The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-08-01
Theodore Christianson 5
Address

ley of the Bots des Sioux River, the
branch of the Red River which rises
in Lake Traverse, down the Red Ri
yer valley, crossing the Buffalo
Wild Rice, Marsh, Sand Hill, Red
Lake, Snake and Two Rivers, just
above their mouths. Marsh River
was dry at this time, as it is often
in times Of drought. Red Lake Ri
yer was reached on August 2. In
this vicinity they experienced con-
siderable distress from the extreme
changes in temperature during the
nights, a drop from 83 degrees to
degrees in a few hours being re-
corded by Heating.
reached on August 5. A journey of
256 miles from Lake Traverse had
been accomplished in eleven days, an
average of twenty three miles a day.
Pembina was the settlement made
by Scotch emigrants in 1912. Lord
Selkirk, who had acquired an en-
ormous tract of land from the Hud-
sons Bay Company, roughly COM
prising the province of Manitoba
and the northern part of the states
of Minnesota and North Dakota
hoped to found colony for evicted
Scotch peasants. The attempt was
not success owing to number of
misfortunes which followed each
other in rapid succession, and
year after year there was an exodus
to the more favorable regions on the
Mississippi, at Fort Smelling and be-
low. At the time of Longs visit
the settlement consisted of about $50
inhabitants, most of whom at this
time were half-breeds, ill-suited BIZ
temperament and training to farm
ing; consequently, in spite of the
good soil not enough agriculture was
being carried on to supply the needs
of the settlers, who were, therefore,
forced to rely largely on wild game
for food. At the time Longs party
arrived, most of the settlers were
buffalo hunting "The settlement"
says Heating, "was in the greatest
need of provisions; fortunately for
us, who were likewise destitute, they
arrived the next day." The pro-
cession returning from the hunt must
have presented an interesting sight.
ut consisted of one hundred fifteen
carts, each loaded with about eight
hundred pounds Of the finest buffalo
meat; there were three hundred per-
sons, including women. The number
of their horses, some of which were
very good, was not under two hun
dred. Twenty hunters, mounted on
their best steedS, rode in abreast:
having heard of our arrival, they
fired salute as they passed our
camp"
During the stay at Pembina, the
astronomer located a point on the
49th parallel and there planted a
wooden post to mark the boundary,
&c. B." inscribed on the northern
face and gu. S." on the southern.
All of the sixty houses of the settle
ment were found to be on American
soil, discovery which appeared to
be entirely to the satisfaction of the
settlers.
The instructions of the War De-
partment had stipulated that Long
was to proceed from Pembina along
the international boundary, but he
was informed that such route would
be impossible for mounted party
because of the innumerable lagoons
and marshes covering the whole of
the region. Accordingly they ex-
changed their mounts for canoes,
and with the necessary supplies
started out. The homeward journey
was made by way of lower Red River,
Lake Winnipeg, Winnipeg River,
and the chain of lakes and rivers