HISTORICAL SKETCH. 27 



1806, Pike.] 



a short visit to Mr. Grant's trading-post on "Red Cedar lake"* he left on 

 the 28th of February on his descent to his stockade, where he stayed till 

 the ice broke up in the spring, when he returned to St. Louis. 



LIEUTENANT PIKE ON THE FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY. 



In order to complete the history of the falls of St. Anthony from the 

 time of their discovery to the final occupancy of the place by permanent 

 settlements, with a view to ascertaining their rate of recession by means of 

 the islands which have undergone changes from time to time, as noted by 

 different visitors, Lieut. Pike's description is herewith given, as one of the 

 most exact and reliable. 



In the appendix to his journal is found a letter addressed to Gen. Wil- 

 kinson, dated "26th Sept. above the falls of St. Anthony" containing the 



following: 



The place where the river falls over the rocks appears to be about fifteen feet perpen- 

 dicular, the sheet being broken by one large island on the east and a small one on the west, the 

 former commencing below the shoot, and extending 500 yards above ; the river then falls through 

 a continued bed of rocks, with a descent of at least 50 feet perpendicular in the course of half a 

 mile from thence to the St. Peters, a distance of eleven miles by water, there is almost one con- 

 tinued rapid, aggravated by the interruption of twelve small islands. The carrying place has two 

 hills, one of 25 feet, the other of 12, with an elevation of 45", and is about three-fourths of a mile 

 in length. Above the shoot the river is of a considerable width, but below (at this time) 1 can 

 easily cast a stone over it. The rapids, or suck, comes about a half a mile above the shoot, when 

 the water becomes calm and deep. He adds that this is merely a coup d' ceuil. 



On page 51, of the same appendix, he gives further particulars concern- 

 ing the falls, viz: 



As I ascended the Mississippi the falls of St. Anthony did not strike me with that majestic 

 appearance which I had been taught to expect from the description of former travelrs. On an 

 actual survey I find the portage to be 260 poles ; but when the river is not very low, boats ascend- 

 ing may be put in 31 poles below, at a large cedar tree, which would reduce it to 229 poles. The 

 hill over which the portage is made is 69 feet ascent, with an elevation at the point of debarkation 

 of 45. The fall of the water between the place of debarkation and reloading is 58 feet ; the 

 perpendicular fall of the shoot is 16 J feet. The width of the river above the shoot is 627 yards; 

 below 209. For the form of the shoot see a rough draught herewith. In high water the appear- 

 ance is much more sublime, as the great quantity of water then forms a spray which in clear 

 weather reflects from some positions the colors of the rainbow, and when the sky is o'ercast, 

 cover the falls in gloom and chaotic majesty. 



LIEUT. PIKE ABOVE THE FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY. 



From the falls of St. Anthony to Rum river, the Mississippi is almost one continued chain 

 of rapidsj with the eddies formed by winding channels. Both sides are prairie, and scarcely any 

 timber but small groves of scrub oak. Rum river is about 50 yards wide at its mouth, and takes 

 its source in Le Mille Lac, which is about thirty-five miles south of Lower Red Cedar lake. 

 The small Indian canoes ascend this river quite to the lake, which is considered as one of the best 



*This Red Cedar lake in other places is styled Lower Red Cedar lake, and is a few miles southwest of Aitkin. 



