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get through the Kootonais Vasa before the fall of snow.Col. W. H. Nobles, the leader of the expedi-lion, returns from this place to St. Paul, and aportion of tbo company, originally intending to go through, will return with him. AnotherIiortion of the original companv left ns at Pem-ina, on account of some diflfculty aris'ng between them and Col. Nobles, to go through alone; so that the train will he reduced to four or six men, and about eight animals, after we leave this point. We are all men ol no experience in this kind of traveling, and bare no guide to lead us or trail to follow; but wc are a determined sit of fellows, and don’t intend to spend next wintc. this side of the Kockr Mountains if we can possibly help it.We shall take a direct course across the plains from here to the Kootonais l'ass. The route which wc propose to take is a direct course to the elbow of the South Branch of the .Saskatchewan Hirer, which wc shall follow up to Bow Hirer, and then up that stream to a fork . about ninety miles from its mouth, from which point the mountains are said to be risible. We carry our provisions in the Ked Hirer carts, but as soon asour loads are reduced so as to render it practicable, wo shall leave our carts and pack our animals for the balance of the trip. We feci a little apprehension of haviug our animals mid provisions taken from us by the Indians, as our baud Is so small that wo could make but a poor defense against a party of them. We are all well armed with guns, Sharpe’s rifles, revolvers, Ac., to each man, and are determined to sell our lives with our means of living. In traveling we make an average of about eighteen or twenty miles per day. We are now about seven hu'uurca miles from the mountains, and cannot cross with safety after the middle of deptember, so you can judge of the time wc Lure to make in order to get through. Should wc hare.bad luck and bo compelled to winter this side, God hq'lp us!I suppose you don’t care about a description of the country between St. I’aul and Pembina, as it is already well known. Prom Pembina we proceeded to Su Joseph—a settlement of: half-‘ breeds to the number of about 5,WO—very beautifully situated at the base of the Pembina Mountains and on the Pembina River, one hundred miles from its mouth by water, and thirty-two miles across by land, prom that place we took a direct line across to Fort Ellice.. The country out from St. Joe for about eight days' trarel is very good; soil black loam, about three feet deep nearly till the way; locations for farms or town sites poor; after leaving the mountain ranges, the poorest kind of prairie land; soil very sandy, rocky and poor, and vegetation scant. This point—Fort Ellice—is a beatiful site as regards scenery, bnt the land is too poor for desciiption. Fort Ellice is a trading post of the Hudson B.-y Companr, situated on Beaver Creek, a liitle stream which empties into the Assiniboin Hirer, about a mile below thfcfort. . - ' ‘ •Col. Nobles intends to explore the conn try between the mouth of the Simyenne Hirer, via. Devil’s Lako and Turtle Hirer, to the south branch of„lh« Sftskincbawnn. He wjll also send Dr. C. L. Anderson—a gentleman rent’ by the Smithsonian Institute, of New York, to accompany, the expedition—down the Assmibom Hirer from this point to For Garrv, to ascertain the availability of that stream for steamboat navigation in connection with ihat alreadr established on the Red Hirer. . ' •*-From here 1 shall be more particular in noticing the region of countiy we pass through, and;note It down'ln rny diary; ana w eu I arrive at a point from which lean get oft* letters shall send you a.drscription. - Wc start from this place to-morrow. Haro planted sunflower seed's at'erery camping out from St. Joe.......W. TT- Th(iup«iv.
Newspaper Details
Chicago Press and Tribune
Chicago, Illinois, US
Wed, Nov 02, 1859
Page 2
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Anonymous
CA 28 Jul 2020
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