The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-12-27
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GOSSIP Of Stuff Gvrspanasa,
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Population
By ". F. SULLIVAN.

STAFF CORRESPONDENT !. N. SERVIcEJ
ST. LOUIS. Dec.-Sorne time mex
spring. exact date indefinite. the cen
tenary Of an important epoch n his
tory will be reached.
Early in April or Nay Of the com
Ing year, according TO available rec
ords, IS the Tooth anniversary Of the
FIRST trip of a steamboat through the
waters OF the Mississippi river.
Accounts Of the trip made by the
Virginia are both amusing and in
teresting. The boat left It's moor
ings in St Louis in the spring of
1923, headed for Fort St Anthony
(now Fort Smelling, Minnesota). the
incident causing great interest and
excitement along the route
Everyone marveled at the success
attained sn steam navigation. while
the Indians. frightened at what they
thought to be a spiritual monster
bringing an evil omen. fed out OF its
sight into the hills and forests.
Data compiled by old navisators
and historians recount some OF these
very amusing incidents accompany
ing this Important maiden steamboat
voyage. In the collections OF the
Minnesota Historical Society the fol-
lowing entry appears:
During the year 1928 the Vir-
Einia from St Louis arrived. loaded
with stores for Fort ST. Anthony.
She was four days getting over the
Rock Island rapids. an obstacle
which It had been supposed would
prevent steamers from navigating
the upper Mississippi.
AS it was the hrst steamer ever
seen By the Dakotahs in this neigh
borhood their fright was extreme.
They took II for some supernatural
monster and fed to the woods and
hills. with their hair and blankets
streaming.
The success Of the Virginia IN
reaching the mouth of the St Peter S
river (now the Minnesota) opened
the upper Mississippi to steam navl-
cation. the mightiest agent IN max
ing the then wilderness blossom as
a rose"
Authorities differ as TO the date
Of the trip. Edward D. Neill. in his
writings on the history Of Mime
sofa, says
The arrival Of the steamer vir-
g1nla IS an epoch IN the history OF
the Dalzotah nation that will prob
ably be transmitted to their poster
ity as long as they exist as q people
1t reached the fort on the 10th of
May and was saluted BY discharge
or cannon"
Some authorities AK the date Of
start and arrival as May : and May
10. Captain Fred A. Bill. OF St
Paul. a member OF the Pioneer Riv-
ernens association, IN his researches
points out that the shortness OF
eight days for trip OF such length
n those days was impossible and
that either tho boat started before
Maya or II was later in the month
when Il reached It's destination.
AS the differing authorities do not
establish any proven facts for their
findings Il probably never will be
deternined-the exact date OF the
trip other than the year
Accounts OF the second voyage
made BY the Virginia in the fall or
the same year draw most striking
contrast between navigation in its
infancy and the present-day develop
1lent. Among the difficulties exper-
fenced by the zavigators in their
nrst trips was that Of providing fuel
for the engine.
Members OF the crew, accounts say
would often BIO forced to leave the
boat along the route and chop wood
70 keep the steam engine provided
With fuel
The account Of this second trip
also bears out Captain Blrs asser-
ton that trip Of this length would
require more than eight days. The
second voyage between the same two
points required nfteen days.
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