Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-26
THE PRESIDENTS CAMP LIFE.
Enjoying Himself in Primitive Fashion
IN the Wild Saranac Lake Region.

THE PRESIDENTS CAMP LIFE.
Enjoyins Himself in Primitive Fashion
| in the Wild Saranac Lake Region.
The New York World of to-day devotes over
page to profusely illustrated report of a cor
respondent who was sent to investigate the
| rumor that the President was ill in his retreat
! in the Adirondacks. The correspondent found
the President in good health, enjoying himself
| In the most democratic-not to say primitive
way. He has tished a little and has killed one
deer. He is nicely sunburned and had four
days growth of beard on the day the cores
pendent met him. The correspondent met
with many discouraging adventures. He was
compelled to fight his way through the In.
hospitable Gordon with which the President
has surrounded himself He slept outdoors
nox put WIN the assistance OF g1lne ne
located twenty-five miles north of the rural
tavern known as the Prospect house, on Upper
Saranac lake, in a region spoken Of by the guide
catamounts."
The Prospect house is the last house of any
kind the correspondent stopped at. 1t is owned
by nve gentlemen, of whom the President is
said to be one. Every one in the region seemed
TO De In conspiracy to conceal the whereabouts
OF the Presidents camp. At the Prospect house,
where the mission of the correspondent was
learned, or rather where it became suspected,
ne could get nothing done for him. He was re-
| fused supplies for his proposed tramp through
the woods, and would have been entirely help
who undertook to bring him to the Presidents
| camp. During their first night out they were
caught In a severe storm. The first days
trampng and rowing was comparatively easy;
but during the second day the forest they ira
versed the correspondent represents as some
thing awful in its wildness and ruggedness.
Inc correspondent continues:
There is an end to everything. The Theoso-
pbists of India teach their devotees that there
had been in the woods nearly four hours when
through the trees was caught q glimpse Of q
| sheet of water. It was Willis pond. In few
| legged trail ends. We battle our faces in the
cool water and plunge once more into the forest
| following the line OF the lakes shore. Pretty
soon we hear the sound of voices. a few rods
| further on and see one of those log huts that
| in the Adirondacks We called camps" I pass
hound chained to a tree and the carcass of a
deer suspended between two trees. Coming out
| from behind the hut am in the presence Of the
| and Mr.: Bacon. They are seated near the fire
on which is sizzling the broier with the morn
ing meal. The Presiden: is sitting on tree
| entrance. At little distance from him is Dr.
Ward. gun in hand; at his side is Mr.. Bacon.
All three look at me and my guide with undis-
a moment what manner of reception to accord
me. Without waiting for their decision, how
my hat, say; 'The New York World presents
its most respectful compliments and inquiries
| after the Presidents health
The President extended his hand, said he was
glad to see the newcomer, and assured him
that his health was of the very best. He had
! never felt better in his life. The correspondent
| meal consisted of broifed venison, baked pota-
toes, hot biscuits, and tea with condensed milk.
1t was served on a rough board supported on
stakes. Large logs were used as chairs. Every
thing was primitive in the extreme. There was
not the slightest thought of form or formality
While we sat at the table had an excellent OPP
portunity TO observe the Presidents ap-
pearance. He seemed even to have gained
| considerable flesh since he entered the noun
tai m md hafnl pY,a6Cn f,fio
and lassitude. was told by one of his guides
| that the arduous journey through the forest had
exhausted him so much that for two days after
| reaching the camp he had been unable TO freely
| move about. Small wonder, speaking from my
own experienced! The life that he is leading in
| his retreat in the wilderness is evidently too
much even for him. 1t Is totally unadapted for
any but the hardest woOdsman."
The Presidents pts, party are qnartered in a log
| feet wide. 1t is divided in the middle by par
tition The rear of the cabin is used sleep
the front division is the storerOom and the bed
| room for the guides. None of the occupants of
| the camp remove their clothes at night; when
ready to retire they wrap themselves up in a
| blanket and lay down on the ground, which is
covered with balsam boughs. A fire is kept
burning outside the camp at night to keep away
| any bears or catamounts that might be prowI-
| ing about. The President informed the CORE
| spondent that they had discovered bear tracks
that the camp was we'll armed, and accordingly
| kept at respectful distance.
Inc party Is ATTENDED by TOUR guides, all OF
whom are familiar to tourists in the Adiron-
dacks. They are Gard. MalOney, famous for his
skill in navigating the more dangerous noun
| tain lakes; Charley Brown, who is especially
| skillful in running the dogs; Wes Wood, who
acts as cook; and, last, the Presidents personal
guide, Dave Cronk. Cronk is a tall, powerfully
built fellow. of whose strength and endurance
many stories are told. These men are all on
terms of easy familiarity with their employers.
They all seem brother sportsmen rather than
servants and masters.
Hunting and fishing, of course are the princi-
pal occupations OF the woodsman. The Presi-
dent is more closely addicted to the latter, and
says that he cares very little for shooting. The
in angling. He does not fish with the fly, as ne
thinks he can catch more trout with bait.
The whole tenor of the life in the camp is wild
and primitive in the extreme. Mr.. Cteveland's
| attire was not as picturesque or conventionally
| appropriate as that of his companions. He wore
| trousers and waiscoat of black diagonal goods,
evidently belonging to a WORKOUT dinner suit.
The trousers needed sewing. His shirt was of
dark blue flannel, and for a cravat he wore
piece Of heavy dark ribbon. His hat was of
black felt with very broad rim. He dispensed
with II coat, even on the cooler days. and it was
| noticeable that even while at the Prospect house
he often walked about in his shirt-sleeves.
1t was noticeable that both Mr.. CleVeand's
| companions and the guides addressed him as
Governor" and not as president" He Jokes
with the guides quite as Familiarity as with
either of his friends. He asked Cronk how
much his boat weighed, AND when he answered
! the great difference between Cronk and George
Washington was that Washington couldn't tell
q lie The last the correspondent saw of the
President, as he was leaving the camp to take
dense forest, was occupied in chopping wood
with which to build the fire for the evening
meal.