The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-08-08
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CAMP s. E. SPRING.
aun zfh 1877

| Thirty-tWo years ago, on the Seventh day OF
August, six young fellows, ive.of whom "still
live," and are with US to-day, came out here on
| a pleasure excursion. Here and then was in
stituted the veteran Gunner Association and
Propeller Club" Can it be that the men with
frosty pows" see around me are the sam
lusty youth that then were just entering up
on the stage of life? Every year since the
formation of the club rain or shine, the mem
bers have made an excursion on its birthday,
In few instances they have pitched their tents
in other localities, but Portland Head"' the
original camping ground, has been and proba-
bly, ever will be the favorte place of resort.
Its easness of access, its wild and rugged
scenery, the fine opportunities it offers for MIS-
catory sport, and, above all, the pleasant asso.
Citations connected with the spot, are sufficient
to lead the club to the place in preference
to all others for their annual visitation. Cow
| per somewhere says
"Be 1t weakness 1t deserves some praise:
We love the play place of our early days.
Previous to last year the time OF starting for
camp has been at about daybreak Of late
| years, however, reluctance to such an early
hour, when sleep is said to be the soundest and
| sweetest, has been manifested by some of the
| members, who were apt to prove laggards. 1t
was thought best, therefore, to change the time
OF starting to the afternoon preceding the ami
versary On the whole the change is a good
| one, as was the substitution of our present
mode of conveyance for the more primitive
| one in the early days of the club
II you had been in the vicinity of City Hall
/ at ooI0al p,,1J
have witnessed the exodus in Chase's fl inc team,
of as merry a set of fellows as ever started on
| pleasure pilgrimage
''Jolly companions, every one''-
| as the old song has it. They all seemed to be
| animated with this sentiment, slightly altered,
| of an old writer
swell, there is yet one day of life before us,
And, whatsoever betide, we will enjoy it,
A fter delightful ride we arrived at the old
camp ground in good season, and were cor
daily welcomed by our old friend, Capt.
Strout, Whose countenance was as pleasant to
our sight as is the light he nightly kindles to
the sea-farer on his lonely voy age. Pitching
tents and preparing supper were the first things
that engaged attention. At late hour we
gathered around the we'll loa ded table, and
you may be sure full justice was done to the
viands served up in Raby's est style. After
supper mirth and jollity ri led the hour, and
when mention that Robinson was the presid-
ing genius of the OCCASION you will readily inn.
agine the quality and quantity of the entertain.
ment we enjoyed. Ata reasonable hour the
club retired to rest, but am sorry to say that
your reporter got but little sleep
Notwithstanding the nocturnal disturbance,
no wever, all hands were mp bright and early to
witness splendid sunrise. After breakfast
at 10 o'clock, the business meeting was held.
Da'patching the preliminary business, the fol-
lowing officers were elected for the ensuing year
Commissary, c. o. Leach; Vice Com, Charles
Cook; Treasurer, Saml Thurston; Secretary,
Edward P. Staples; Secretary Boston Branch
L. W. Knight; Firemen, f. E. Pray, P. W.
Neal; Watsrmen, F. q. Cloyes, s. G. Fernald;
Potato Slicer, Chas. Sampson.
After the transaction of business, an euter-
tainment little out of the usual course took
place. We are so fortunate as to have among
our party Mr.. o. A. Robinson. His readings,
songs and story telling heap the measure of
our enjoyment to the b rim-at times, indeed.
causing it to run over The reading of the
epitaphs of various members of the club made
up the entertainment alluded to, and although
the affair was certainly very Craze one, it was
productive, nevertheless, of a great deal of
merriment. The epitaphs, while they held up
to an admiring world the good qualities of the
supposed defuncts, were not wholly eulogistic.
The writer was very impartial and while he
'1ean'd to virtues side'' be did not hesitate to
expose foibles
We were little apprehensive at the time
that we should have a rainy day, but the wealth
er has proved all that we could desire, and we
have enjoyed and are enjoying our thirty
second anniversary to the full. We have had
number of visitors ladies and gentlemen, TO
whom the hospitalities of the camp were freely
extended, and among them no one was more
heartily welcomed than our:old friend VIM. f.
Stafford.
Soon after dinner fine looking yacht round
ed to Just off the camp and gave us salute in
response to one rendered.
Our dinner table was graced with an elegant
bouquet, the usual floral offering of Mabel
In respect to our worthy honorary member,
S. E. Spring, Esq, it was voted that the camp
be named for Kim. Pic.
P. S.--When 1 said, just above, that the
weather was all that we could DESIRE 1 little
anticipated the misfortune that was impending
We were in the Marque enjoying a concert,
having among the audience Mrs. S. B. Smith,
Mrs. D. W. Eaton of Portland, and Miss Pom
eroy OF Cambridge, Mass, when the thunder
squall came up. The rain poured in torrents
but the choir keptup their singing, although
the beating of the rain nearly drowned their
voices. While they were singing "Homeward
Bound" the heaviest squall came down upon
us. 1t proved too much for our tent, and down
it came, buryng us all beneath the soaked and
futtering canvass For moment much fear
prevailed of injury to persons, which was soon
allayed, as except thorough soaking no harm
was done. Amidst the bowling of the storm,
the creaking of the tent ard the beating of the
rain land oh, how it did rain y the ladies bore
themselves herocally, showing not the least
sign of fear, but on the contrary they took the
thing as huge joke and made the air ring
with their laughter Sad work was made with
our tent furniture and ixings. An order was
Immediately despatched to town for new tent
which we hope to have pitched this evening
THE New ENGLAND FAIR.-Secretary Was
| son and the trustees of the State Association,
| arrived in the city yesterday to make arrange
| ments for the New England exhibition. Mr..
WATSON has taken his headquarters at No. q
Prebe street, where corps of clerks are busy
recording the eutries. The superintendent of
| the several department, will have exclusive
charge of their departments thus avoiding the
| confusion of former years.
Mr.. WATSON says he has already received 100
entries, and the exhibition ir all departments
bids fair to surpass all preceding ones. The
exhibition of farm, orchard, garden and dairy
products will be at the park this year, instead
| of City Hail.
/ Au,opo tho ontrias EJror NTH of Fills