Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-08-22
LAKE NlyNETONKA.
LAKE MixssroyxA,
ExcaLsIoR HousR, Aug. 16.

but, nearly oil stop here, on account Of the
sxesllsnt hotel accommodations and the
fns fishing and hunting grounds, which
are acknowledged 10 b the best Of oil this
country. The lake 10 one Of
the 6nsst We have ever seen, being from
ten TO fifteen niles long. with numsssus
bays, and connecting with other lakes. -
as to af,rd fishing facilities for any nam
Der who may congrsgats here. At this
time the number 10 large. Some are spend
ing the summer while many others only
remain only . few weeks. Many make
their headquarters At wsyrsta, but those
who perfsr to enjoy, 10 the fullest exteat
the beautiful scenery, the refreshing brsssss
hunting, fishing and boating, stops nos
short OF Excelsior and the Excelsior house.
kept BY mine host Maxwell, Who under
stands full we'll the wants Of those who frs-
quent these regions. and 10 prspsrsd to ae'
moda.e any number in almost Aetropoli-
tan style. A miniature ferry takes 10
from Waysata to Excelsior, . distance Of
about six miles. TIE only noticeable thing
about this ferry boat. and one that parsi
culary attracts the attention Of visitors, 10
its disposition to tip over. which causes
passengers to rush from one side to the
other with nov and ::thsn . sudden start
from the more timid. We however arrived
safely. and after . COED dinner, prepared
for business, BY little practice With the
oars. Just to get our hand In - . rowiss,
~ pridsd ourselves on our graceful move
mssts and dsxtsrity, but have eoaeludsd
to engage . boatman next time. We
would. he~sver, recommend rowing in oil
cases Of dyspspsia--ths exercise is delight
ful-it causes such healthy eirculation.to to
aay nothing Of sore hands, lame sheulssrs
and othsr little Injuries, such - aching
fingers joints. By oil means take . nat
bottom boat. il you are fond Of adventures,
il is 90 nice to push ii OF from big rock
or to pu'l in big 0sh and have your CON.
psuion rush up ts the sido Of the boat ts
help you.
Travelling 10 . greet psstime here. We
had our instructions from Mac. before lssv-
ing Davenport 10 get Busll's travelling hook
and accordingly did 90. The hook wss q
per feet success. In about half Of day
it took, by actual count, ever thirty weeds,
grass, brush and drift weod, and one 6sh
about the size Of . sardine. There's
nothing like travsling-the delight one
fsss in pulling in about one hundred feet
Of lins-slowly. OF course, that your prise
won's break swsy-cautiously, that no sud
den jerk may free the hook-and then the
excitement, ~ the spoon comes in sight
With the hook filled with wees. 10 truly
iu,igorsting-dslightfui. Yesterday VI
tried still fishing. The boatmen were oil
engaged, and ~ concluded to take turns ai
the oars. Over to, the island " went
only two mlss-iu.t . nice pull. The day
~as delightful and ws had every thing oil
our own way. The fishisg vas excellent
Boatloads BY tho dozen were scattered al
along the numerous points and 10 the ~
risus bays, taking just al the Ash they
vented. One gentleman took thirty -6v'
without renewing his bait, which was I
little ahead Of our time: bui We are goinl
TO best him tomorrow One boatload ~.
gone just half day aod brought in ove'
four hundred hns Ash. This sounds {
little fishy, but is nevertheless fact. Th'
amount Of provisions one stores away her,
liz day 10 fearful aud it 10 lucky for th'
inhabitants that visitors don't stay th'
year round, or there would be famine IL
the land Most every one 10 here for thei
heath, and - see them at the table voult
convince the most skeptical that they Or,
the hsartest set Of invalids the world a.
fords Most Of them are pretty lively for sicl
folks-sc that IN abls-bodicd person mus
start quick if they want seat st the ars
table. Louie was sharp and joined the in
valid corps, Dyspepsia regiment, compan.
c 20 stands for convalcscent) on the day
Of his arrival, and - a consequence. goe,
TO the first table. The way he lets il
roasted beef, cornsd bs.f, muttor
chops. chicken, duck, baked beam
and cold victuals, would surpris
his most intimats friends. Whoevs
comes to Lake Minnetouks should not fai
Of visiting What 10 called the upper lake,
seue soven or eight miles from tho Excel
slor House, for although the fishing il
good almost every where. it 10 still bette
there. Parties generally 60 up one day ant
back the next, camping out over night
There is fns log cabin there for sleepini
purposes, and those who undertake. til
trip are sure to have . fine time Of it,
There are no musqui.os hero at oil. W
havent heard the musical voice Of . solitar
ons-thsy have I'll gone sosth to attend I
sasn gsrfsst, ~ Was reported week or tw'
ago, and are not expected to return bsfoe
the FIRST Of June next. There are in thei
place. however, few very a6sctionst
house lies that take it upon themselves :
Gee that boarders don't lose their break
fast.
Our experience on the river led us to 81
peet cool weather. but in :his we have bee
agrseably disappointed, for more Delights
weather could not have been desired, 80
those Who live here say they expect th
same sll the fall. There 10 every indicstie
that those who come here month late
will be Just in time for the duck hunting
of which game there will be untold nuu
bcrs. Those Who have visited Rice Pom
.ay they ars there BY the theusands. Thi
happens every year when there 10 plenty &
Wild rice for them to live, upon. which
tie eass this year. Ducks have Away
been . fsvorite With ~. but ~ hunter q
the same We don't boast much.
We would not have the geed psopls {
Davenport think this place ID beyond th
limits Of civilization By any means, for tt
day has bssn one Of the quistsst Sabbath
imaginable. In The littls sehsol hsass bae
Of the lake they have had preaching dusin