The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-08-27

Where to begin or end in describing
shis institution of New England, one
hardly knows. We were all amazed,
delighted. 1t was so unique, bizarre,
strange, wonderful and SO little under
stood by as. At ten o'clock we went
Il 200 strong) on board the Grand
Trunk steamer Forest City, down the
bay, it being too foggy to 60 out to sea,
O. netting could be seen there. We
eruised among the Islands, and wound
around them, watching the mackerel
vessels. All hands enjoying them
selves to the fullest extent with dane
ing, playing euchre, chatting with the
many pretty girls and married ladies
until 2 o'clock, when we steamed up to
. splendidly wooded Island, whose
sloping side was dotted over with
white tents, under which could be seen
dinner tables of extraordinary length
and BREADTH, About 1000 additional
passengers had arrived from the city in
smsll boats and large barge, and now
the clam bake begins. Upon the
ground, in space eight feet in width
by forty FIVE feet in length, were placed
smooth, round stones, about the size of
. persons head, and not very near to-
gether. Upon these, early in the
morning, had been kinkled fire of
three cords of wood. This had burned
down 10 coal, and the stones we're
Kissing hot. Over these stones was
placed six inch layer Of rockwell,
just from the water, aud dripping wet
Then, on top of this was placed sixty
bushels of soft-shelled clans, ten bush
els of oysters, one hundred Holsters,
sixty dozen of eggs, one hundred lbs
Goldfish, three barrels of potatoes and
three barrels of green corn. A sail
was then laid over the whole, and
about six inches of rockweed was
placed on top of it. Then the steam
began to come through in a dense,
continuous volume. After three quar-
tiers of an hour the sail was rolled back
sidewise, and there was the whole
" Bake" cooked admirably, and as
clean as could be. And now the fun
commenced, each one running with a
plate to dip into the winrew of CLANS,
piping hot, the steam coming up in a
great volume and hiding those on the
opposite side of the pile from view.
Some darted into the bot fog and came
cut with plate of CLAIMS, others with
. single oyster, another with corn,
another with potatoes and a lobster.
A friend of ours from the west came
rushing past us (fearfully demoralized
by the hot steam) holding in his hands
the legs of an enormous lobster-some
iuckier individual getting the balance
Of the fish and claws. We inquired
what he had got. I'ye got them,"
he exclaimed, holding up the legs
ct The lobster, but what in thunder
they are / don't know" He had
never seen lobster before. Bush
81 baskets were filed with claims,
others with the various other edibles,
fresh from the kiln, and conveyed to
the tables by the attendants, the grass
being dotted over with small parties
enjoying themselves to the fullest ex-
tent. -Four bushels of charming fish
cbowder had been prepared in large
ASStiC, otto tDiS was TetlBQ6Q OY all.
Large wash tubs full of claret punch,
well iced, stood around in profusion,
while the commissary tent was piled to
the ceiling on every side with boxes of
elarst, Spanish olives, sardines, cigars,
and everything calculated to make one
happy and contented. Running
through the centre of this tent was q
row Of barrels, many of them marked
Xxx. What these contained is no
mystery. A close observer might
have discovered in one corner a con
gregation of bottles seemingly related
to the Bourbon family. Meanwhile
the private yachts were playing
through the bay, full of happy parties,
and the boats of the beautiful revenue
cutter Dobbin landed with her officers,
and some from the various forts.
Taken altogether, it was festive scene
that none Of us will ever forget, carry
ing with it SO many pleasant memo
Ties.- Chicago Journal