River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-08-14

At 5:45 on Monday morning, July
2Sth, we Harry Splinter, Joe Spike,
Downes Slab, Howard Slush and Cad
Swivel left this city by team for
Prescott in order to catch the $40
Burlington train for Maiden Rock.
When four miles out of town we dis
covered that Slab, with his usual care
lessness, had forgotten his bundle of
blankets and there remained but
seven blankets to keep five OF us
warm on the cold, bleak shores OF
Lake Pepin. We told our driver to
express them to us Immediately and
we received them Wednesday morn
ing.
On arriving at Maiden Rock we
were puzzled to know where to pitch
our camp. We had intended to camp
on Rush River, which enters the lake
half a mile above the town, but with
half dozen men and boys advising
us to go to Rush River and others adj
vising us to camp on Pine Creek,
which flows in a mile down the lake,
we were for some time undecided as
to our course, but finally fixed on Pine
Creek as the most desirable location.
We Immediately chartered a boat for
the week, procured team with
which 10 convey our luggage to our
camping ground, and loading i'll our
truck Slush and | jumped aboard and
were driven along the high bluffs
toward our destination. When three
fourths of mile up the creek we
came to beautiful spot at the foot
of bluff which rose 300 feet or more
above US, where "a large spring bub-
bled from beneath the rocks and flow
ing under log bridge fell ia num-
Der of small cascades to the level of
the creek below. Here we decided to
pitch our tent and soon had our bag
gage unloaded and were ready to
raise our habitation. Alas! our tent
was in the trunk and the key of the
same was in the pocket of Spike, who,
with Splinter and Slab, had remained
in Maiden Rock to procure provisions
and bring down the boat. Necessity
knows no law" and in a very short
time that trunk was minus a lock.
When the tent poles had been cut and
placed in position beneath the can
vass we found that we could not raise
them and keep them perpendicular
without the help of third party. At
this critical moment the camp call
(Ole Oleson) Tesounded up the vale,
and right heartily did we answer it
with our dinner horn. The boys
soon arrived and the tent was immed-
lately raised and with three cheers
for Camp Slumber we proceeded to
concoct our first meal of victuals.
Tuesday morning we arose at $3.50
o'clock and | started out to catch d
few trout for breakfast. | succeeded
in capturing four and we five made a
hearty az meal off them. That even
ing we entered the boat and rowed
down the stream and as we arrived at
its mouth we gazed upon the most
beautiful scene ON which | had ever
gazed. Looking up the lake we saw
Barn Bluff, at Red Wing, clearly out
lined against one of the most gorgeous
sunsets Imaginable and through the
center OF the lake for miles ran a
pathway of quivering gold, while on
either hand rose the green bluffs to
the height of 400 feet. Behind us the
water cleaned like silver meath the
rays of the full moon. Rowing up to
Maiden Rock we sang for short time
was walking up street with my harp
under my arm a young man asked me
for a tune. We entered the drug
store and one of the young men pro-
ducing harmonica we entertained
the crowd for an hour or two and so
made few acquaintances.
Wednesday noon Splinter left us,
being called to st. Paul on business.
and sadly did we miss him for he was
one of our two funny men. That
evening Spike and | secured rig and
with two lady friends drove out to
the home of Miss Lou Potts, where we
spent most enjoyable evening.
We hunted, trouted and trolled, and
we sang, shouted and cut ourselves
loose generally and had a continual
roar of laughter all the time we were
in camp. Our game consisted of blue
jays, snipe and swallows in the line of
birds, and trout, pike and bass in the
fish line, and snakes.
Friday evening six of the Maiden
Rock boys drove down to camp and
spent two pleasant hours with us.
We were fortunate in having no
hard storms while there and what
little rain fell rolled quietly off our
tent like water from duck back.
We struck camp Saturday morning
and at noon boarded the train for
Prescott and owing to the slow rate of
speed at which the train moved while
passing the great freight wreck near
Diamond Bluff we had an excellent
view of the same and most horrible
sight it was.
Taken all together it was as enjoy
able a week as / ever put in and we
only regretted the absence OF Rupert
SQUAD and E. Benton Swipes, who
were to have accompanied as. We
were Hospitality received by the peo-
pie of Maiden Rock with Whom we
met and we all feel grateful for the
same.
Respectfully yours, with pleasant
memories, "SwIvEL.