Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-08-26

The Polka-Dot Camping Party, con-
sistina Of u persons, leaving Seattle on
August 10th, directed their
course toward Alki Point, or what Is
known as our city's favorite picnic
ground. At this point we remained until
Friday morning, initiating ourselves as
It were, into the first touch Of camp Life.
Nothing of interest occurred during our
stay here unless il was on Thursday
evening. when just as the sun went down
behind the snow-srestsd back Of the
Olympic Range, sweet strains Of music
fell upon our ears along with the c0ntin
nous putting of steamboat. Finally
the pleasure steamer Evril hove in sight,
and from her hurricane deck into
small boat slid three young men from
Seattle, with musical Instruments IN
their arms, their voices full Of melody,
and souls full of fun, DESTROYS OF tender
ING kind farewell TO our party before
our departure from the suburbs Of the
town. The small boat turned its prov
toward shore and the three young men
from Seattle we're soon in our midst. and
from that hour till the time when the
Shanghai sounds his morning call, dan
cling, ETC., was INDUCED in. Then the
three Young men from Seattle returned
home and the campers turned into bed.
Friday morning, with our party on
board the Zephyr, We passed up tie
Sound to Mcneil Island at a point
where tho L. s. Penitentiary is situated.
On board the Zephyr our party was III
creased BY ono more person. We we're
very creditably entertained, / must say,
by Capt. Ballard. On board the Zephyr
was also Mac Hopkins, son Of the Mar
shall, with a prisoner in charge bound
for the penitsntiary. From bim We re-
ceived an invitation 70 spend the bal
ance of the day in going through the
penitentiary, which We accepted, and
accordingly went ashore. We were soon
seated in the spacious parlor OF the PEN
itentiary. Here We met Mr.. Perry, now
in charge, and after an introduction and
a few minutes of chatting, We passed
into the corridor. This il large room.
dimensions probably 130x6U, with hall
running all around it, thus leaving the
cells in the center Of the room and ex-
tending to the hight of three stories. As
tho keeper closed the b0lt with our party
in this room, shudder could not help
but pass over my frame. Passing around
the different stories and peering into the
cells. We came across the face OF the
above mentioned prisoner. The cells
present neat and tidy appearance. n
does everything else. Then leaving out
from the corridor, and breathing the
free air once more, We passed over the
premises. all Of which presented very
pleasant appearance. In fact, 70 view
the penitentiary from tho Sound, which
faces its front, one would think he was
beholdinQ a castle instead OF prison.
At present there are Is cOnviCts inpris-
oned in the penitentiary. We ones tion-
ed our hosts a. to a good locality to
camp, and after the party taking .
drink Of cold water TO the health OF all
concerned, under the guidance Of Mac
Hopkins a portion Of our party footed
it across the island, while the others
followed around the shore limo with the
yacht to point which We appropriately
named Skedung. Then Mac returned
70 the peuitentiary and We put things
in camp trim. From the managers Of
the peniteii tiary We received the greatest
Of attention and to whom We tender
thanks.
Saturday afternoon growing weary Of
Skedung, we packed mp and crossed
over the Sound to Chambers's Creek.
Here We met An old farmer and his wife
who have been residents of the place for
the past 30 years.. At the mouth OF the
creek Ia erected a three-story Touring
mill and in good running order. The
creek is quite stream OF water and
abounds with brook trout, as our Walton
caught 10 speckled beauties in less than
an hour. While here We hebfd Of the
beautiful camping grounds surrounding
Gravelly Lake, only three miles distant.
So hiring our farmer friend, ON Sunday
We put the traps aboard his turnout and
struck forward for the lake. Arriving
here our greatest anticipations were re-
allied, for of all the beautiful camping
spots ON earth this ia one. 1t relieves
one from the mon0tOny OF being enclos-
cd by wooded country, for hers lies
tho beautiful SteilacoOm plains. On the
shore Of Gravelly Lake We met Mr.. and
Mrs. Young, Lizzie Granger and Frank
Mitchell Of Olympia, from whence they
had come by buggy to spend sunday
near this placid sheet Of water. At times
during the summer season from Is to 70
teams of young f0lksa are not uncommon
to be seen sporting in this vicinity. The
lake ID about One-half mile wide and
ono mile long and its water clear "a
crystal. II is Of enormous depth and ito
bathing qualities are excellent. No fish
abound. Across tho lake opposite us ID
built the summer residence Ut Captain
Atno-npxt nd RPsSsvn n N Yrpn vpOy0 fA<DflI Ia
BE- seen tho stars and str ipes floating on
ing themselves at this resort, along with
quite . number Of invited guests. The
writer, In company with his chum Isaac,
while seeking for An appropriate place
70 stretch camp, run within 90 feet OF
two deer, but they were AWAY like . shot
and We stood paralized with buck fever.
Our camp was put In order close by the
lake shore and we settled down to solid
comfort. About ~ miles away IL the
Territorial Insane Asylum; three miles
from N are camped O0u Wayland, wife
and Mis- Olive Snyder Of our city, and
at Lake viev. six miles away, are camp
ed party Of 20 from Portland.
Monday was taken In viewing our sur
roundines. The country around this
lake h prairie land, covered With small
iirs and scrub oak. The nature Of tho
ground Ii gravslly, and you may dig
down till your looks are Hinged with gray
and il remains the same. Nothiu0 viii
thrive except that which ID found grow
ins on il in . Wild state, - ferns, Q short
prairie grass. the above mentioned trees
and wild strawberry vines. Yet thous-
ands Of sheep and other animals and
sussenanoe on these plains during all
seasons Of the year. True, there ore
some farms In the immediate vicinity,
but these lie Gloss 10 some fresh water
mAzsh or belts Of timber bordering ON
the prairie. IT'S pity, yet tits true that
thousands Of acres lie here which may
mover b utilized. The suns heat can
easily Be felt In pafading over the prAi-
ne and on questioning ono of the party
who seemed 70 b over affected With the
beat ~ 70 what Longitude b. thought 10
might b In, e replied, About y dsR.