The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-08-21

S. S. GREESMAS, sec !s'
[ Editorial correspondent Of ". Y Courier.l
Where the TrOus Flourish.
| We have been to Coudersport. How to get
! there and where it is located, was graphically
told by a correspondent of the COURIER, last
Summer. He also furnished our readers with a
very rel able description of the t. tolt-streams in
its neighborhood, not overlooking the claims to
notice of Classmire, the expert fisherman, and
pleasant landlord of the COudersport hotel-for
particulars of which. as we hate repetition, we
refer to onr files, which await, at all times the
| inspection of the curious. That description in
spired US with desire to visit the county town
of Potter Co., Pa, and in company with friend
we gratfed it by taking the Erie Railroad, Tor
| Wellsvlle from whence we were carried by a
| numbering vehicle-said vehicle getting over
thirty miles of rough and dusty road In about
ten and hall hours. Our programme embraC-
ed the following arrangements. flrstIy,to meet
the writer who introduced Coudersport 10 our
notice secondly, to cultivate the acquaintance
of Glassmire thirdly, under his guidance, to
visit the streams in the vicinity, and become
initiated in the science of trout-capturing, and
finally to go to French Greek, and camp out in
the woods for brief period. All of which was
pleasantly carried into effect except the latter
clause, the comforts and delights of the Cou-
dersport hotel, outweighi0g the attraction of
beds made of hemlock boughs, and amateur
cookery. ..
The first days sport INDUCED in by three of
us, resulted in the capture OF about eighty hsh'
and as we love to be correct in all things, the
following statement will award credit where it
properly belongs.
Glassmire, 73
The Doctor,
The writer,
Total, 50
Glassmire's "mess'' was splendid collection
of trout the Doctors though few IN number,
were of good size, and the balance consisted OF
diminutive club, and two intantlle shell tSh
of abe lobster persuasion.
This was our initiation. TheSnext day, being
Saturday the 28th inst, and the party being
completed by the welcome addition of our cX-
pected clerical friend, we started for the Snna-
mahoning, reaching which, we were dropped
about one mile apart, with directions to fish
down the stream and meet at the wagon tor
lunch
The day opened splendidly, and the ride
through the magnificent country of wooded hills
had put us all in superb spirits AS our friends
drove off we made our way to the stream, and
endeavored to follow the directions we had re-
ceved We experienced the usual snnOyances
that attend the efforts of the novice. Our hook
would fasten itself into the limb of tree, or
rock in the stream or the line would become
entangled with the underground, and rotten
boughs would crush under our feet with start
ling noise, frightening the timid fish. Still we
persevered. We worked our way into dense
forest OF hemlocks we waded in the stream
clambered over huge logs tripped over slip
perry and treacherous stones, taking involuntary
baths-until we were startled by the muttcTings
of an approaching thunder storm. 1t came.
"All right - we thought, "fish bite better when
it rains" And how it did rain, let that little
party tell For two hours the water poured
down in solid columns, and the scene when lit
up byoccasional flashes oflightning was gloomy
and grand beyond description. We look back
with becoming COmplacency, as we recall The
fortitude with which we endured the ordeal. 1t
was "Toots'' we believe, who upon being told
of the ship wreck of Walter Gay enqured of
that adven urous young gentleman, 'hf he
didn't get very damp" and when the storm was
over, and the sun had re-appeared, we, after
weary search had found our companions, dis
covered that like Walter we were all very damp,
besides being very hungry, very thirsty, and
very tired.
Again Glassmire was ahead, about three
hundred per cent. in the number of fish he had
caught, over the rest of us.
We as recompense for our unusual toll and
fatigue, had secured one fish-but this time, it
was a veritable trout.
Home to dry clothes, trout supper, and an
early bed, to prepare US for the proper obsery-
ance of the day of rest.
On Monday, we revisited the Sinnamahouing,
and our experience was very similar to that be-
fore described-iucluding the shower-though
with an imrroved show of fsh-the doctor,
emerging from the novice to well-approved
expert, and our clerical friend and the landlord
creditably holding their own.
The next day with other sojourners at the
hotel, male and female, spent at the hospi-
table farmhouse of Major Sam Mills, the pop
ular hotel proprietor of Titusvilie so favorably
known to the oil operators of Pennsylvania
When tired of growiI rich by catering to the
wants of travellers, he sensibly returns to his
home in Potter county, for rest and the pro-
cural of fresh and abundant supply of health.
He rescued his large and attractive farm from
the wilderness, and his relation of his expert
ence is almost as entertaining as the remarka-
bic fund of anecdote with which he loves to re-
gale his listeners.
Our visit to Coudersport was in every partic
ular delightful one. Its people are kind and
hospitable, and the climate invigorating and
healthy. Its jail is without inmates, which
proves that the hOrse-thieves and counterfeteIs
with which this sectcon of the country was for
merly infested. have fed to pastures new" and
those who don't enjoy existence free from such
companionship and with the natural blessings
that surround them don't deserves to exist.