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Show 378 WESTERN WILDS. from five to twenty miles, and yielding to gentle foot- hills and wooded bluffs. In three or four places the river spreads to a mile or more in width, broken by sand- bars and low islands; there the boat usually stuck fast for awhile, till the hands could " pole off," when she would back out and try other channels till one was found passable. At such times the captain cheered us with such appropriate remarks as: " D d channel was on that side when I came up. Thought the river would take a sky- wash round the other way, judgin' from the set ag'in that bluff. But there's nothing impossible under this admin-istration. Howsomever, we'll make Sioux City by supper time, if we don't fall down." This last was a facetious reference to the system of sparring off with the " boat's crutches." But we did " fall down" about noon, running hard aground on the head of a sand island, located probably where the channel was deepest a month before. Then oaths, spars, " nigger- engine " and all the other available machinery were set in operation ; and after two hours of swearing, bell ringing, and toil, the stern was got far enough into the current to swing around ; then all control of it was lost, and that end grounded below. Then the bow was shoved off, swung around and stuck again ; then the stern made a half- circle swing, and thus on, in a series of swings and " drags," over half- sunken trees, the boat groaning through all her timbers like a thing possessed, we made a final swing off the lower end of the island, and floated on. When they spar thus at both ends they are said to " grasshopper " over the difficulty. Reaching Sioux City, we found there had been a fearful murder, two robberies and a street fight in which a dozen engaged, all within twenty- four hours. And still Sioux City was not happy. Thence we traveled north- east by way of the Sioux City & St. Paul Rail-road, most of the day over a country with the same general char-acter: a high and gently rolling prairie, without sloughs, with very rich soil and rank grass, but no timber. Having passed the " divide," we soon entered upon the system of streams flowing into the Minnesota River, and left the " Land of the Sleepy " for the " Blue- water Land." This poetic designation of Minnesota ( from the Sioux minne " water " and sola " blue "), is the most fitting name the State could have received. In the year 1859, that State was my residence, and even now my heart thrills at recollection of its sum-mer beauties: green plains, tasteful groves, crystal lakes and clear streams lively with fish. But here I ask the reader's permission to turn back thirteen years. The notes in the next chapter are from ojb-servations both during my residence and later visits. |