The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-08-16
AN INTERESTING TRIP
The Editor and Family on Their De-
lighttul Vacation With National
Editorial Association.

Our train was considerably delayed
at Montreal on account of the sleeping
cars having to be taken to another sta
tion to be supplied with Pintsch gas,
and we had long and tiresome wait of
almost two hours in the depot that
night, not knowing when our sleepers
would put in an appearance, but we
were finally loaded about 1 o'clock in
the morning and were soon steaming
rapidly toward Quebec, where we ar
rived at 1880 the next morning and at
once went on board the steamer Tadou-
sac, on which we were to make the trip
up the Saguenay river to Chicoutimi,
the head of navigation.
A few minutes after leaving the dock
we are opposite the Isle of Orleans,
which is about eighteen miles long and
three wide, and along the shore it looks
as if it was one continuous town built
down at the waters edge, for the is
land is fine farming land, but it is
divided into strips two to three acres
wide and running clear across the is
land, so that every farmer can build his
house on the waters front. We were
told that none of the land on this island
could be purchased, and that the farm
ers were all rich. 1t looked funny to
an 1owan to see farm three miles long
and only two to three acres wide. On
we glide by picturesque villages, point
ed spires, towering hills, on toward
Cape Tourmente and the region SO rich
in folk lore. Chateau Richer and the
blue peak of Mount st. Anne appear in
the distance, and soon Crosse Isle, the
quarantine station of the st. Lawrence
is passed. From here the river ex-
pands, and the broad open water seems
to have the proportions of a sea. Soon
we come in view of Bale St. Paul and
lsle-aux-Coudres. In 1868 Bale St. Paul
was the center of fierce elemental
war. For six months and half earth
quakes were felt throughout Canada.
Along the st. Lawrence meteors filed
the air, which was dark with smoke and
cinders, the grass withered and the
crops would not grow. New lakes were
formed and the appearance of the shore
was altered, and hill descended into
the waters and emerged to form an is
land. Isle-aux-Coudres has it's legend
gathering around the memory of Pere
Lacrosse, the faithful priest of the Hud-
son Bay post at Tadousac. The legend
runs that the priest one evening while
conversing with his little flock, told
them that at midnight he would be a
corpse, and that at that hour the bell
of the chapel would toll for the passing
soul. He told them not to touch his
body, but to hasten whatever the
weather, on the following day to Isle
aux-Coudres to fetch Monsieur Com
pain, who would be waiting for them, to
wrap his body in it's shroud. At the
first stroke of midnight the little band
was startled by the tolling of the bell,
and on rushing to the church they
found the priest dead before the altar.
With dawn came violent storm, but,
faithful to their promise, they set out
for the Isle-aux- -Coudres, where, as
foretold, Father Complain was waiting,
breviary in hand, having been warned
in vision and by the tolling of the
bell of his own chapel For years after
the indians going up and down the
Saugenay never passed Tadousac with
j out praying in the church where his
body reposed. The relics of Pere La.
brosse, whose memory is revered tc
this day, were removed years ago tc
the church at Chicoutimi.
Esoulements is our next port of call
1t is picturesquely situated on the wilo
and beautiful north shore of the river
All along this route scenes of wild an6
rugged grandeur are presented tt
view, forming a fitting prelude to the
wondrous splendor of the Saguenay
river. A few miles beyond is st. Irenee
one of the latest addition to the beauti
full resorts of the lower st. Lawrence
Here are built the summer homes Of
many of the wealthy people of Montreal
and Quebec. On our return trip we
were invited to inspect the home OF
Rodolphe Forget, president of the
Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Co.,
which with the furnishings cost over
100000. We were made welcome by
Mrs. Forget and her daughter, Mr.. For
get having been called to Ottawa the
previous day on business.
Five miles from st. Irenee we land at
Murray Bay, another summer resort
town, located at the mouth of the
Murray river. The ST. Lawrence here
is fifteen miles wide and as salt as the
ocean itself, while the tide reaches
twenty feet, SO that the dock has to
be provided with movable landing
place which is raised or lowered ac-
cording to the tide. Near Murray Bay
are many beautiful drives and places of