48 NARRATIVE OF 1853. 
overcome without lightening the loads or even doubling teams. We arrived at White Bear 
lake, about nine and a half miles from this morning’s camp, at 103 а. m. 
Leaving Lightning lake the country seems to change its character and is no me a flat, 
undiversified surface, with occasionally a gentle undulation scarcely attracting attention. It 
has gradually changed to a heavy rolling prairie which, before approaching White Bear lake, 
becomes broken up into hills, valleys, and basins, varying from thirty to fifty feet in depth. 
Boulders and stones, from the size of pebbles to paving stones, are very numerous. Our route 
to day appears to be gradually ascending, at a probable rate of from eight or ten feet per mile. 
White Bear lake, (see accompanying sketch,) upon or near which most of the parties of the 
survey are encamped, lies in sight of our trail, about two miles distant to the south. It is a 
beautiful sheet of water, bordered with timber, about fourteen miles long and two wide, with 
high, swelling banks — back a mile or so, and rising to the height of about one hundred 
and fifty feet. 
As the animals looked so fresh, and the day was cool and good for travelling, we halted only 
for a rest, and concluded to push forward to the next suitable point for a camping place. 
About five miles from the lake we came to a very heavy, severe stream, apparently running into 
it. The king bolt of the ambulance got broken in going through this, and occasioned consid- - 
erable detention. Other bad places occured ; soft bogs, marshes, and brooks, impeded our 
progress so much that we did not get into camp until 3 p- m., making nine and one-third miles 
from our halting place, and eighteen and three-quarters for our day’s march. 
Our camp was on a very rapid stream, with steep. high banks. We called it Lambert river, 
in honor of our topographer, who received a sad overturn as he crossed it with Lieutenant 
Grover’s command. | 
Lieutenant Grover came з to meet us, abd. Merc our party оф 4 р. m., taking 
dinner with us. He informed us that his party, and that of Messrs. Tinkham and Lander 
were encamped at Pike lake, some five miles in advance. 
The main train, in charge of Mr. Osgood, moved from the camp on Lightning lake at seven 
o'clock, after settling a difficulty of a very serious aspect, growing out of a strike of all the 
teamsters, in consequence of a discharge by him of six of their number, according to my 
directions, because their services were not required. They threatened to shoot the first driver 
who moved out of camp. Mr. Osgood declared that he would drive out each wagon himself. 
Finally, after some discussion, the discharged men moved off cheerfully, and the main train 
pushed forward to White Bear lake, where they encamped with Dr. Suckley. 
June 23.—Our first labor this morning was to cross the stream аба point some half a mile 
from our camp, from which we moved about six. This crossing delayed our little party some 
two hours. | Grass had to be cut and placed on both sides of the stream. At the point selected 
for the crossing. an island. had been formed, with a sort of bar running out where the stream 
was more shallow than in other portions of the channel The banks were steep and soft, and 
it required the presence of a man or two at each wheel to keep the wagons in motion, and 
prevent their being stuck in the mire. Four and a quarter miles further on we found another 
very bad crossing at a swiftly-flowing stream, probably a tributary of the St. Peter's river. 
The water between the banks is about fifteen feet in width and four feet deep. The bottom 
was gravelly, and by mowing grass and covering the marshy borders on each side, a practicable 
