The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-11-10
MISC Ell LANEOUS.
EXCURSION TO THE LAKEs.-.No. /.
BY G.. n. ADAMS,

Notwithstanding !, is only some Eve OF
six days since our return from Moosehead
Lake on a similar excursion 10 the one we
ure now about to start upon. we have made
up our mind TO 20, because we had the M
yi,a,ion from some Portland Gentlemen
some months since, and promised at the
time that nothing but severe sickness, or
some unforeseen casually, or evident infer
position OF Divine Providence, should deter
us from an excursion, promising from its
variety and extension 50 many sources OF
pleasure and excitement, both physical and
mental, we shall therefore star, this day IN
company with Mrs. A., who will accompu-
nv US only so far rs Portland.
FaIpAY, Sxrt. %, past IL. AM.
we siepped on board the cars al Bidde-
ford depot with double-barrelled gun,
fishing rod and tackle, and ammunition oil
every desirable kind and quality, with our
dog Rover, having in fact all that is requi-
site for personal ten days excursion-such
a, the one We are on will probably be as
we shall describe il from day 10 day as we
progress on our way. Arriving al Portland
a, IL y o'clock, p. NJ, we spent the alter
noon very pleasantly with Mrs. A. in visi-
ting the State Mechanics Fair, which Is
now being held in the city, finding much
among the machinery and handy work OF
our ingenious and enierprising mechanics
TO look upon with interest. Maitets and
things were very well arranged, and the
Fair we really found 10 be quite an inter
es,ing affair. Among the curiosi,ies, the
one that 10 our mind had an interest over
every other, was large pewter plate which
was actually brought over with our Pilgrim
Fathers in the May Flower. Wha, a host
OF thrilling and strange recolleciions Of what
we have read OF the landing OF those Faith
ers, came throngiEg home upon our mind.
Tha, old pewter platter, made FOUND and may
have heen Is inches or more in diameter,
could il but speak, what tale i, would un-
fold.
After seeing Mrs. A. on board the 8 l.5
p. NJ. train for home, we proceeded 10 in
ouire for the party who were TO accompany
us, and found our friend F., with whom we
spen, the night, had made all the neceSsa-
~ preparation, and our party were all ready
70, star, in the morning.
PORTLAND, SAT, SEPr. SO, Oh.
Our Party, consisting Of nine persons, all
well armed and equipped with rifles, double
barrell guns, fowling pieces, pistols, dirk
knives, haicheis, fishing tackle, and all the
e,ce,eras we shall need, with two dogs, lei
by the Z "a o'clock A. NJ. train on the A.
& ST. l.. Railroad. The morning was beau
,iful, though the air was quite cold, no, any
TOO much so TO be comfortable, but Jusi
enough 10 make our party feel strong,
healthy and vigorous. We were all full OF
life and yigor, and ready for deeds oil daring
and exploits connected with the hunters
life. We were soon whirled up 20 miles
70 Bethel, where our provisions had been
sent on in advance OF US Here we found
two open wagons with three seats, and two
good horses attached 10 each OF them with
good drivers. We weIe soon on board and
all our apparatus, this arrangement having
been previously made by our party, so ,ha,
there nigh, be no delay in pfocuring horses
10 take Us along.
At about IL o'clock A. NJ, we started OIL
our course, following up the bed OF the An
droscoggin river, through charming coun'
try hemmed in by mountain scenery, con
,inuiny our course for about six miles, we
came 10 point near the junction OF Bea
river, one OF the tributary streams OF the An
dtoscoyrin. Here we left the bed OF the
Androscoggin and bearing away 10 the lei
followed up the bed Of Bear river some II
miles, dining by the way al a small iayerT
some FIVE miles up the river, and stopping
an hour or more 10 feed and rest our horses
we improved our spare time by taking ou
rod and line and trying the trout in Bea
Siver, and caugh, or 4 small sized speck
led ,rou,s. The river here being quite low
and very shoal, we did not Try j, long, bu
in the deep holes above and below we ART
told there is grea, abundance OF tout
which is no doub, true, as the river indi
Gates the fac,irom its pellucid and babblint
waters. On resuming our afternoon ride
our river whose course we followed, con
iinuing 10 grow smaller and still more di
minu,ive until we reached point in tn
notch Of the mountains where II ceased I
flow. Proceeding down through the motel
on ward to the lake, we soon came TO IN
source Of the Cambridge river which flow
into Umbasog lake This river in It's nois.
babbling course OF three or four miles, iet
by springs AMI rivulets becomes OF sutfi
cient magnitude TO turn the wheel cf n saw
mill, there being two OF three mills on
before il reaches the lake.
We found ourselves at the close OF tn
.iay at the junction Of this river with tn
lake. where is a small hamlet Of two re-
houses, a saw mill, grisi mill, SC, wher
we stopped TO spend the Sabbath, all well
cheerful. vigorous and full Of the joyoa
hilariiy and buoyancy OF youth.
Our ride to-day has been exceedingly eS
citing and interesting. The day has bee'
clear and beautiful, and from our stage
wiihou, a top, we have had perfect viewt
OF the scenery through which We have pass
ed, and we may truly say, that the scener!
for the las, 81 miles before reaching ,h'
lake has been the mos, bold, ragged, sub
lime, and commanding Of any we have
ever seen. We have come through ih'
notch OF the Saddle Back & Speckled noun
tains, which has all the way been remind
ing Us OF the description we have recent,
read Of the Alpine scenery OF Switzerland
We have been many times through III
notch Of the White mountains by the wa
of Conway, N. H., but we think the scene
Nv here fully equal 10 the underworld fame'
notch, though In It's general outlines tn
similarity isso very striking as 10 lead yee
to take the one for the other, especially TO
miles and miles on approaching the note
here, as there, we are hemmed in on eacl
side by bold and high mountains learini
their bold fronts, not only nj the light AM
lsh Of our path, but directly in front, so iha
there seems no possible way OF egiess; bu
we continue 10 wind around aud along b,
the base OF these mountains, ascending in
gradual zig g-zag course till We emery
through the notch and descending a shot
l,l,.,.rcs WA look out mon the other side O