Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-08
THE FESTIVE FISHERS.
where They Are and What They Are DoIn,
IN CAMP, sunny SIDE BRIDGE. |
Monday. August 5, 1889.


INCAMP, SUNNY SIDE BRIDGE.
Monday, August 8, 1889.
To the Editor Of the Eagle
After an early breakfast IN, took a de-
lightful drive of eight miles up the Rio
Grande to this point. The air was brac-
ing, the white frost had not all disap-
peared and the fingers OF delicate ice
formed on the edges of the river had
scarcely gone when we went into camp at
this point at a. m, and after four hours
of steady fishing and an hour for doing
Justice to our mountain dinner, 2 p. m.
found seven of probably the most skillful
and expert fly fishermen in the world TAX
ing solid comfort beneath the shade of
grove of quaker asp: The party consists
of Freckles. Mike, Splinter, Tug, Sandy,
Major and Red After complacently ca
ressing his abdomen Red remarked that
"a banquet at Delmonicos is nowhere
compared to that dinner"
By the way, this man Red
is somewhat Of a mystery
TO the boys Upon his arrival at the Gap
he tackled himself upon the Wichita
crowd in such a way that 1t has been
deemed useless to try TO shake him off.
OF course, taking his word for 1t, IT would
be easy enough to arrive at conclusion as
to who he is In looks he is sort of a Cross
between Chester A. Arthur aud w. H.
Vanderbilt. He is of rather sensitive
nature and likes to have people ask him
what time it is that he may dlsply pain
fully plain looking gold watch with some
sort of an inscription upon 1t. He claims
that the Prince of Wales gave 1t to him In
lieu of garter for an act or bravery OF bis.
Wi; b his coaches on he resembles very
much some of the recent cuts that have APP
peared in the EAGLE. So much for the
appearance of Red After his remarks
about the driver and the long breath that
be took we knew we were in for an account
of his mornings achievements. boys"
said he, 1.-The largest fish IN the river
struck at my fly and l struck him with
that peculiar twitch of the pole that none
of you understand how to do (but ! will
teach you when have time) and caught
the fish right through the dorsal I'm. Of
course that brought him up broadside on
the river | was standing IN water up to
my vest, and in half minute he had made
such a complete dam of the river that the
water was over my head. As | did not
want to flood the Rio Grande valley took
my knife and cut the line and let him go. }"
OF course being somewhat OF stranger
the boys did not go to sleep on the old
man. / rather think they were afraid TO,
as at times he has cast of countenance
that is very suggestive. Red, seeing that
the boys had apparently swallowed his
remarks, said: Il had an experience
over on Eagle river two years ago that
rather gets away with my experience OF
this morning. | got up very early one
morning and went out to the river and
commenced fishing. and as the trout were
hungry | was catching them about as fast
as | could make casts. Pretty soon a
dense fog settled over the valley; kept on
fishing and when | had my creel full l
concluded to pull up my pole and go home
Just then the sun came out and found L
was mile from the river and had been
catching trout out of the fog" mo re-
marks on the part of the boys.I Mike
don't say much but is always talking
about big fish taking his flies and leaders
he never captures them. Splinter IS a
good all around trout fisher but for real
exciting sport prefers to see some danger
Gus rapids in a corner. Freckies IS with
out doubt the most successful fisherman
on the river. Tug is not doing
a great deal of fishing but relying on his
past record. Major is an expert and
fishes for sport and cares but little what
becomee of his fish after he has had the
pleasure of capturing it. Sandy generally
the days sport. He makes a beautiful
cast. and can put his fly just at the right
spot with an ease and grace that is the
admiration of all. He is something OF a
dandy in appearance, wearing broad
| brim linen hat and elegant dark colored
rubber hip boots. and has probably caught
more fish than any one on the river during
his stay. As we were returning home We
| passed within two hundred yards OF a
large herd of deer They bid US a very in
formal farewell and disappeared as we
neared the Gap. Reds tongue got to
wagging again. Said he: II know the
man we'll who lost his wagon wheel
{,r-a, Nv hafn lyal axrnn
visited this place. why" said he, I'VE
had all the plans made to dam the Rio
Grande at the Gap-just fill up that 1,500
! foot crevice and make lake and stock 1t
/ for our own private sport" Something
here interfered and his story was cut short.
| but you can imagine it was something
wonderful. We reached the hotel at p.
m and spread out upon the broad veranda
200 pounds of speckled beauties for the la
dies and children to admire. Red went up
| to the landlord and said: Look here, old
man, let me tell you something. You may
| think you know how to cook fish at this
hotel, but you don't Why, ate six fish
mountain stew. Now let me tell you
how to cook fish. First clean
| the fish nicely, leaving the
| head and salt and pepper the insldes well.
/ put in q thin slice of bacon, roll up the
i fish in corn meal and put in skillet with
! plenty OF bacon grease. when the eye
| pops the under side is done. Turn over,
and when the other eye pops the fish is
done" There is no evidence that the
landlord profited By the information.
| During the day and in our absence big
| black bear entered the back yard of the
| Murdoch cottage and carried off small
| bronco pony. The boys said it was no use
to try to follow him, as the three inches of
snow that fell in the forenoon had all
melted Red said that he would like TO
| clamp one Of George Mathews patent fish
grabbers on him, but 1t was observed that
/ Red didn't wander around much after
! dark. but volunteered to take care Of the
! children, while his wife accompanied the
/ other ladies to the nightly swimming car
nival. w.
! THE kINDLIEST FEELING
! DR.. Wassam has just returned from a
300-mle trip in the southeastern part OF
the state. visiting during his absence
| Greenwood, Cautauqua and Montgomery
! counties He saws he was very aCreeably