The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-04-18
- For the st. Cloud Journal.
CAMP MEETING AMONG THE PINES.
DY THE REV. GEO. L. CHASE, ST. ANTHONY,
MlENHeOTA.

Among the opportunities for mission
any work afforded by residence in
frontier State, value none more highly
than that Of an annual trip to the lum-
bermen in the pineries. Since I first
came to this place, which owes much
Of its importance to the lumber intor-
est, I have felt that if we would
make reality Of tho doctrine Of Chris
tiau Brotherhood which We profess, We
are bound to use all diligence to carry
the word of faith to tho toilers in the
woods.
Tho February th.w made my visit
this year much later and less extended
than usual. left home on Satur-
day, March 10th. The first fifty miles
Of my journey, OF which shall omit
partioulars,) brought mo to Princeton,
the principal ioeging-town Of the Rum
River country, by the middle Of the
afternoon Of the same day. I found
immediate transportation into the
woods ia "pung'' just starting fol
Mo'cs' camp, on the Ground House
River.
The approach to pine forest is al
ways impressive. You drive but few
miles beyond Princeton, when you see
hero and there solitary pine, keeping
watch like vidette-guard. Soon you
reach the closer trees, forming a chain
Of outlying "pickets," which quickly
passed, you find yourself in the midst
or tall, far-stretohiDg ranks, like Gan
army with banners" With the TALL
ing shadows Of night, the dark out
! lines of the woods assumed many wierd
shapes. Our course through the for
est primeval was diversified by Cross
ing at times . frozen lake or tamarac
swamp, or following the crest Of ridge,
until at half:past eight we reached our
destination, seventy miles from St. An
thony-the mercury standing At about
| 16o below zero.
The logging camps have an etiquette
of their own as puuctilious in its way
Us that prescribed BY Lord Chesterfield.
The proper parsonage to receive visit
or is the head.mau, or "Boss," who
gives directions for the care of the
horses and conducts his guest into the
camp and introduces him to the "Cook"
as the dignitary next in rank, and then
to the "crew" collectively. In the ab-
seuce of the "Boss," tho duties of hos
pitality devolved upon the Cook.
The interior of the camp as We en-
tered it contrasted picturesquely with
the solitude Of the forest. The long,
low room, built of logs, was lighted by
lamp suspended beneath an immense
tin reflector. On either side were
double rows Of hunks, "modern i'm
! provcmeut" replacing the primitive ar
ra"yemcnt of putting the whole screw"
of ten or fifteen men in enc bed on the
floor, under one long heavy coverlid-
practice still retained in scmo camps.
An imposing array of "boot-packs,"
socks, and flannel shirts Of many COL
ors, hung drying about the large cen.
trail sheet iron "heater." Various
groups Of men were longing in con-
versation. A few we're making hard
work Of letter writing by the aid of a
tallow DIP. Others were reading, most
" trashy papers. was glad to con.
tribute little better material to the
common stock. Well.chosen books and
papers could be made very useful in
this way. I recognized fellow.towns-
man in the crew employed with awl and
waxed-end in cobbliug one of his boot
packs. The end of the camp opposite
the entrance glittered with well-order-
ed culinary utensils. The motley Co.'S
tunes and marked individualities of e.
preston heightened by the deep shad.
uws of tho dim room, formed tableau
worthy Of the pencil of a Rembrandt.
After supp,r Of pork and beans,
the staple article Of diet, 1 was shown
to my room. This is the only camp l
have found built with ILL.," go that I
was furnished with the luxurious &C.
commodation of separate room shared
by only two companions, instead of the
thitty-six who slept in tho larger apart
ment.
On consultation with the sfBoss" and
Cook on the following (Suuday) morn
ing, it was thought best to hold service
! il the afternoon. devoted the FORE
noon in visiting other camps in the vi
cinity to give an invitation to tho dit
ferent crews. 1t gave me = new con-
ception Of the magnitude Of lumber
operations to find the bed of the riv-
or for two miles piled high with logs
| the product Of the work Of three or
four camps, waiting for the spring
"drive."
At Crowells camp l found a Mime
apolis man, confined to his bunk by
severe Injuries received from tho butt Of
a tree which "lodged" in falling. Not
long after was told by friend, per.
sooally ccguizant Of the facts, Of an &C.
currence which at once illustrates the
perils of the lumberman's life and the
strong traits of character thereby de.
vcloped. A man was caught by tree
which be had felled, so that bis loot was
held beneath it as in a steel trap
Failing to extricate himself or to at
| trook oeeseeoroo l.. (o.,rJ 1:.,..1k -.