Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-07-02
EDITORIAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Tor AVN unrycr

lHCRSDAl MOHNANSfs uGIl Suu, xSJ4s
- ---------------- - ----
EDITORIAL. CORRESPONDENCE
ISLAND HousR,
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa.
June 2Sth, 1874.
Editors Courier I aM weather
bound. The wind blows gale and a
half and the white caps whiten the
lake and keep up continual roar in
my ears. Nature in her wilder moods
is thus teaching me lesson this Sab.
bath day.
Leaving Ottumwa in her heated
term on the morning of the 26tb, At
1 is tho warm sultry heat followed
us, until we struck the Iowa river and
passed ont of the valley at Steamboat
Rock. We then stretched out across
an almost boundless prairie very
sparsely acttled and caught cool in.
vigorating breeze. One does not have
realizing sense OF the unremunera-
tive railroad, until be rides over one
built for miles through country that
is yet almost in state OF nature. As
we passed over this broad expanse of
prsiric, which was only at long inter
walls, dotted with the little cabins Of
tho pioneer, we noticed in a place
some ten miles below Mason City, that
on an average every other telegraph
pole had been struck by lightning ard
badly shattered. This w1s the case
for some two miles. II occurred to
ne that this extraordinary prevalence
of lightning indicated the exis.
tencc of minerals in that region. We
reached Mason City at 10 o'clock and
stopped at the Allen House where we
remained until between 8 and 4 o'clock
p. M, waiting for train to take us
over to the lake. The Allen House il
kept by Mr.. Ingalls,, New Yorker,
who thoroughly understands his bust
mess Mason City is . smart thriving
town which we should fudge was
rather in advance of the settlement of
the country about it.
Leaving Mason City we arrived at
Clear Lake about 5 o'clock and at once
boarded the Iron steamer for this
place, arriving In good time for supper,
but somewbss tired, aud feeling the
logs of sleep. A good nights sleep
found us refreshed for Saturdays
sport. In passing through Lake City;
looked for Fred Hswley, hut not
finding him, I loft note for him to
come over Next morning with the best
sailing vessel he could get, prepared
for days cruise. SD
About 8 o'clock Saturday uorning
Fred arrived with the sloop Undine
Captain Martin assisted by Mr..
Phillips. We were oil in readiness
and with breeze enough to arouse the
white caps, we boarded ship, prepared
with basket full Of lunch, q good
supply Of ice, fishing tackle aud three
buckets full Of minnowp, for bait.
The party consisted only Of Fred and
myself and family. We ran first from
the Island to Lake City, defiance Of
just three miles under full sail, making
the trip in precisely fourteen minutes.
This, 10 far as sailing was concerned,
was perfectly satisfactory and was
,nost exhilerating and enjoyable to Us
all. Having completed some further
arrangements, with rather = gloomy
account 81 tie hlsE xi i'd s xs rssz11sa
down the lake about three miles. cast
ing anchor about thirty rods from the
Western shore, and all hands fell to
fishing. The fish did not take hold
very sharply, nevertheless, by noon
we had very fair string offish. Our
Charles, the year old, was the cham
pion. having safely landed eight fine
fish before we SGT down to our lunch.
The great difficulty seemed to be in
safely landing the fish after they had
once been hooked. The mouth of the
Ash seems to be tender and unless
they are hooked in favorable place
they will tare loose in Bringing them
in. With all eur care we had failed
to take ont q small net, which 10 nsed
by all successful fishermen in landing
the fish. We really lost more
1sh in attempting to land them
than we caught Fred Hawley
hooked Q Pickerel that was at
least thirty inches long and got him
safely on to the gunwsle Of the boat,
when he threw himself tive feet into
the air, broke loose from the hook, fell
back into the water and was lost
The noise made by the stiff gale blow
ing prevented the remarks of Fred
upon this occasion reaching the ears
of the rest Of the party, which per-
hsps was just ms well. We remained
out until S y. M, having rather failing.
luck in the afternoon. The faces of
the party on our return, wore the
tawny hue OF an Indian save, that II
was littlc more Of the crimson color.
Mr.. Berg landlord of the Island
House is active. energetic, attentive
and kind TO his patrons, and keeps
. very neat and orderly house. The
bathing from the beach below the
house the writer hersof enjoyed
greatly. A persen can wade In for .
doaen rods upon . clean sand bottom,
and children can sport about In the
water without the least danger. A
bathing house stands nr0h the bank
for the convenience Of ladies and gem
tlemen In unrobing and robing them.
selves. We expect to leave the Is
land tonight SO as tc roach the early
morning train from Mason City Mon.
day next, but at present tho wind is
too high to venture ON to the lake
with comfort, not TO say anything
about the safety of such trip.
The above was written on Sabbath