The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-07
OUT ON LAKE H0PATC0NG.
A FINE CAMPING GROUND ALMOST
UNKNOWN TO TOURISTS.
where the Appleton Mission People spend
tho Dog Dnys-An Orgnni-t Missing-Tbo
Fishing Experience of Rochester Man.

Within two hours OF New York, bv rail,
Is one Of the most beautiful sheets Of water IN
the country, yet so little known is It that pro b.
ably never moro than 300 people have In any one
summer sought its wooded shores for needed
rest and relaxation. Lake Hopatcong occupies
the extreme southeastern corner OF Sussex
county, N. J. 1t is nine miles long, and from
she orc to hore in its broadest part, three miles
wide. Its depth varies from twelve inches, near
the shore, to twelve feet in the channel and Its
waters TEEN with sunAsh, bass, catfish, and
pickerel, which fall an easy prey to the sklful
angler. The lake lies north and south, and
stretches from the Morris and Essex Canal at
the Hopatcorg station OF the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad, to woodport, and
lies In a basin overlooked by high hills on every
| side. II feeds the summit level OF the Morris
and Essex Canal. and affords easy passage to the
| railroad for the iron mined In the region
| around about woodport and Nolan's Point.
| There Is only ono hotel on tho bank OF the lake.
| and this can at best accommodate only 100
| guests. on one Of tho numerous Islands, which
dot its broad expanse, Is Madame Bertrand's
summer hotel, frequented mainly by Germans
The island .bears the name OF the widow. who
| owns II, and Is a lovely spot.
Iran up 20 Lake Hopatcong on wednesday
morning toy the lil5 train on tho Morris and Es,
| sex division Of the Delaware, Lackawanna and
| Western Railroad. and reached the station at a
| few minutes paste.
There are two ways of reaching the Lake
| View House from Hopatcons station. One is by
the little steam launch Stella and the other by 4
can hsys sal S y ssS ssSs
| The little craft waits for the eastward bound
train then, when her passengers are all aboard,
| she plunges ahead up the canal, pufnng like an
overdriven cart horse In the hot weather. We
reach the bridge that spans the lake branch ot
q%$s5 nSl;6 speed. TtH sss wee fu'a craft Then as Ss
ing either bank Of the canal with her wash. Now
we meet a barge Ia tow OF two sleepy mules
| the work OF our pilot In avoiding the numbering
barge. OF that Of the barge skipper In squeezing
his vessel into the shore to make room for us as
| Now we spy the lock, and in a few minutes we
enter IT, the heavy gates close upon us the sluce
With s'1 ooaad as f' and jerk @ and a. ttS% %H
until there Is perfect level on both sides
| Of the gate, and We shuot out into Lake Hopat-
cong. II is a beautiful sight. AWAY ahead. as
ter dimpled hero and there by chance gusts of
wind from the mountains, and brightened by
aloft. 70 the right Is Bertrand's Island, and to
the north and east long line OF dark green hills.
Sharpe's Rock looms up ahead on the larboard
bow, and az we approach It we descry clusters
OF white tents In the woods, aud ever and anon
view and takes shelter behind friendly tree TIL
we pass. Then more tents appear. aud white.
|
summerrest Of summer gab come out to greet
US as We pass. When we round the Rock we
is It's widest point, three mics, the hotel em-
bowered In trees Is nfst seen. with Its groups Of
guests in front awaiting our coming.
| Beyond Is Woodport. whence comes the iron
ore and bearing down upon us is the tusboat
WITH ave clumsy oarses In tow; all deeply laden
il /. about ay. miles from tSs station 10 The
| hotel by water, but II you wish to make the
journey back by laud you have a ten mile tramp
| before YOU.
ON sharpe's Rock found encamped q merry
party from BroOklyn. They are members OF tho
Appleton Mission, aud have selected one Of the
prettiest spots on the lake for their camp. They
have been CUT about month, and AS yet have
shown no desire to return to the city OF
| day. and on sunday number OF residents at
| teni the moeucgs. They have an Organ with
| them, but no one TO play IT, tue organist having
| recently eloped with one Of tue dsacons.
| Hard 10y this camp Is that Of merry party
from Newton Sussex county. Among them is
| Mr.. Gardner. the same who coached Cornell for
| their recent successful race al Saratoga
a mile oeyond the Lake View House found
| When stumbled upon him he was sltlng, IN
pirs nGturllbtes, on log near the water side
tie was trying to lighta pipe, but his matcn
That's my last match said he, as drew
yero s for q9 S8 Luckily had %i' matches: H Da
Insisted ON my sharing his bed and board. Did
you bring PROVISIONS with you = said L. " Yes,
said he "I fetcned some bacon and -four and
salt and coffee and sugar. 4 calculated on ketch-
In Iish but the durn things wont bs ketched
and The. only nsh I've bad has been what
| bought from felers anshin"
In bis tent he showed mo his OUTFIT 1t was
made up OF rubber poncho, two blankets. q
box containing pork, sugar, coffee, and nour,
carbinc. powder flask and shot pouch. and
limited supply Of fishing tackle. Noticed that
| bis hooks were unusually large. Those which
he hsd been using were such as are used for the
heaviest game rsh In tho Great South Bay
"Goodness gracious, mani said what kind
| OF Dish do you expect to catch hete2"
well" said be, slowly, and with the look OF
q man who thinks no might have made mis-
take, but Ia stiIl "A little doubtful; Gap saun-
| ders-he's nish neghbor OF mino at Rochester
| he told me that he ketched notbin' here but H.
teen uound bass, so | fetched big hooks. Hut
| I've been wondern' all along why couldn't
see none OF that heft about this lake. Them
| that buy Is all small, and none Of 'em Is bass
| ~ all. lleI.Ie asLlrI c.iilsa or suulah.m