The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-22
CAMPING OUT
VICTIM.

intent on TecupefhlihE tucit 9AiNN'e'
energies by several weeks Of camp life
in the mountains. The souls consisted
Of one baby C''the sweetest baby in the
world" II enurse), four women and two
men. The outfit embraced few useful
articles. with almost everything that a
party does not need on such trip, and
could only have been got together by
uovices al "roueHiug IT," For Instance,
there was an elegant carriage for
"baby," trunks OF clothes that could not
be worn in the mountains, several
steamers, stew pans land hread-pans,
rocking chairs, "bahy's crib, and other
necessary articles, while no frying pan
was included and the bedding was
short. No ham was taken, az the MIN
rods considered themselves abundantly
able provide game and fish. However,
the camping spot was not yet reached,
aud all were in blissful ignorance as to
the merits or demerits uf the prepara-
tious.
Down the Willamette and up the Co
lumbia, past the pretty city of Vancou-
yer, the steamer sped, the passengers
carefully noticing the devastation
wrought by the flood, and wondering
Why an All-wise Creator did not make
the banks higher, the channels deeper,
or the snowfall lighter.
Fishers Landing was reached about
noon, and the party concluded to dis
embark and seek the banks Of the Lack
amas, some five miles in the ouItry.
y farmers wagon, with hay-rack on
ii, was chartered to transport the outfit.
Before half the things were packed on
the vehicle, the masculine members of
the party became aware that the matri-
monial 90 cart aud crib and numerous
other articles might have been left at
home. However, the articles were at
last fastened on the rack, the ladies were
placed on top, and the load started ND
the dusty hill in the broiling heat. By
the time fifty yards had been covered, IL
was ascertained that "baby's wagon
was getting demoralized by the jnlting.
and il became necessary for one Of tine
men to fill his appointed sphere as
baby-hawker and push the thing up the
long grade through the sand and over
the rocks. IL began to dawn on him
that recreation was delusion and
snare, or, If he must reeurerate, a sea-
side hotel would be a good place How
ever, the carriage was left at a farm
house for that day as soon as the hard
part Of the road was mastered.
At last, after alternate riding aud
walking through a gigantic but black
ened forest, which had been a victim to
the January gale, and was swept by n
terrific fire some weeks ago, we reached
the camping spot. Then the real ell
joyment of the trip commenced The
tent was smaller than was ordered, aud
the tert-poles had to be readjusted, and
wood for the fire was hard to obtain,
aud it was necessary to carry water over
a hundred yards. We were all 50 "well T.
pleased with our trip" as the High I.
School pupils say, that we would will .
ingly lave gone home the first evening. /
No n, mber Of the party had ever be- /.
lieved that 50 much satisfaction could be I.
crowded into so short a time.
At night it was foun that the beddirg
was short, and, as the tent was too
small, the uen slept outside on the .
ground with their guns beside them, .
being kept comfortable by the thought .
that within the tent were four "pretty .
aud fascinating females" for them TO .
protect. However, they proved recreant
to their trust, as the mosquitoes and
gnats fiercely assailed the ladies.
For four days the party sweltered in
the hot sun, fought the mosquitoes,
cooked and ate in the smoke, and enter
tained the baby, vainly endeavoriug to
get a team to transport them to the
landing. that they might 20 home. The
10 mouotOny Of the continuous pleasure .
was marred only by the catching Of one .
or two trout in the L8ckamas, a stream .
which flows through an extremely wild f.
and mountainous meadow; The Staying
Of a cinnamon bear (pine squirrel which
had Prowled too near the camp; the
capture of IA striped fawu 10y large dog
about two hundred yards from the
camp; the practice Of the hunters upon
a chicken which they had purchased
from farmer, tied to a tree, aud blazed
away at for fifteen minutes before its
life blood dampenei the soil they did
not wish 10 mutiIate it, he it under
stood, and were trying TO decapitate in;
he fright Of the ladies when a wagon
appeared at the ford Of the stream when
hey were sporting in the water; and a
aid Of a band Of pigs on the camp.
Finally, on the fifth day, IA wagon and
cam was secured to bring a portion Of
he party TO the landing, and the rest
would have been glad 10 come had they
io' made So many calculations abopt
her trip before starting that they did
lot care TO return and endure the pibes
# their friends.
On the return by steamer from Fish.
RS Landing, the three boiling or re-
reatiug members of the party spent
heir time in patching up white lies
bout their leasant time in the noun
aims with which 10 regale their friends.
Since their arrival, they have all ear
testify declared that they had "loveIy
ime," and are urging their acquaint-
nces TO visit the same place, as the