The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-09-22
SENATORIAL Ei>HER;,f;,s.
Their FayorItc Resort at Point Ct Eoch- IN The
Maryland Mountains.
Correspondence of tic Philadelphia T:mss.)


Along the Potomac near this littl
mountain station is one CT the fines
fishing places in the South. 1t is onl.
thirty miles from Washington and ha
long been the favorite resort OF legisla
tors who have penchant for the rod
Three rocks iutting up from the stream
are known as the Senatorial Rocks
and one further down as the "Prcsidcn
tial Rock" The people OF the village
are ever eager to tell Of the famous fish
ing excursion here three years ago. whel
President Arthur and Senators Halnp
ton and Vest sat on those rocks through
four long hot days and caught nearly
four hundred fish. Nearly every wccl
during this summer one or more Sena
tors have been seen pcrched on the rock:
angling for the sportive swimmers. Ac
cording to the testimony Of the villagers
Senators Wade Hampton, Vest and
kenIa are the most persistent and sue
cessful anglers, with Edmunds, Frye and
Gorman as good seconds.
Hampton was here four times during
the spring and early summer, and
stopped over for two days after Con
gress adjourned. He is the most silent
of all the Senatorial fishermen. While
his negro body servant keeps the hooks
baited and a mysterious dark flask ever
at his masters hand, the Senator is con-
stantly bent forward, with eyes intent on
tie sparkling, except when the passing
fish bites. Then, unlike most Senatorial
fishermen, he does not get excited and
give the line tremendous jerk which
throws the fish high into the air and
back again into the water As If afraid
of hurting the swimmer, he elcvatcs the
pole gently until it is above the surface,
draws it in slowly, let's the negro detach
it; then in moment the line IS once
more sinking in the water and the Sena-
tor is bending forward as if his life de-
pended on catching every motion OF the
string. 1t is said that he has never lost
a fish in getting it out of the water, and
that no man who has ever appeared on
these fishing grounds has been more sue
cessful than he. \ catch of sixty fish in
one morning is credited to him. From
those caught, he selects Il dozen or SO
for dinner anu gives the rest to any one
who will take them.
There are some queer stories atioat
here about his servant going into the
village three times day to replenish the
dark flask, but no eyewitness
of the occurrence could be found. Be-
sides it was time when Senators Vest
and Blackburn, OF kentucky, occupied
the adjoining rocks, SO if there be guilt
Hampton should not bear it all.
Vest is hardly inferior to tie South
Carolina Senator in handling the rod.
Occasionally he gives way to little ex-
citement when there is a particularly
sharp nagging at his line, but, generally
speaking, he is calm and scientific fish
erman. He was the teacher Of President
Arthur in the science and this accounts
for the warm friendship which exists be.
tween the two. Just before Congress
Mr.. Arthur wrote to the Sen
ator, saying that as soon as his health
permitted he would like to have another
week at Point of Rocks. Senator Vest
is not so silent. He intcrspcrses his
catches with stories about lis fish suc-
cesses in Missouri and out at Yellow
stone Park, but al the time keeps a close
watch on his line He has, perhaps, the
finest fishing tackle that has been seen
in these parts. The rods are Of a pecu-
liar cherry -colorcd reed and his reels are
silver. The set cost, it is said, about
$50.
Kenna, OF West Virginia, who was out
on the river yesterday, has the repruta-
ton of being the champion angler OF
West Virginia. Unlike every other fish
erman, Senatorial or otherwise, he car
ries real bait bottle. This may be ac-
counted for by the fact that he is 4 tenn
perance man in private life. The West
Virginia Senator goes about fishing IL
regular backwoods style. Dressed il
jean trousers tucked in boots, 4 blue
shirt and q short rusty alpaca coat, he
looks like the typical dweller on the
banks Of the Potomac. He digs his own
bait, attends to his own hooks and
his catches with his own
hands. In fact he believes in carrying
out the role to the letter rather than
playing the gentleman angler. He loves
to tell stories about his great doings on
the kanawha, and the truth Of his tales
are corroborated by his home people.
He ranks next to Vest rs q tish-story
teller and is infinitely more truthful.
Senator Edmmds, who is now up in
Maine handling tie rod, IS known to
every riilager about here. What IS
strange to Washingtonians, they speak
of him as the 'iolly old bald-headcd fcl-
low" He is certainly bali, and his
looks Justify his being called old, but
just how the people got the impression
that he is jolly it is hard to guess. Per-
laps he thaws out away from the dignity
of the Senate chamber. Perhaps the
and the river and the simple
country people recall the days of his
childhood and str The sluggish blood II
his veins to its youthful vigor. Perhaps
the Senate rcstaurantkeepcr kindly puts
a good supply Of cold tea il LIS valise
for use on the Potomac, or perhaps-but
after all it is al onl ly gressWori. Iuc
Vermont Senator IS like Hampton III
silent contemplation Of the waves ;lDs'
like him, too, in scientific management
of his rod III the latter par: vi J;tls.
last he caught fifty six tish hcfore 2oon.
His attire while on the river IS the same
as he wears IN the Senate chamber. win
exception OF Dig, broad-Jrinsmeti siraw
hat, which is pulled aowa over h;s ears.
Frye and Gorn!an have gained fame ii
Point OF Rocks also, but they arc too
busy with their home campaigns this
summer to give any time to angling.
Frye never carries any rods with him.
With q common line wonn around 4 bit
of wood he starts for tie river and cuts