Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-21
the caxlsAs sxow.sHoE CLUB.
r,..dition TO Lake Cobbosseecontee for the
Capture Of Old Santa Claus.

,osition on the shore of Lake Cobbossee-
contee, the Canibas Snow shoe Club or
r.n,zed an expedition in force for the pur.
nose of dislodging and If possible captnr-
ing this notable parsonage. To Capt.
r f. Townsend's call for volunteers IF
teen of the boldest and most reso-
,rte members responded and assembling
last Wednesday evening, under cover of
a severe snow storm and the darkness Of
the electric light near the corner of Win
tbrop and Chestnut streets, wendell their
toilsome way over Winthrop hill. Being
obliged to halt at the top of the hill for
Everett Hall to recover his wind, we made
use of the delay to complete our organi-
z,tion as follows:
The marching column was divided into
two corps one Of which constituting
the advance guard, was lead by Capt.
Townsend, ably assisted by Adjutant c.
+ Perry, and Foxhunter Chas. o. lib
bstts whose services as guide were in
being lost in the tracklcss Wilderness
through which it marched. j. K. Town
send. 4. 5. Hall. f. L. Nash, +. P. Gould,
and W. H. Gannett, were with this divi-
sion.
The second corps constituted the rear
guard. Differed by Lieut.. A. M. Goddard,
Wbippcr-in +. II. Locke, DR., Dyer, (alias
C.E. Sturtcvant,) and Chief Signal Officer
L. L. Cooper, who carried our one lantern
with which he kept up, communication
with the advance column and with the
ambulance sleigh and baggage train.
r. A. Cooper, e. b. White and II.
II. Pierce were with this corp.
The first corps was without signal officer,
and bugler, but 4. S. Hall made good
substitute for both as his yell could be
heard from the muster ground to the lake.
Owing to the absence of Drs Randall,
Harris and X. J. Martin, DR. Dyer con-
stituted our medical staff.
The duties of whippcr-in are the most
arduous of the service; to pick up the
straggers, assist the disabled, pick men
off from barbed wire fences, and pull
them by the heels out of brooks and snow
drifts. And he was kept busy on this
trip, l assure you.
From this point the four horse baggage
sleigh was dispatched by the county road,
followed by the two horse ambulance
sleigh The marching column started on
beel-ine for the lake, regardless of all diff
ncultics in the way of swamps, brooks,
woods, stone walls and barbed wire fences
The rear guard was constantly harassed
and threatened by the inhabitants who
were aroused from their peaceful slumbers
by the war whoops OF Everett Hall. Num-
erous casualties occurred upon the road.
The sudden disappearance OF Deacon
Townsend through the crust revealed the
unexpected presence of trout brook where
none was indicated on the map. He
was rescued, however by our gallant
whipper-in. Considerable delay and
anxiety was caused by the loss OF
scouting party in the woods near the
Forks. just beyond the Forks c. f.
Perry nearly persisted in discovering
another trout brook. Il. A. Cooper ex-
plorcd the third trout brook, and crawled
out of it turtle fashion. In sliding down
a steep bank, A. M. Goddard discovered a
ourth trout brook at the foot. To his cries
of pull me out" Il. A. Cooper responded
and is to receive leather medal.
At eight minutes past nine, just TWO
hours and eight minutes from Augusta,
we came in sight of huge revolving
transparency on the shores of the lake
inscribed in large letters on one side
"Welcome from Santa Claus on the
other side 'raffle down stairs, and on
the end a huge picture of rooster.
We had been through all these dangers
and adventures with the loss of only one
man, who on account of disabled toe
and ruined snow shoe had been Obliged
to fall out of line before reaching the
Forks, but was picked up by the ambu-
lance corp and here rejoined us.
Santa Claus was so completely over
awed that he surrendered without the
slightest opposition. We entered his
stronghold where we found cheerful
open fire and table set smoking with hot
coffee and oyster stew the work Of caterers
H. ". Reid and H.. l.. Brooks.
Upon the stews and coffee Hall lead the
attack calamity supported by all the
rest After the destruction of the stews
and coffee and two hours devoted to ci-
gars and stories we started on our return
trip riding in the ambulance and bag
age sleighs and bringing Santa Claus
with us whom we found to be none other
than our genial friend, VIM h. Reid. We
arrived safely at Augusta at just mid
night thus ending the pleasantest excur-
sion that the club has ever had, long &c
MI