The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-09-05
na.. rl.l,lng on lhe Potomae.

Seven young men of Westminster, and one
inst matnred, from Warlieldsburg, bent on q
good time, camped, during last week, on the
banks of the Potomac, on beautiful green
snot near the Cumberland Valley Railroad
bridge, about two miles from Wlllicmsport.
They left Westminster on Monday on the 81
train. arriving in Williamsport about noon.
After dinner at the Taylor House all FASTENED
to the place selected, opened their boxes,
donned their working garments, unpacked
several loads of equipage, pitched their tents,
and by shutdown sat down to David's luscious
preparation, and got on the outside of more
food. with more genuine relish, than perhaps
for days previous, without any formal Ell
ouette. and am sorry to say without grace,
save the little one offered by the largest man
Lord. we thank Thee for food; we thank
Thee for appetite, and we thank Thee for
capacity.'' | fear an attempt to describe that
crowd, as they sat round the board eagerly
plying kuife and fork, would prove failure.
To appreciate it fully it had to be seen.
Two painters, two teachers, merchant tall;
A limestone man-quarry kiln, stone ana all;
dentist of wonderful table skill,
A man from whom all can get good III;
A machine man-mower sower, thresher,
At most anything quite slaSher;
Clerk collector water man, all comDlned
dandy. dude, bachelor, so refined.
These boss fisherman. selected with care,
Each one pleased with the mighty good fare:
All sitting and chatting and yankng down food,
Would certainly have done a looker-on good;
And John with his monkey black shining face.
Each doing his utmost hoping to be able
TO save from destruction at least the table
A very good description of the camping
party was given by rather promising youth
upon his return home from visit to the
camp. who. with dozen others, gave the
bows great entertainment in the canal, and
while in the midst of their most daring aerial
evolutions and headlong plunges, were igno-
miniously routed by ''baby." This preco-
cious youth engaged the best attention of sew
eral citizens by the following: "You just
ought to see 'em. They're the biggest men
in the world. One of EN- is reg lar giant.
He said he'd chew us all up and drown us,
and he looked like he'd do it, too. There's
one tall. fancy fellow, with white hat and
little dude moustache, who was talking with
a right big fellow, with big black eyes and lop
ears, about all the girls in town. They re
smashers, | tell you. Girls had better look
out. There's another big fellow that the giant
calls 'Baby" and Oscar" Think Scar
is the best looking fellow in the crowd.
Then there are two awful fat and red-headed
Irishmen. They are twins, guess, but they
amt very purity; and they have the biggest,
blacklist niger you could scare up to cook
along. but he's afraid to open his mouth, etc.
Fishing tackle all arranged, fish stories all
told, yarns all spun, all repaired to bed, but
not all to sleep. About a. m. three small
men stole noiselessly out, and with feet
propped against telephone pole, while en-
loving q fragrant cigar, gazed with rapture
upon the magnificent night The full-orbed
moon in radiant glory illumined the beautiful
earth. Nature smiled in wierd and wondrous
loneliness. Trees and shrubbery, lining the
shore along the silvery water, amid river and
canal, lowered in magic beauty toward a
cloudless sky. Oh, gorgeous scene! trans
port of nature the whole soul is imbued with
a feeling of the great presence of Him who
reigns supreme amid his handlwork. A canal
boat slowly wends its way toward the camp;
the slow tramp of mules and driver along the
tow paths, and the ceaseless and never chang
ing chirping, turn us from our musings to
more practical life, and we hastily retrace our
steps to tent and bed, after giving the niger
good fright, and he wonders who 'dem
ghosts am, and what dey runnin' round for
all dressed up in white" At daylight four
boats, with men, tackle and bait, are anchored
at different points on the river, each man
anxiously awaiting a strike and capture.
1t requires both patience and skill to hook
bass and reel him safely in. 1t is intensely
interesting and exciting while securing large
bass, and equally provoking when just on the
point of hauling him overheard he suddenly
leaves you, and perhaps takes your snood and
hook along. The first days work was very
satisfactory Quite number of bass ranging
from half pound to four pounds, were
brought into camp, each fisherman meeting
with more or less success, and bass appeared
in unstinted quantities and of appetizing quail
ity at each meal. With good fishing, sociable
companions, pleasant surroundings and plenty
of choice edibles, time passed rapidly, and
the week ended much too soon.
A large number of bass, the largest prob
ably exceeding FIVE pounds, were sent and
brought home to friends in Westminster
Everyone seemed so delighted with his trip,
and such glowing accounts of genuine first
class fishing and jolly good times, and of the
kind courtesy extended by the people of
Williamsport, cannot fail to induce many of
the lovers of the sport living in this commu-
nifty to seek an early opportunity to try their
luck on the Potomac. 1t is almost certain
that the Forest and Stream Club will spend
at least part of its camping season at Will
Transport. There are other attractions at
Williamsport besides bass-the ladies, for
instance, several of whom honored US by
calling at camp and taking supper with us.
1t fell to the lot of "Loppy," the long boy
from the Burg, and one of the fat Irishmen,
to escort them back to the city, and this try
ing ordeal was assented to with readiness
and apparent pleasure really astonishing.
One of the boys became so infatuated with a
fair damsel that he found it impossible to re-
turn home on Friday with the rest, and would
probably have been there yet, had not the
shattered nervous system compelled him to
take little sleep.
Fair Flora, thou idol of my heart,
must kiss thee once before we part
One loving glance and then start
For the tent along the river.
Sweetheart, again I'll come, thy love to share,
And lifes great burden with ease will bear,
And you shall be my constant, sweetest care,
Forever and forever