Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-10
Ihe Stree Aress.
NOTES OF A LAIkElR.
From. Crog Harbor TO Fort Ticon.
deroga.

way little 10 take q glimpse of this Vermont
river (O,ter Crcek). TWAS our good fortune
to pass up this Indian stream one fine May
morning, as tho new foliage of the year was
Just appearing. On the left bank at its
mouth stands the old Fort Cassin house,
named for the lieutenant in charge, while
MacDonough's fleet was building in Yer
gennes nearly 20 years ago, and the remains
of earthworks are yet traceable. The river
winds through wet low-lands. 1t has over
flowed its limits. The trees stand knec.deep in
water. Graceful elms line the banks, stretch
ing out their arms to embrace their brothers
or sisters ou the opposite side. Low. tangled
growths of shrubbery buttonwood, dogwood
and corvcl fill the adj acent swamps, where
the redwng makes his summer home. The
old trunca,cd bodies of naples and bceches
bear witness 10 former and statelier growth,
now tenanted by many wood-pccker families.
Crows are active. The feathered architects
are at work. An occasional eagle rises from
the river banks and flaps heavily overhead
The creek Darrows and the little steamer
faithfully follows the current from bank to
seven miles, past farms, cattle, houses aud
swallow-banks we reach Nergennes, city
de .jure of 1900 inhabitants.
To the west lay the Adirondack wilderness,
concealed by neighboring mountains. This
wild pasture has II sclnty vegetation. Here
the common juniper is at home, growing in
tall sheaf- shaped tufts, spreading at the sum-
init, the stalks often beng ten feet IN
height.
Gray lodges of gnciss rise abruptly from
the water forming moss-covered shelves,
the haunt of many ferns and wild-ilowcrs.
The blue-harebcls of the poets hang in clust-
ers from their foothold in tue rocky crevices.
Here aud there the straight-sandwort grows
in white patches seen at distance.
Lower down the snowy pentstemon shoots
up Its pink raceme amid the rank growth of
the shade, while in the sand of the shore the
yellow.goosc foot finds its proper habitat.
A dent in the ground still marks the spot
where many years ago stood an old iun or
stopping place.
Rowing three miles under the rocky brow
of the shore, we touch at Rock or Rattle
snake" harbor, where stands mill on the
waters edge for pulverizing the magnetic
iron which is tumbled down from the adj
jacent mines in the mountains side. Dark,
rusty vtius of iron are seen outcroppng here
and there not very rich ore, and hardly
worth the mining, as believe experience has
taught
'Do you ever come upon rattlesnakes
knocking about these rocks" l inquired OF u
workman standing by. ave took fourteen
out OF that den down there" be replied,
pointing TO a large pile of rejected ore under
the ledge by the lake ave don't run on to
them very often though. The noise of the
blasts scares them OH. If anyone wants
rattlcsnakes, they've got to come round
early. The snakes come down to the water
in the spring, stay awhile, and then go back
to their dens on the mountain again. They
never bite if they can help it. They'll rattle
and whistle too and give you time to get out
of the way" We thought the ratters UNI
usually kind and thoughtful in this locality.
Up on the rugged mountain stands small
building, the camp of the miners. The sun
must set early here, and the dark atmosphere
of the lake and woods is well suited to mos
quitoes and rattlesnakes.
Crossing 10 the Vermont shore, we encamp
at Mile Point in Ferrisburgh. Here nature
has made favorable the conditions of camp
ing. The beach is paved with limestone,
smoothed by the glaciers of old and lined with
Window of drlftwood which the waves
have been kind enough to chop and pile by
the door, and the lake bieezes are uncon-
genial To the Mosquito.
Pike, perch and bass are abundant, but u
prevailing fish Is the rock bass, and what
greedy little fellow he is? OF about the size
and make of the sun-tish or Dream, which
they resemble also in their rapatity, they will
sometimes catch on the troll and their large
eye glows like a coal as they leave the
water.
The first night at Mile Point was one of
the stllcst We had witnessed on the lake.
Every breeze was silenced and the restless
water Gained. Expanding rings appear over
the surface, the ripple of fish who came to
take the Insect there, and now and then q
CHANGING swallow dips TO cool its wings, or a
a muskrat splashes from the shore. The night
animals alone are abroad. A long black
barrier marks the Split Rock mountain to the
west, benin! which the sun has sunk and
down from its rocky sides comes the yelling
of the "iretiul poIcupine' and the voice OF
the clone whipporwill,' singing her ''ceasless
song to night and echo"
Basin llarbor, some less than a mile below
is our next stopping place, where we tarry TO
vlsit the farmer who dwells close by the lake.
A little inlet afordng shelter to small boats
is lined on one hand by row Of picturesque
Lombardy poplars. Some locusts cluster in
front of the gray stone cottage and we are
glad to seek their shade from the glarng
heat of the sun. The solar fires had been
stirred and raked with unusual energy that
morning, and the sun hung in the heavens
like great coppery shield. There was
scarcely breath of air in motion. AS we
sat in the farmers kitchen, sheltered from
the potent heat without of a sudden flaw
struck us from the lake. Dust flew; hens
and chickens hurried of to the nearest cover /;
trees swaycd over as If to touch the ground ;
the waves rolled up from the troubled lake
and dashed the rocks. A few drops OF rain
dom, rI.,, tha 6.
skunk back and all was still again. But the
tension of the air was relieved, the desired
change wrought as if in answer to a prayer.
AT Basin llarbor the lake is less than q
mile in width and farther up it takes jog
westward, forming bay between
three aud four miles wide, over which, in the
distance, we see the small town OF West
port, struggling up from the water. Above
cluster the gray foothills which buttres!
the GROWING domes Of the Adrondacks
Merriam, Raven and "White- face"
AS YOU cross the Bay, among the rocky
hooks and harbors of the New York shore
"Barn Rock" is most noticeable. Near thu
entrance OF this harbor stands large rock
split from the parent ledge, appearing in tn
distance as the gable end of an old, weather
beaten barn. Hereabout q valuable stOn,
has been discovered, related to syenite
which contains blue opals and takes fin,
polish, and it is said among the limestone
''sea serpent of unusual length, In the fossi
condition. Camping on the beach, the mex
day We stroll up to the village of Westport
Very quiet here and little business, an,
though close to the Adirondack country, yo
would hardly suspect it. Mountains seem I
sink us you approach them.
Passing thence, our objective point
Port Henry eleven miles to the south.
Vermont you observe level country aiforC
ing good farm.lands, while to the west th
mountains gradually receding, give place I
rocky hills. BARRIERS Point is two mill
below, marked by gray stone-lighthous'
and an equal distance opposite is a ba
bearing the name of Arnold. On the right Il
shore rises abruptly and bcyond are birl