The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-28
THE CHATgAUGAY LAKES,
GtAHn M nnI0.

THE CHATEAUGAY LAKES,
: Jul 10Th, 1874,
: We are here, camped on the shore Of
the largest of the Chateaugay Lakes
which lie nesting among the hills and
mountains on the north eastern slope Of
the Adirondack range. From the door OF
our camp We command a view of the
whole lake and the beautiful and romantic
scenery Of Mountains that heln it in on
all sides. After leaving Montreal a days
ride brought us to Malone N. Y. where,
at the old homestead, we found the rest of
our party. 1t is a roomy old house, over
looking the country for miles around, and
to me a pleasant place. There we're the
old folks, and our party, J. B. Young and
family, Pack" and his new wife, in all
eighteen Of US, just a nice little family.
One day at home and then we were off for
the lakes. That day was a trying one for
Pack, Some of us, you know, had new
err seen his new wife, and somehow it
leaked out that ne wet his wedding suit
the night before the wedding, not as the
boys usually wet new clothes, at Is cts.
per head, but after an original plan of his
own. 1t is too good to keep. There is a
lake near Madison and he was out duck
hunting with a couple of young ladies.
Seeing a little duck some distance off. he
stepped ont on some rocks to shoot it.
To make sure of killing it he fred both
barrels of his gun. He heard something
drop, and on examination found his gun
cut on the rocks, and himself in the lake,
wedding suit and all. 1t is said he went
to bed early that night, while some young
ladies' sat up drying a suit of black clothes.
His wife denies the story, which goes to
prove that he was out with some other
young ladies. 1t is truly wonderful the
confidence a new wife will repose in a fel
low. They get better acquainted after a
while.
That reminds me of a chap, on the
boat between Kingston and Montreal.
He strongly resembled Dick Mansill, and
was evidently just married, as he was all
the time trying to get acquainted with his
wife. He was no relation of Mansill's
however,
This is our first rainy day in camp, and
hence this letter. Our party Originally
numbered ten, Richardson and wife, Pack
and wife, our baby sister, now nearly eigh
teen, and her bashful escort, Wall
II lrdy, a brother, the youngest Drake,
Louie Ochs, the undersigned, and our tent
and camping outfit, which makes the ten.
In selecting our outfit / remembered
how the Moline crusaders loved The AR.
GUS reporter, and hence it is entirely diff
serent from the usual outfit of the Warner
Fishing Club, Seven of our party left US
three days ago, after having tried camping
only two nights, but while they were here
such eating as they did would have aston
lshed Ben Harper or any other first class
hotel keeper. All our cooked provisions
were gone, including ten quarts of cold
beans, these were mostly consumed by
Louie), and they brought us down from
cigars to clay pipes. AT one meal they
got away with nearly 100 fish. By the
way, did you ever fish for speckled trout D.?
They make royal eating andi is grand sport
to catch them 1t took Pack and myself
nearly two hours to catch what those seven
ate in one hour. That was all the fishing |
had during the first two days, the remain
der of the time was employed in cooking,
and we got up at four o'clock every morn
ing. 1t is the easiest thing imaginable, to
get up. Your couch is the best in the
world-a thick bed of cedar boughs at
one end Of the tent, with plenty of blank
cts, for the nights are exceedingly cool.
You go to sleep with the music of the wa
tels playing on the rocks, and wake to the
same sweet melody. You have expected a
dreadful cold" aud are surprised to find
that you never felt better in your life"
and while the mist still hovers over the
lake and wells tho mountains from sight,
You step to the rocks below and never tire
of bathing 10 the clear deliciously tempe
ed water. . 1t seems to add lite and
strength to the entire system. Your Ugh
ing you to a row. a few minutes brings
inlets and your sport begins. You are back
to camp just as the sun is peeplng oyer the
mountains, ready with your trout for break
fast. No dyspepsia in this kind of life.
need OF a nip to sharpen your appe
tlte, The only question is whether the
cook will stand by the little camp stove till
You get enough, everything tastes so good.
After fish your cat or corn meal cakes with
maple sugar, and ever your coffee seems
letter than the fare in the civilized world.
hAl Nttutl anu supper II WHY lhuclt ilkt
breakfast, the only difference, if any,
is in the quantity you eau eat YOU need not
be afraid, eat all you can, it won't hurt YOU
eat anything, it all tastes good, and be
sure you eat a hearty supper for you may
90 out with the hunters to. night, if the .
axe is still, for the grandcst of all sports.
still hunting, where the deer are driven
nto the lake. There is one thing | must
here to John Warner. He must look
'ut Tor his laurels as a camp cook, if | may
udse from the appetites Of my guests, for
ny nominal position is cook and fisher
nan, while Louie does the chamber work. {
from this you may imagine we are likely !
oStay a day or two and little do we think Z
II care who goes to Congress. We have I
lot seen a paper for Il week. The last we |
was that Chicago was again on fire. .
hope our Young friend Charlie Hilton I
las been 50 fortunate as to escaI e. 4
l hnd many changes about these lakes :
lnce | camped here some fifteen years q
go. Many city parties, from Boston and .
sew York, have erected summer residen !,
es at favorable points aud live here for /
'eeks with their families. There are two a
loteis within "a short distance of our camp. L
he Adirondack House is one, kept bv
: IN. IL. upper, who also runs "A fairy "
title steamer to the lower end of the lakes II
or the accommodation of pleasure parties
nj those camping or spending the sum v
months in this delightful region.
Some tour miles back on the mountains
here is an iron ore bed Just opened which -
ields the best otall the Adirondack ore i
another season the proprietors propose to 5,
ulld a plank road down to the lake and a
hip the ore To the lower end where they IL
to erect a twelve fire f,,rnacr Tb;, a