Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/549

 HISTOID OF (iOODllliK COUNT V 469 mission families ;ii Lac <|iii Parle, which had been accumulating at Fort Snelling all winter, we loaded all into an ox cart and traveled in Red river style. We were nine days going from Traverse des Sioux to our destination, and no sign of civilization 'lid we meet on the way. There were plenty of sloughs to cross, streams to ford and rainy days and nights to endure. Sometimes we were mired down in a marsh. But our ox was patient. He 'could rest a while and then use his strength again. Often did we lift at the wheels to help release them from the mud. The rains and melting snow had raised all the streams to full banks, and swimming was the last resort in order to cross some of them, which in ordinary times could easily have been forded. We came at last to what was them called the Chippeway river. This was skirted with timber and the w T ater was flowing over the timbered bottom. We could not tell where the regular chan- nel was. It seemed to be at least three-fourths of a mile across that valley covered by a swift, rushing stream. "We considered ways and means. Finding a tree in such a position as to be obtained, we cut it down and constructed a small raft, with sections of the trunk fastened side by side and branches spread on the top. But this raft would only carry one of us at a time. It was now near night' and after crossing this stream it would be five miles to the mission, and our provisions were exhausted, or nearly so. My companion agreed to stay there with the ox and cart until another day, while I should go over on the raft and walk to the station, where we could get help. I took the satchel which contained the mail with me and placed it upon some brush near the middle of the raft, and with a pole in my hands, standing close behind the satchel, I commenced my perilous voyage. Had some hard hits against standing trees for a time, and when I reached the real bed of the river my frail vessel was carried down the stream with a rush. I could only use my pole like an oar, and I went down much faster than across, till I came to a fallen tree, the top of which was partly out Of water. I tried to steer the raft around under the tree top. I caught hold of the satchel and followed the raft by clinging to the upper branches, and before it had become disen- tangled from the tree top I was on board again. I had evidently now crossed the main channel and by clinging to passing trees I made the opposite shore. "Walking along up the stream till I found the track, I pursued my way through a storm of sleet, five miles, to the mission, arriving some time after dark. The next day. by means of a boat belonging at the station, my companion in travel was relieved. I remained at Lac qui Parle more than a week, hoping the waters would assuage, which was the case to some extent.