NARRATIVE OF 1853. 45 
cuting our animals so that it was hard to keep them in the road, as they constantly attémpted 
to rush into the bushes. The country to Cold spring has a rich alluvial soil, with scattered 
groves of timber. It is mostly a level prairie, occasionally broken by a small stream, and 
excellent for agricultural purposes. 
Cold spring is a stream of most beautifully limpid cold water, about ten feet vids and six 
or eight inches deep. The train and parties passing over it had made the crossing practicable, 
and our small party experienced no delay, but pushed on and overtook Lieutenant Du Barry at 
Cold stream, who, not being able to cross the Sauk to-night, encamped about four o'clock on 
the east side of the river. The crossing of Cold stream by the main party was effected with 
considerable delay and much hard work. Before coming to the boggy place, which presented 
the most serious obstructions, a rapid stream, about eight or ten inches deep, with steep banks, 
nearly two feet high, is to be crossed, on the west side of which the ground is soft, affording 
butlittle foothold for the animals. Here brush and cut grass had to be placed for a distance 
of some sixty yards along the bend of a very crooked stream, and there a high hill had to be 
ascended by the animals. just after a hard pull over the soft road. Passing through Lieutenant 
Du Barry’s camp I went on to Dr. Suckley’s, on the west side of the Sauk. Sauk river (see 
accompanying sketch) at our ford is about 120 feet wide, though, owing to the obliquity of the 
banks and rapidity of current, the ford is near 300 feet wide and the water five feet deep. 
June 17.—This morning I started with Dr. Suckley, leaving Evans and Kendall to come up 
with the pioneer wagon. We intended when leaving to encamp at Lake David, but Corporal 
Coster, who was ahead, passed it a mile or more before observing ites and we concluded to go 
on to Lake Henry, which was said to be eight miles beyond. 
Lieutenant Du Barry effected the crossing of the train in one day, and менй on the west 
side of the Sauk, six miles from Cold spring. The country throughout the day’s march was a 
rolling prairie, interspersed with small sloughs, filled by the recent rains; the soil is rich and 
black; grass good, and occasionally gravelly hillocks. At а distance of from one to six miles to 
the east is a wooded ridge, evidently lining the bank of Sauk river, and n from sixty 
to one hundred feet high. 
In the crossing of the Sauk by the main train the India rubber boats were, det i first time, 
used. The larger one is about twelve feet long and four wide, weighing seventy-five pounds, 
the other about one-fifth smaller. A rope was stretched across the stream and the boats ferried 
across by means of a ring attached to their bows and sliding along the rope. They succeeded 
admirably; and a birch canoe, managed by one of the voyageurs, was also used in crossing. 
Some of the men were in the water for hours, but worked faithfully and efficiently. The dis- 
tance from the Sauk river to Lake Henry is nineteen and a half miles. The pioneer wagon 
came within a mile of our camp, after dark, where it remained all night. I sent back 
Belland to inform Lieutenant Du Barry that I intended to go forward and join the advance 
parties to-morrow morning. 
June 18.—Fullerton, one of Tinkham’s party, discharged by him, brought кч that he was 
at Lightning lake, fifteen miles ahead. Sent back Kendall, directing Osgood to come forward 
to Lightning lake to-morrow with two wagons, the reserve wagon loaded with ropes, spades, 
a boat, &c., and that containing Indian goods, Left camp about seven o'clock, and in about 
three-quarters of a mile crossed a bad place, requiring some grass. The water was two feet 
