Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-07-19
Correspondence CT the Tribune and Te1e
ra-.l s.t.s,.F graph II ~ at
CRAB APPLE ISLAND Jul,

| -a4-.. AKAB APPLE ISLAND 10, 1000.
! MEssRs. EDIToRs:-Some sensible old writer
-Dunnowho, if my memory serves Inc as well
as usual on names-says that whcna man is NOR
| ry he should write to his friends and presume,
moreover, that when, in dog days. fellow has
the rare luck to get exceedingly merry he could
scarcely do better than write for the papcrs-con-
sdcrirg the tac: that :. the paper is always the
most eangcnial friend and companion TO every
one who tries ta tlTtzw duh cerc, like Macbeth's
in the sultry hours.
| Did you ever hear of Crab Apple Island
presume not for it is neither put down on the
| maps nor inlortalizedin song or story. 1t should
| be notable place, however; for it recnes grace
fully on the bosom of Fox Lake, about six miles
above McHenry. and presents an exterior of
wood and lawn and shore that would charm the
eye ofboh the city sojourncr and the pract sed ru
ralist-and then the fish and fowls that swim and
sport and sail around it shades of Ike Walton
and Frank Forester, what fun and fishing here
abound Your humble servant the undersign-
cd is now writing this epistlc beneath the shade
of huge primitive oak an old log serves him
for a scat and an inverted washtub, which mine
hostess Madam Knickerbocker has kindly lent
him, makes an excellent writing desk; the robins
carol and the blue.jays scold in the boughs above
his head, and the whole island is alive with bird
and bull frog melody.
| But l must not anticipate my actual expert
ence; so go back with me few hours and few
miles up the river, and together we will take
| things in order they came along You have
heard of the little steamboat, Lady Catharinc,
that runs from Wilmot to Algonquin on the Fox
River; she has been already sufficiently "set up''
l believe in your paper, and it need only now be
said that she still plows the stream, and that at
three O'Clock yesterday afternoon she brought
my good friend, J. \. Nc, whlom her Captain
and myself as passengers to the clear, beautiful
lake that now lies smoothly as a mirror around
us. The island is some distance from the track
of the boat, and when we came abreast of Il we
swung our hats and shouted to Young Dutch
man near the house to come and boat us ashore,
but misapprehendng our wishes, he only swung
his own palmeaf in response to our salute and
turned his face from us, apparently to conceal his
emotions. Our Captain-unSratefpl wretch am
to forget his name-gencrously ordered his pilot
TO run us in, and soon, we walked the plank, and
waving merry good bye to Lady GATHERINGS
officers and crew, proceeded to survey the pros
pect and prepare for sport. The island contains
abouttwenty five acres ofarable, timber andslough
land; it is owned by Fred Augustus Meldner,
q dcscendent of - We most ancient Kniekerbock-
err" who lives with his good frau, boy and baby.
in snug log cabin situated at the head of a beam
tful lawn that slopes eastwardly to the landnr
Mr.. Meldner was away from home, but Mrs. NJ.
was glad to see MS at her lonely habitation, and
freely offered us its Inequalities while we wished
TO stay. Her eldestson, lad of some seventeen
summers, expressed in the best language he cod
use, his JOY at visit and displayed to our ex.
IRENE delight All assortment Of fishing tackle and
light canoes, which, together with his companv
and assistance, Were entirely at our service. III
need scarcely be said that in few minutes vve
were padding ont into the lake Our vopnc
friend, Justice, lead US over the fishing ground. |
and initiated US into the mysteries of .stroUinp
and at shutdown we made way for the & camn ,,
with high anticipations for the morrow. Wenar.
took of delicious bowl of old-fashioned bread
and milk, and turned in,' or in plain Fnotsb |
went to bed f.; and here comes the catastronba Of
our story. We had scarcely drawn the drapery
of our couch around us and closed our ewes TO
invoke the visitations of the drowsy god. before
we heard above and about us low musical sound
like hundred voices. family singing the first
bne of Old Hundred then the music became
more distinct and louder still till ii welIcd upon
the air in perfect roar, and immediatelo an army
Of mosquitoes charged upon us with fxed bavcnets