Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-08-01
FHsH AND FISHERMAN
z c nting Near the Banks of
Bacon River
A WEEK IN THE w GODS.
INCIDENTS AND PLEASURES
OF THE TRIP.
[ggoa ora srEelA1 eonaEsrospsss.l

On tie morning of the goth, as the rays
Of the sun were beginning to gid the
Eastern horizon, the editorial corps OF the
INDEPENDENT might have been seen in a
wagon, freighted with commissary stores
and kitchen utensils, vending their way
out of the smoke and heat and dust of the
city, in search Of some vast wilderness,
some boundless contiguity Of shade, where
free from editorial labor and business
cares, they might spend few days chas-
ing the grasshopper over the field and i'm
4 paling him ON a hook to deceive the I'M
wary bass. On the same morning, at about
the same hour, small crafstufew anchor
! at the wharf at Little Georgetown, and,
freighted with minnow nets and buckets,
rods, &C., and guided by the experienced
hand of the King fisher Of the place, set
sail for the popular resort of Alum Spring
where he was to meet the Martinsburg par
ty. Both parties having escaped all dis
lasters of fcod and field, met at the APP
pointed place, on time.
4 Selecting spot near the river, under
the spreading branches of noble elm and
maple trees the trio of health-seeekers di-
vested themselves of their starched store
clothes and encased their fragile forms in
garments that had long ago been laid by
as toe rusty for public appearance. Then
! the King Fisherman called around him
bis companions and said that as all discov-
erers usually celebrated their arrival by
impressive ceremonies, he would not forego
the custom, he therefore would commence
by naming the ridge ofhills ny which they
were surrounded Goat mountains, in menu
DRY of an almost tragic occurrence, well
known to himself; the immediate spot of
encampment he would call Forest Grove Ho
tel, and the river he would call the Poto-
mac, out of respect to those who called it
BY that name the day before Then they
all smelled Of The mouth ofan empty stone
sup which had been found in Hedgesville
after the last municipal election, after
which, in Indian fashion they all took a
smoke. Then commenced preparations for
h week S sojourn. The CUISINE department
was. fixed up and The commissary stores un-
Headed and arranged in convenient places.
The first meal was cooked and served up
in superb style. All ate on the lap Of mo-
Their earth from silver dishes washed with
tin. Silver mugs Commonly called tin
( cups) filed with as rich coffee as belmont
i co ever put up, were deity and frequently
handled. From this time on, the time was
occupied in fishing, eating and hunting.
Every meal they had as nicely-cooked bass
as ever came out Of frying pan.
We must glide along over the incidents,
not forgetting the fact that Wisner got up
the first night TO see whether or not a
mosquito had CARRIED off his foot Find
ing the extent ofhis injury to bea hole In
his hoof, about the size Of an inch augur,
he compromised with that mosquito by
giving him letter of introduction TO Col
Lamon, at Berkeley Springs.
The second night oui, Logan hunted
one-half hour with double barrelled gun
for supposed wild cat, and treated the
bushes around with pound of shot.
i On the third day King Fisherman Elem
ing weig he'd himself by Hicks improved
method, tumbling backwards into the
water. He looked like old daddy Nep-
tune on bender, as he arose shaking his
dripping locks.
On the fourth day the camp was visited
by the experienced minnow-catcher. Jo-
seph Shader, and the scientific grasshoppist
and bass-dssector, d. ". Shafer, Esqs
They gave excellent lessons in iheir PEI
culiar lines, and after sleeping one night,
departed the next day chuekfnll ofdelighi
with their trip. ~ S
There are scores of other pleasing inci-
dents connected with passing the rapids,
drawing the seine, &C., &C, bnt your val
liable space will prevent fuller notice.
Suffice it to say that snugly quartered in
camp that would have inspired theenvy
Of a gypsy chief or rsd-skiuned aborigi-a
nal, these gentlemen banished dull care
and gave themselves up TO thestadyi Of ma