The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-08
To Camp Watson.

Inc name OF camp watson HAS IL pc
culiar suggestiveness to the fortunate beings
who have once seen the natural glories of
the place, enjoyed the generous hospitality
of its proprietor and the rare opportunities
for sport the waters of Champlain afford.
So when THE WArCHMAN representative ac-
cepted Mr.. Atkins courteous invitation to
accompany himself and his employees on the
Argus on an excursion to that locality, it
was with anticipations of pleasure, quick
ened by lively recollections of the good
times had at the camp on similar occasion
two years ago. Saturday morning, July
4th the company left Montpelier by the
early express for Milton, the railway sta
ton of the camp. Teams were in readiness
for the nine miles ride across the country
to the lake shore. At seven o'clock the ex-
cursionists alighted at their destination
with appetites sharpened by four hours
ride in the early morning. Camp Wat
son." as is generally known, is the property
and hobby of Mr. Hiram Atkins, editor and
proprietor OF the Argus and Patriot. He
! first struck the locality over twenty years
ago on fishing trip with some personal
friends. Fifteen years ago he established
this camp in a rude way on land leased of
| the proprietor of the farm, whose name was
Watson. He improved the land, graded it,
procured tents, good boats, fishing tackle,
adding to his equipment and facilities from
year to year. A year ago the lease was re-
newed for a long term of years, and the
temporary arrangements were replaced by
those of a more substantial character. They
now consist of spacious cottage, conve-
niently arranged and completely equipped
| kitchen, ice-house, a building for boat-house,
work-room and storage. The cottage is two
stories in height, with broad piazzas on three
| sides. The dining-room occupies the first
floor; on the second are several small rooms
and the library of the proprietor. In the
event of a 'cold wave" the latter and the din
ing-room are provided with tire-places. On
the roof is breezy lookout, from which the
stars and stripes are flying during the occu-
pancy of the camp. The cottage is tasteful
in design and finish. North from the build
ings extends a smooth, grassy lawn, its
easterly limit bounded by a well-trimmed
hedge of cedar. On this gentle slope the
tents are pitched during the season, u
which opens the 1st of August The cot
tage is then the rendezvous of the guests OF
the camp at meals and on social or common
occasions during the day or evening TIC
this delightful harbor of rest the hungry
typos We're welcomed by Mr.. Atkins. Miss
Kate Atkins, with corps of assistants, had
anticipated the ravenous cravings of the
hungry crowd. A substantial breakfast
steaning hot, was speedily dispatched and
the sport of the day began Mr.. Atkins
keeps fishing tackle enough to equip regi
ment, excellent boats and safe men to man
age them. The lake was quickly covered
} with small fishing fleet and echoed witt
the eXclamations of the novices as they
|
the rod was generally successful, but wa
characterized by yigor rather than fnenes
, of execution. The experts viewed these op
erations with becoming decorum, though
they sometimes INDUCED in little pardon
! able banter. A goodly catch was made tn,
days sport aggregating several hundred o
} all kinds. Camp apretites " had their fill
of delicious fish. AT dusk the nightly bon
fire was lighted, and the darkness was re
lieved by the CLEAN of Roman candles ant
ascending rockets along the shores o
Grand Island, and even from distant Platts
burgh. A few adventurous ones rowed ou
on the lake and had a sight of the display a
St. Adams Heightened by an occasiona
flash of lightning, the general scene
viewed from the piazzas of the cottage, wa'
exceedingly attractive. A jaunt to the toI
of Eagle Mountain, a craggy elevation jus
south of the camp, rewarded the adventur
GUS few who undertook it with magnifi
cent view of the lake and its many islands
with the Adirondacks in the background {,
, the west, the pleasant valleys of Vernon
and the Green Mountain range to the east
{ Sunday was decorously spent about tn,
; camp. Mr.. Atkins regulations rigidly pro
hibit boating, fishing or any improper diver
sions on that day. This rule is infeXibly
observed. Order is heavens first law al
, the camp. The proper enjoyment of its
privileges is unrestricted, but pleasure mus
be pursued in strict obedience to whole
some rules which secure the safety of tn,
persons of the guests as well as the prop
erty of the camp There were frequent ant
heavy showers to the west and south, bu
with the exception of slight wetting from
the outskirts of an advancing cloud on Sun.
day afternoon, the camp enjoyed immunity
, from the storm kings visitations. Finel
weather could not have been desired. Al
early start and a ride to the railway station
in the cool of the day, in the dewy
freshness of the morning the air fragrant
with the flowers OF the roadside and the green
fields, on Monday was the delightful end
of a most enjoyable outing. For the many
courtesies of a hearty and hospitable host
THE WATcHMAN representative and those
who accompanied him, make their profound
Acknowledgements.