Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-06-13

olIPIh " Oll LII CuO WI, d SCLld
and most companionable gentleman,
came upon our special and completed
its individual company for the expedi-
ton. Other friends, however, of the
captain, worthy and agreeable, resi-
dents OF Atchison; chief among them
MIR. w. G. johnson, with his bright
young son, took passage on the train,
to be with, and of us in the general
fray. Mr. johnson is proprietor of the
Depot hotel at Atchison, where a So
%journer can be as comfortable, and will
be as pleasantly cared for as he may
desire.
Leaving Atchison daylight dawned
on our detained train at Cameron,
where for hours we were allowed to
contemplate the vigorously growing
shade trees, ample lawns, inviting
homes and magnificent surroundings
of pastoral grandeur, visibly spreading
in the distance, ornamented with CON-
Portable looking homesteads and graz
ing herds. In many wanderings in
many lands, a more engaging land
scape has not greeted me than that sur
rounding Cameron. The other repre-
sentative from Lexington did not seem
to be SO favorably impressed. His long
absence from home-twentyJour hours
was telling upon his love of locality
or individual attachment, about which
or whom he seemed to be Illuminating
Whilst others were admiring and pro-
claiming their enthusiasm in words, in
a peripatetic manner he would raise
from his seat AID sing.
There is a land that is fairer than this"
1t was apparent to me there was no
peculiar piety in his tone, and l sug-
gested to my enraptured friend Hagar,
that our companion was not thinking
of a Canaan he has yet to see, but was
turning old time backward in his flight.
to some occasion when he was young,
gamboling with a May queen and her
maids, round a wreath encircled STAN
dard in Lafayette. eyes," said Hagar,
Ibis heart is back at home; a0atch, or
he will desert at the next station"
We reached Columbus Junction late
in the evening, were soon attached to a
north bound train of the B. G. & N.
Il. r., and moving toward Our objec-
tive point. Shortly after nightfall we
drew up at Cedar Rapids and remained
for the night. This is a n gracefully laid
out city, with buildings of a modern
style of architecture, broad streets well
lighted with gas and electricity. 1t has
twenty thousand inhabitants, and gives
evidence of prosperity. The State
Medical Association was gathered there
when we arrived, and perhaps to this
fact, may in some measure be attri-
buted its very bright and thronged con-
dition that night. Next morning about
nine O'Clock, by courtesy of Mr.. Robt.
Williams, the popular Superintendent
OF the b. G. u N. r. r. and the most
gentlemanly attention of Mr.. |. G. Fox,
assistant superintendent, our car was
hltched to an outgoing train and flying
directly toward Spirit Lake, where,
that evening we arrived only in time
to see,
"The sun go down, broad and red,
One moment on the burning wave,
Resting his front of fire to shed,
A glory, round his liquid grave"
We switched for business In front Of
the Orleans Hotel. This building il
the property of the railroad, is ornate
and quite extensive, with capacity fol
several hundred guests, opens regular
ly on the 18th of June, is generally
filled during the season, has a graceful
surrounding, the surf of Spirit Lake
throws opal hued headings to its north
ern base, whilst foam from the waves
of Little Okoboji, laves its lawn on the
south and west. Thus convenient,
stands the hostelry with a sea and lake
on either hand, with Tipping waters
murmuring in the ears of its guests
melOdious invitations to sport upor
their bosOms. Yet ere telling of how
we enjoyed the banter they gave us,
will speak of the Cedar river vale,
which we followed seventy five miles
and the rolling prairie we thereafter
crossed, between Cedar Rapids anC
Spirit Lake. The valley is very fertile,
gemmed with green groves surround,
ing comfortable looking habitations fol
the sons and daughters of men. The
hundred and fifty miles next ensuing
Is waved over by wheat and the blade;
OF nutritious grass; work for the reap
er and food for browsing herds, extend.
ing on either side as far as ken of hui
man eye. In long trips, l have gone
through, no districts supporting sncl
numerous herds of cattle, and giving
more evidences of the prosperity anC
thrift of h%usbandmen, has met my view
A stock law prevails throughout Iowa
may be that, in part, may account fol
appearances; who knows?
AT Spirit Lake it was determined b,
Capt. Barrows, the experienced anC
most accomplished angler of our party
to whom all authority was conceded
that we should commence work OF
"the other side )" 'Tis a proverb, anC
well supported fact, that fishing is al
ways best and mosquitoes worse on
'the other side" One of the most en-
pertaining men the world contains
honest, well informed, naive and sin
cere as Scion Single, was on hand tc
carry us Ground 10 Hunters Lodge, 6
rendezvous for sportsmen, kept by
clever man named "Col. Crandall.'
He has measurable room, and com
forts for fifteen or twenty persons. The
line defining the Minnesota and lows
limits, divides his farm, three hun.
dred yards from his dwelling. Imme-
diately on the Minnesota side stanC
three shanties, where those who thirst
i'll Iowa, can obtain al %appeasing mix
ture not lawfully procurable within hel
own confines.
Our first days work was upon the
water of Little Spirit Lake, and from
tieICe we LOOK the TWO largest nSh
pike, captured by our party. The
second morning our lines were cast il
Spirit Lake, III success amazing.
think our party brought home 800, per
haps l 900 pounds of pike and perch. l
was from this days gathering that the
L~exingtonians first expressed tc
friends. The succeeding sunrise founC
us again at work on Spirit Lake will
good prospects for a catch. In the af
ternoon Mr.. Hagar's division resume,
. apartments in the car. Mr.. johnson
and party moved to Arnold's Park,
hotel on the eastern margin of Yves
Okoboji.
The next day, we of the car, launch.
ed forth and away to fish on little OIL
Eastern Okoboji; the bachelor an(
myself took position at "the point O
rocks three miles down from the car
. where with brilliant luck we spen
dtnnerleSs the day. 1t was at this 10
cality we took the broad and glitterin!
croppie, which we SEN home-fisl
with notified sheen reminding my com
panion, as he declared, of agile form
,, in ODDLY Warden Dress" glidin!
I aIN,ar "a nr.,,. f,o,t x.o.