Historic Diaries: James Doty, 1820
July 1, 1820: The Porcupine Mountains
Editor's Note:
Schoolcraft noted that the surface of the lake behaved oddly, and that others had seen it before him:
"Charlevoix observes, 'when a storm is about to rise on Lake Superior, you are advertised of it, two or three days previous. At first, you perceive a gentle murmuring on the surface of the water, which lasts the whole day without increasing in any sensible manner; the day after the lake is covered with pretty large waves, but without breaking all that day, so that you may proceed without fear, and even make good way if the wind is favourable; but on the third day when you are the least thinking of it, the lake becomes all on fire, the ocean in its greatest rage is not more tost, in which case you must take care to be near shelter, to save yourself. This you are always sure to find on the north shore, whereas on the south you are obliged to secure yourself the second day at a considerable distance from the water side.'
"Although we are not prepared to corroborate this remark, yet something of the kind has this day been witnessed, for notwithstanding the prevalence of a calm during the whole day, with the exception of about two hours in the morning, when the wind was however light, and the lake towards evening has been in a perfect rage, and we effected a landing with greater hazard than has yet been encountered. At the same time scarce a breath of air was stirring, and the atmosphere was beautifully clear."
Location: just beyond the western edge of Porcupine Mountains State Park, Mich.
View Doty's handwritten manuscript of this page
View page in the 1895 printed edition
View this page in Schoolcraft's original 1821 Narrative
Early this morning we embarked, the wind ahead though not very strong. In 15 miles we came to Iron river a stream of good size being about 4 rods wide at its mouth. It empties at the bottom of a bay 4 miles deep and 15 across. The next stream of size we passed was Carp river, 15 miles farther, not as large as the Iron. It is particularly noted for passing over the Porcupine Mountains.
This range of mountains is from 900 to 1000 feet high as computed by Capt. Douglass, and extended the whole of this day's travel. We saw them from the portage at Keweenauneigh. Six miles from this is Presque Isle river. This stream appears to have formerly emptied by 2 mouths with a small Island in the middle, one of which appears to have been obstructed and almost joined the Island to the main land. On the left side the water still makes up a considerable distance. In passing the channel a fall of about 8 feet is seen a short distance up. The river is about 3 rods wide.
From this it is six miles to Black river, larger than Presque Isle, and of a dark muddy color. We went 8 miles beyond this river and encamped… Much of the timber today has been young white birch and poplar — the other white and yellow pine. Still the timber a few miles from the shore is the same as on the 'Ntenagon…
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