New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-23
THE ADIRONDACKS.
MURRAY ON MURRAY's FOOLS
HIS REPLY TO HIS CALUMNIAT0RS-TIIE FOO
MISUNDERSTANDING AND FALSE CHRONICLE


NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FALSE CHRONICLES
THE GUIDE oURsTION-SPORT FOR SPORTS
MEN-A FREE AND HEALTHY WILDERNESS.
To me Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Since my return from the Wilderness,
have received many earnestly requesngme to
the public paper upon the subject Of this article. This
request comes as judge. chiefly from two classes The
first consists Of persons who. this former
son. have visited tho mountains aud lakes OF Northern
NewYork and who justly Incenscd at the unfair and
false representations which have been given to the public
through the press of the country to them great
~ to regretted that OF tho lovcest and most
mantle sections Of country should for brief
season. suffer from the asperons OF people incapable of
approaching IT'S beauty and grandeur The other class is
made up Of such have not yet visited the region
and who are I'm state of doubt and bewderment con-
corning the existence OF wilderness, owing to tho
contradictory reports which have gone out In reference
to it, conflicting indeed, that wit device can har
monte the diverse statements The correspondents OF
either class insist that is due to the Wilderness ITSELF
and also confused and bewildered public, that an In
eigent and candid statement OF the facts In the case
should be published in order that the public may DO able
to get right understanding OF the whole matter They
also do the honor suggest that OWING to my Ia
mlianty with the subject should prepare such paper
Upon reflection have concluded to accede to this
quest. l do not conceive that 1t would be becoming
should any pride Of reticence restrain from doing
what appears to be SO honestly desired. Nor do in com
plying with tins request break that rule which, on
my entrance public life made for mSguidance e.
by words printed spoken, to reply to criticisms
and abuse which might fall to my lot And In this paper
do propose to aude to the snimadversions when
from certain questionable publicly and privately
have been made against me. beyond what may be noees-
sary ior a full aud clear explanation OF the SUBJECT
TIE WILDERNESS.
In the FIRST place. them let me say that do not retract
single word which published IN my book entitled
Adventures in the Wilderness" wilderness OF about
the size of tho State OF Connecticut Goes exist In the
northern part OF EewYork state. 1t is wilderness III
the true aud O, the word and, with the
exception OF sUd settlements. or clearngs
Is entirely uninhabcd save by hunters ana appeS' OF
by sportsncn and tourists make excursions INTO IT,
very small portion OF this wilderness mas oeeh in
bered bnt OF It's entire area Is COW
cred with a forest, yet untouched ny inc "ooumah
axe This forest Is composed OF piue' spruce pasain
and hcuock with fair sprukng In certain sections, OF
beech birch and maple. In respect TO us geoSraphy
IA mountainous The high peaks of tho Adirondack
rauRe from which the Wilderness takes It's name wal IL
from observation on its eastern SIDE ana from 5000 feet
I'm hight they slope down III lesser parallel ranges ana
ated cones until they themselves In the valley OF
the ST. Lawrence and the Mohawk The novel and TO-
mantle popularity OF this wilderness ana that Wheh
distinguishes II from all others In this country OF the
world is its marvellous water communication On hr
Colto late map over coo lakes set down. From my
tions made with some OF the best Gndes-men familiar
with IL from life long rcsidence have no hesitation In
saving that not half the number existing sketched on
the map 1t TO assert that there are at least lO
lakes and ponds detached aud isolated pieces OF water
included In the mentioned These lakes vary IN szo
from Racquette Lake, with shore line or perhaps hiy
mies TO ponds half mile In their widest part
Hundreds OF these lakes connected by creeks and
rivers SO that by an occasional carry" around fall or
stretch OF rapids or spur OF Intervening land one
can travel in canoe or light boat for hundreds OF miles
I'm all directions through the forest such, In brief Is the
Adirondack Wilderness.
MR. MURRAY's BOOK.
Up to within few years, this region was comparatively
unknown to the public A few scores Of sportsmen mo
nopOlzed IL for their profit and amusement by
selfish instinct they have concealed It's charms from gen
era edgc-shrOuded II IN mystery, made ingress
thereto aud therein appear TO such heard runors
OF ts Oyellness and grandeur, Extremely difficult and
rsome Nevertheless OF late years Its fame has 80 far
spread that many tourists aud uvaIs have visited II:
the one class to reye enchanting scenery, and the
other TO be benefited by its healthgyng atmosphere.
This was the condition Of things when my little book was
published. The book well received by the reading
public and cordial greeting given u by the press OF the
country Is descriptive articles we're pronounced read
able and the directions contained In the first
ninety pages full and complete. Old Adrondackers
welcomed It as something they had desired for years;
and In private pondeuce. aud through the public
Journals expressed their appreciation OF H. During the
Summer however certain charges Of eGaggention have
been brought against the author which deserve notice,
except far the fact Of their remaining nncontra-
deted might misend the public touching the wilderness
itself propose therefore call attention to several OF
the more prominent OF these aud 10 show tile character
OF the sources from which they sprang.
THE POOLS.
Early IN July. swarm OF people rushed into the Adj
rondacks. II was motley crowd indeed. There we're
fashonables Of the LongBranch order aud exquisite
swcs with light kids aud rattan fresh from Broad
way There mechanics and pudders from the iron
founderies Of Troy; gentlemen sportsmen, with their
English suits aud eyeglasses together with rowdies
from all quarters. one young lady came in with bag
gage amounting 10 seven large trunks ono gentleman.
who brought his wife. had ten trunks-the gentleman
three and the lady evidently unfair arrange
Inen in that IL the gentleman at least one TOO
many leaving his wife short Several hundred people OF
this character rushed TO the woods In tho first half OF
July They took Martin by storm and introduced the
habits OF Newport and whitehall Broadway and the Bow
cry to the retired and peaceful region OF Lower
saranoc The and breeding Of these classes are
best from their inscriptions on the hotel reg
ister Coarse expressions vulgar quotations. some OF
them In feminine hand and not little profanity TESTIFY
to their character and position at home certain lady
ael who aferwaTd became correspondent OF Cncin-
natl paper but whose withhold, lest some OF her
most distant relations might be panied, went into tho
burlesque business against person who was quietly en-
toying himself sixty miles away in the Wilderness and
passed most OF the entire night before she started 10
return to hnuns in screaming anathemas
against him. with guides hangerson, and stable
boys for her audience understand that they appree
ated her manner and vocabulary, and cheered her
TO the echo. II Is seldom that speaker and au'
dence so kindred in nature aud breeding, are per
mited meet sucb In brief were many OF the parties
who rushed early the to the Wilderness Iii
The hest yindcaon OF the Wilderness say, that they
did not long remain Disguised they undoubtedly were
and they started pell-mell for Lake Champlan some