The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1910-12-27
REDWOOD LIMITED SIXTY YEARS AGO.
Condusion of Mr.. STATIONS Story OF An
Eventful Journey.

4 GVOW1Guh SU0AuGTs
led. GAZETTE:
On the second day after starting
up stream the Tiger was swept by a
cross current, onto the south bank
of the river and stuck fast. To
Tighten ship, SO that she could be
foated into the channel, the oxen
and a few tons of freight were I'M
loaded. When finally af1oat, it was
discovered that one of the paddle
wheels was damaged. We were
within fifteen miles of Redwood.
Captain Maxwell was sure he could
make that distance with the dam
aged wheel, provided the load could
be reduced. Consequently Cum
mings decided to take to the prairie
again and make Redwood by land.
| We reloaded the wagon and started
intending to ford the Redwood river
and reach a point short distance
above its mouth where the agency
was to be established. When we
reached it we found it bank full and
the current very rapid. The bluff
leading from the prairie to the
waters edge was precipitous and
high and densely timbered. We
went up stream hunting for safe
place to get down the bluff. AS it
was important to make the descent
at a point where there was level
land between the foot Of the bluff
and the waters edge, we travelled
quite distance before we found the
conditions favorable.
At about noon we made the de-
scent. having cut away several trees
to give our wagon lee way. The
bluff was so steep that we had to
fasten a snubbing rope to the rear
axle of the wagon, give the rope a
turn or two around a tree and thus
ease the wagon down.
Our plan for crossing was simple,
and we proceeded at once to execute
| it. We first forced the yoked oxen
into the current and were surprised
and not little startled to see the
first pair disappear entirely from
sight, so deep was the water. How
ever, they soon came to the surface
and swan safely to the farther shore.
In like manner each separate pair
was crossed over until the thirty
four yoked oxen were grazing on
the sloping hillside.
The next move was for someone
to swim the river carrying cord.
one end of which was to be retained
on our side. Cummings called for a
volunteer, and to our surprise and
his great disgust no one Of US had
ever learned to swim, so he had to
perform the task himself. He was
soon in the water and, notWithstand-
ing its almost icy GOODNESS and the
fearful rapidity of the current,
quickly reached the other side.
With the cord he drew our snubbing
rope across, our end of ich we
had attached to a strin Of log
chains all securely TIED together
He then started toward tlle grazing
oxen intending to get couple OF
pair of them to haul the Wagon
across. Right there and then began
circus, unequalled in exciting in
cidents by any performance ever
witnessed in wild west or any
other show. Those oxen had never
before seen a naked white man, anc
as he approached them he instantly
had their undivided attention
Thirty-four heads and tails went in
to the air, and, believing witt
fright the animals wildly stampedeC
in every direction.
At first, we who had front seat'
on the opposite bank, laughed hearth
ly at the ludicrously exciting scene
as did Cummings, the statuesqut
center of the picture, but his laugh
ter seemed lacking in enthusiasm
and soon ceased. We called to him
and, of course, offered many sug
gestions, which somehow did no
seem to cheer or please him, so W,
quieted down and watched as he at
tempted in various ways to capture
even one yoke of oxen. AS tn,
game went on we could plainly Sc,
that his temper was being worn to ;
. fragile Mel ,ane who was a noted