The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1918-07-27

a little information as to proper
route AS we proceeded on the way.
The third day we certainly had to
J select our own route and take a
chance that it was the right one. We
decided to take a short cut across
Lake Kabetogama.
Informed His Nose Was Frozen.
"Some time that morning, just
before reaching the lake, was in
formed that my nose was frozen.
That meant a, stop to thaw 1t out
with some snow. To the consterna-
ton of us all it was frozen SO hard
that even after building a fire, 1t
was impossible to. extract the frost.
"Our trip was, primarily, for me
to survey the new townsite for Mr..
Weimer to get some options on gold
properties. There we were, with my
nose. badly frozen and many miles
from any help, I can remember how
afraid Weimer was that should in
sist on turning back. He was much
relieved when said would take the
chances and go on. -. ..co
1--WE got across Lake Kabeto-
CANA with much difficulty, owing to
the fact that we had to break trail
all the way and, also, to walk on
snowshoes, as the load was toe heavy
for the horses If we rode. A smsl
compass and small islands in the
lake were our only guidance as to
route. We had been. told that there
was an Indian camp at the far end
of the lake. We we're fortunate in
finding that before dark. After
half an hours work a big squaw got
the frost out of my nose with the aid
of kerosene. It had been in bad
shape all day and never did get ex-
actly right while ! lived in that cold
climate. During the survey of the
townsite and the cold winters after
wards it had habit of freezing on
the slightest provocation.
Arrival Surprised the Indians.
"The Indians in that camp were
surprised to see us. We told them
we were going to spend the night
with them whic hive did, sleeping on
the floor Of cabin with one room,
with Mr.. Indian and all his family.
1--WE had fears for the safety Of
our supplies but we found them I'M
touched the next morning. We paid
for. our accommodations and started
over a portage to an arm of Rainy
lake, guided by an Indian with
pony and a toboggan.
when we reached Rainy lake it
was not showing, but the weather
was very cold and a. strong wind was
blowing in our faces. The Indian
pony could not be made to face the
storm, therefore we had to set our
course without any guidance. Only
one at a time could ride, the others
plodding along on snowshes.,
;; When we reached our destination
we found a well-built cabin, occu-
pied by Frenchmans with g. squaw
wife and several Children, We made
arrangements to stay with them and
were there about month.
Fl could get no white help for the;
surveying work, therefore had to en-
ploy Indians. I had no. trouble in
finding the old government corners,
and in spite of the exteremly cold
weather, made a very creditable sur
vey, even using large hewed posts
and digging a hole for each one. L
often wonder il any Of them are left
and what the location looks like.
Found No Fort at Fort Frances.
?: "While I was surveying, Mr..
Weimer was busy at getting options,
on properties, The Little American
mine was not working at the. time,
but I remember making a trip to
Fort Frances and being surprised not
to see a regular fort there, and T
was further surprised to find fine
Hudson's Bay post there.
1.-THE Frenchman's Indian wife
could speak English very we'll and
she made quite a few dollars out of
Uncle Sam by acting as interpreter
for the customs collector, who was
located in that general vicinity, and
whose business 1t was to catch snug
glers. Although I am a protection
list, 1t got on my nerves to see that
fellow lay for the Indians and the
very few white settlers who went to
Fl. Frances to get a few things at
the store, principally groceries, be-
cause the nearest store on the Amer
lean side was at Tower, over 100
miles distant, through an uninhab-
tied, trackless wilderness. More than
once that overly-offfcious officer COL
lected petty sums from the poor In
dams and settlers with the help of
the Indian woman. also saw her
help some to get off, although she
usually was very fair.
Missed His Beefsteaks.
when I got to Rainy Lake I
nearly starved from the lack of
fresh meat. For over month the
only fresh meat I had was some quail
killed by the Indian woman's boy
and given nae for breakfast one
morning. She at last noticed that I
did not eat the salt meat and the
fish invariably given US. I have
never yet Learned to eat salt pork
and the heavy bread that I was COM
PEELED to eat there, like q war pris-
oner, or starve.
"Deg teams were something new
to me then and we saw many. fine
ones along the border, well fed with
cooked cernmeal and tallow. An