
retaliation for raid made on Brock
vile by the Americans on Feb. 6, 1918.
At Prescott we change from our big
Steamer which is too large to run the
rapids which we will soon encounter, to
a smaller steamer, the Prescott, and
from here down almost to Montreal the
big vessels all pass through the canal
which runs close by the river as the
rapids are so fierce that no boat can be
navigated against the current and only
the special built steamers can shoot the
1eo ho %,s, u
passing through the first of the troubled
waters of the st. Lawrence, the Gallops,
but they are only foretaste of what is
to follow, for shortly afterwards we find
ourselves in full view Of the Rapids du
Plat, as they swirl their dark green
waters among group of wooded
islands. After shooting the du Plat,
with steadily increasing motion past a
picturesque point named Woodlands,
and in among bolder shores on the north
side of Croyles island, into sight Of the
turbulent waters of the Long Sault,
with its snow-crested pillows of raging
water. This, the first one of the really
remarkable rapids of the st. Lawrence,
extends about nine miles down stream
to Cornwall, and is divided into main
channels by numerous beautiful wooded
islands. The shooting the RAPIDS" as
the descent by boat is called is decided
ly exciting, and has tendency to make
the hair of land lubber like an Iowa
editor stand on end. Before us is a
seething mass of churni.lg waters, rush
ing with headlong speed down decliv-
ity which stretches ahead apparently
without termination. Here is where
the rapids pilot takes full charge of the
boat, for the captain takes back seat
for the pilot, and a second pilot stands
ready to take the wheel should the one
in charge become disabled or unable to
handle the wheel. With her steam shut
off the steamer dashes in among the big
waves which seem to advance up hill to
meet her, and is carried along by sheer
force of the current at a speed of twen-
ty miles an hour, past what seem to be.
dangerous places, and we think are, as
several times we could see big rocks.
just barely covered with water and each
time we were sure the boat was going
to strike it, but slight turn of the
wheel by the pilot causes the boat to-
just miss the rock and start toward one
which looks even worse. Although it is
dangerous passage the precautions
which are taken to insure the safety of
the passengers are such that fatal ac-
cidents are unknown. The first passage
of the Long Sault by steamer was made
about 1910 under the pilotage of the
celebrated indian, Terorhiahere. We
next stop at the thriving town of Corn
wall where are located immense cotton
and woollen mills, which are operated
with water power. Across the river
from Cornwall is located the little
indian village st. Regis, and just before